A product we test on ourselves.
Since 2017 we have been developing and running our own platform of content and comparison portals in three markets. It is profitable, and the SEO, security and website operations practices we recommend to clients were verified on it first, on our own revenue.
One platform, four portals, three markets
We run four portals in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Switzerland, in three languages, each with local content, data and partners. Underneath is one architecture, a repository per market and managed synchronisation: a change we make in one market is carried, with adaptation, to the others.
The portals earn from partner programmes. In the last year we invoiced eight partners and the product is profitable. For business reasons we do not publish the segment or the domains, but we are happy to show them, with the numbers, at a meeting.
For us it is also a laboratory. The SEO, security and website operations practices we recommend to clients were deployed here first, where we could see their effect on our own income.
Built on what we recommend to clients
PHP, PostgreSQL and MySQL
Plain PHP without a framework, one architecture for three deployments. The database follows the hosting of each market: PostgreSQL in two markets, MySQL in the third, the same data layer over both. We can afford our own code because we both build and run the product. For clients we choose standard frameworks and libraries that another supplier can maintain too.
In-house editorial and admin system
Content for all portals, a catalogue of thousands of items, check protocols, newsletter, invoicing and internal tools in one admin. A single instance serves every site, so each fix is made once. The sitemap generator, link checker and HTML validator are part of it. We use no external CMS and no plugins that nobody will maintain a year from now. Every change to the data can be traced back.
Security core
Two-factor login, preferably with a passkey, and an e-mail notice whenever a new browser signs in. Repeated password guessing is rate-limited and locks the account for a while, every write is protected against CSRF and every change goes into an audit trail. Uploaded files are verified before they are stored, all output is escaped and a strict Content Security Policy decides where scripts may load from.
Data layer with cache
Aggregated queries, file cache with event-driven invalidation, versioned data contracts. Every number on a page has a source in the database. An unknown value is shown as unverified and never estimated.
Automated monitors
A daily watchdog for changes on partner pages, dead-link and partner-link checks, HTML validation, SEO audit and static code analysis. Results arrive by e-mail, and a person approves every change.
Performance and SEO by default
One minified stylesheet, structured data on every page, hreflang between equivalent pages in different markets, Core Web Vitals measured on real phones. Organic search is the main source of traffic.
How we develop and test it
Definition of done
Every page has a binding checklist: title, heading, canonical URL, structured data, no errors in the output. Nothing ships without it.
Pre-release checks
Syntax, HTML validation, static analysis and scripts that render pages and compare them with the database. Larger changes go through an independent review by two AI assistants (on our own code only, never on client data) and a manual check.
Market synchronisation
A change is carried to the other markets with adapted URLs, brands, currency and local data, never by blind copying. Whatever cannot be carried over is named explicitly.
Truthful data
Every check at a partner has a record with time, source and result. Loading a page does not count as verification, and only an editor can accept a change to terms.
What partners get
Partner programmes are a business relationship with measurable performance. Partners receive regular invoicing from our own system, transparent performance tracking, content verified against their current terms and a reader newsletter in every market.
- Monthly invoicing and a performance overview with no surprises
- Content checked against the partner’s current terms, with a record of every check
- Fast rollout of changes across all three markets
- No misleading claims: what we cannot verify, we do not publish
Why we tell clients about it
We try web practices on ourselves first
Website architecture, security, caching, monitoring and SEO practices are deployed in our own production and measured on our own revenue.
We know what operations cost
Hosting, backups, updates, incidents and long-term maintenance are part of our daily work alongside development.
Experience with a regulated segment
The portals operate in an industry with strict rules for content and advertising. We know how to publish so that it stands up to the regulator and to a lawyer.
We show it live
At a meeting we show the portals, the admin, the monitors and the numbers, so you get a reference you can click through yourself.
The specific portals, the segment and the numbers are presented at a meeting in person.
Let's talk about your project.
A free introductory consultation. On business days we usually reply within 24 hours with a proposed next step.