Web Design & Local SEO for Monterey, CA Businesses
Most people looking for a Monterey restaurant, tour or shop are visitors who have never been to your door. I build sites with the hours, menu, booking link and directions they need before they decide.
- About 55 miles from our Hollister base
- In business since 2020
- Custom-coded, not a template
- We respond within 24 hours
A visitor economy, in numbers
Monterey County recorded $3.3 billion in visitor spending in 2025, the highest the county has ever reported. Local TV coverage of the See Monterey announcement said tourism employment grew by about 400 jobs, hotel revenue rose more than 16% and hotel occupancy rose nearly 8%. A Monterey Plaza Hotel executive said the Bay Area remains its biggest source of guests, and that the Highway 1 reopening brought more visitors from Southern California.
The same coverage was candid about the risks. Business and group travel is starting to flatten, international visitation is down and competition from other destinations is growing. For a small business, that means the visitors you do get are choosing between more options, and they choose on a phone, often before they arrive.
Districts, cities and how people search
The City of Monterey's economic development team works with separate business districts: Old Monterey, New Monterey, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf and North Fremont. Visitors search by the place they have heard of, not by city boundary. A page that names Cannery Row or Old Monterey will match them better than one that says only Monterey. The same goes for neighbors that are separate cities: Pacific Grove, Seaside, Sand City, Marina, Del Rey Oaks and Carmel.
Events move the calendar. See Monterey is building around Car Week, Laguna Seca and other major events, and its plans include about 1,000 new hotel rooms and more nonstop flights, including a United route from Chicago that started in May 2026. If your business is busiest around an event, the site should say so, with the dates, your hours and how to book.
What a visitor-facing site needs
Google's Business Profile guidelines contain some details that are easy to get wrong in this market.
- Restaurants: your hours should be the hours diners can sit down. The menu should list everything you serve, and the menu link can't point straight at a third-party ordering service.
- Hotels, inns and motels: Google says indoor lodging shouldn't list business hours at all. The site should lead with rooms, policies, check-in details and a booking link instead.
- Event weeks and holidays: set special hours on your profile and show the same hours on the site, so a visitor never sees two answers.
- Tours and activities: a clear meeting point, what is included, and a booking link that works on a phone with one thumb.
- Everyone: parking and access. Visitors on the Peninsula often want to know where to park before they go, so say it on the page.
I'm not a Monterey agency, and I won't pretend to be
I'm based in Hollister, about 55 miles from Monterey. I don't have a Peninsula office. The work is done by phone, text and email, and if you want a kickoff meeting at your location, we can set one up. What I offer is a direct line to the person building and maintaining your site, and prices published on this page.
What a Monterey website costs
Two places to start, both with local SEO basics on every page.
Starter
Restaurants, cafes, shops and other single-location businesses
From $2,000
one time · 1 location, 5 pages
- 5 pages: home, about, contact, gallery (doubles as a menu page for restaurants) and FAQ
- Custom-coded and mobile-first, or built on Wix or Squarespace if you'd rather edit it yourself
- Local SEO basics on every page
- Contact form
- Google Analytics & Search Console
- Usually live within about a week once we have your photos, menu and details
Essential
Single-location local business
From $3,000
new build · rebuilds from $2,500 · then $300/mo
- 1 location, up to 6 pages
- Custom-coded site with a dedicated page for each service
- Local SEO built into every page
- Mobile-responsive design & fast load speeds
- SSL security
- Quote and contact form
- Google Analytics & Search Console
- Ongoing hosting
The first 2 months of the Essential monthly plan are included in a new build or rebuild. After a Starter build you can host it yourself, keep it on Wix or Squarespace, or have me host it for $150/mo.
Questions people ask
Do you build for restaurants and tour operators in Monterey?
Yes. A single-location restaurant, cafe or shop usually fits the Starter site at $2,000: five pages, menu or gallery included. A tour operator or business with several offerings and an ongoing need for updates usually fits Essential.
How do I handle special hours around events like Car Week?
Set special hours on your Google Business Profile and show the same hours on the site. If you want me to change the site, send me the change. The Essential plan includes 2 hours of support a month.
I run an inn. Is anything different?
Yes. Google says indoor lodging shouldn't list business hours on its profile, so your site and profile should lead with rooms, policies and a booking link instead. I'd also make sure check-in details and parking are easy to find, since those are the questions guests ask before they arrive.
Are you based in Monterey?
No. I'm in Hollister, about 55 miles away. Most of the work is remote, and I'm happy to come to you for a kickoff meeting if you want one.
Start here
Takes about a minute. We reply within 24 hours.
A few short questions about what you need, then I get back to you.
Request sent. Thank you.
I'll reply within 24 hours.
What happens next: I read your answers and write back using the contact details you gave. If I need anything else, I'll ask then.