Traverse City, Michigan· Web & Software Consulting
Belanger Digital Solutions is my web development and software consulting practice in Traverse City. I help small businesses around Northern Michigan build, fix, and look after their technology, with the skills of an in-house team and none of the overhead.
Trusted by small businesses, contractors, realtors, and local organizations across Northern Michigan and remote clients nationwide.
Most small businesses don't have an IT department, and most don't need one. What they need is someone to call when the website goes down, the email starts landing in spam, or a software decision feels over their head. That's what I do. I handle the web, software, and technology work, and I explain it in language that actually makes sense.
What I do
Websites, maintenance, email setup, software advice. These are the things small businesses around Northern Michigan call me for, without the overhead of a big agency.
Clean, fast websites that look professional and stay easy for you to update.
Learn more→Keep your site online, updated, and secure without having to think about it.
Learn more→Own your domain and send email from a real address that builds trust.
Learn more→Straight answers on the technology decisions in front of you.
Learn more→Catch problems before your customers do.
Learn more→Small, focused tools that take the busywork off your plate.
Learn more→Selected work
A tourism association, a custom web app, and a local service business. Different goals, but the same hands-on approach from the first call through launch and beyond.
Tourism & destination marketing
A fast, image-rich site for the Drummond Island Tourism Association. It helps visitors plan a trip to one of the most remote corners of the Upper Peninsula, with lodging, dining, trails, and events all in one place.
Custom web app
A custom app that turns a 40-page home inspection report into a plain-English plan. It ranks issues by severity, estimates repair costs, and drafts what to say to the seller, all in a couple of minutes.
Local service business
A clean, mobile-first site for a Northern Michigan home inspection business. Clear services, an easy way to request an inspection, and the fast load times people expect when they're searching from a phone.
A better foundation
I build websites on a modern static/Next.js stack instead of the database-heavy WordPress templates most local agencies reuse. The difference shows up where it counts: speed, security, and cost.
| What matters | Custom Next.js (Belanger Digital Solutions) | Standard WordPress template |
|---|---|---|
| Page load speed | Pre-rendered static pages served from a global CDN. Usually under a second on mobile. | Database queries and stacked plugins run on every visit, so it's often several seconds, especially on rural cellular. |
| Security exposure | No database or plugin attack surface to exploit. Nothing to hack on a static page. | Plugins and themes are the #1 source of WordPress breaches and require constant patching. |
| Hosting cost | Runs on efficient cloud hosting like Vercel, often free or close to it at a small-business scale. | Managed WordPress hosting plus paid plugins and security add-ons add up every month. |
| Maintenance | Few moving parts. Updates are deliberate, tested, and version-controlled. | Plugin and core updates can break the site at any time and need ongoing babysitting. |
| Search & Core Web Vitals | Clean semantic HTML and top Lighthouse scores that search engines reward. | Bloated markup and slow scripts commonly drag down Core Web Vitals and rankings. |
Custom Next.js: Pre-rendered static pages served from a global CDN. Usually under a second on mobile.
WordPress template: Database queries and stacked plugins run on every visit, so it's often several seconds, especially on rural cellular.
Custom Next.js: No database or plugin attack surface to exploit. Nothing to hack on a static page.
WordPress template: Plugins and themes are the #1 source of WordPress breaches and require constant patching.
Custom Next.js: Runs on efficient cloud hosting like Vercel, often free or close to it at a small-business scale.
WordPress template: Managed WordPress hosting plus paid plugins and security add-ons add up every month.
Custom Next.js: Few moving parts. Updates are deliberate, tested, and version-controlled.
WordPress template: Plugin and core updates can break the site at any time and need ongoing babysitting.
Custom Next.js: Clean semantic HTML and top Lighthouse scores that search engines reward.
WordPress template: Bloated markup and slow scripts commonly drag down Core Web Vitals and rankings.
Already on Wix, Squarespace, or an aging WordPress site? I can move you over to a faster, more secure setup, content and search rankings included, with no downtime during the switch.
Why Belanger Digital Solutions
Hiring a technology consultant shouldn't be a leap of faith. Here's what working with me is actually like.
Every project is handled by me, Aaron. You won't get passed off to an account manager or a subcontractor you never meet.
I spent years in software QA and test automation, finding the bugs other people missed. I build and check my own work the same way.
I match what I recommend to your goals and your budget. No upsells you don't need, and no enterprise tooling for a five-page website.
I lay out technical choices in terms you can actually weigh. If you want the reasoning behind one, just ask.
How it works
Four steps from the first hello to something that works, plus support after it launches.
Tell me what you need and what's getting in the way. I listen and ask questions before proposing anything.
You get a clear, written outline of the work, the cost, and the timeline. No surprises, and no open-ended bills.
I do the work, keep you posted in plain language, and test it properly before anything goes live.
After launch I'm still here for updates, questions, and maintenance. One reliable person to call.
Proudly local
I care about the businesses that keep Northern Michigan running: the contractors, realtors, shops, and home-service pros. Hire me and you're working with a neighbor, not a call center three time zones away.
Want to meet in person? I'm happy to grab a coffee. Out of the area? I work with clients all over the country the same way: quick to respond, easy to reach, and clear about what's going on.
Storefronts, studios, and service providers who need a real online presence.
Builders and home-service pros who'd rather be on the job than fighting their website.
Agents who need to look sharp online and capture leads reliably.
Nonprofits and community groups doing a lot with a small budget.
Tell me about your business and what's getting in the way. You'll get a straight, specific reply back, usually within one business day.