Years Building with WordPress
Designing, developing, improving, troubleshooting, and maintaining WordPress websites since 2015.
Founder of East West Designs
About Gene Whitehead
WordPress developer and SEO specialist helping churches, ministries, mission-minded organizations, and selected businesses build clearer, stronger, more effective websites.
East West Designs is my independent web studio, built around direct collaboration, thoughtful strategy, dependable development, and long-term support.
Gene Whitehead
Founder, WordPress Developer, SEO Specialist, and Content Strategist
- Based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Building WordPress websites since 2015
- Experienced in ministry, missions, and organizational communication
- Available for selected local and remote projects
About Gene
One Experienced Partner from Strategy Through Long-Term Support
I’m Gene Whitehead, the founder of East West Designs. I help churches, ministries, mission-minded organizations, and selected businesses improve the way their websites communicate, perform, and support the work they are trying to accomplish.
My background in ministry and missions has shaped the way I approach digital work. I understand that a website is rarely just a marketing piece. It may also be a first point of contact, a source of trusted information, a communication hub, a ministry resource, a lead-generation tool, or an essential part of daily operations.
That perspective leads me to begin with the organization rather than with a template. I want to understand the people you serve, the goals you are pursuing, what is not working, and what your team can realistically manage. The technology should support those realities—not create another layer of frustration.
My work brings together website strategy, visual design, WordPress development, content structure, SEO, performance improvement, technical problem-solving, and ongoing care. Clients do not need to coordinate a designer, developer, copywriter, SEO provider, and support company. They work directly with one person who understands the project as a whole.
Technical and strategic experience includes
Website strategy and information architecture
WordPress design and custom development
Technical, on-page, and local SEO
Content structure, editing, and messaging
Performance, mobile usability, and accessibility
Integrations, troubleshooting, and website care
A Founder-Led Working Relationship
Direct Communication Without Layers of Account Management
When you work with East West Designs, you work directly with me. I remain involved in the strategy, content, development, launch, and ongoing support rather than handing the work from one department to another.
Explore the Most Relevant Path
All Website Services
See the complete range of strategy, development,
SEO, content, and care services.
Churches and Ministries
Explore ministry-informed website strategy,
development, and long-term support.
Sioux Falls Businesses
Explore web design, local SEO, and ongoing
support for growing businesses.
Experience That Supports the Work
Practical Experience Across Strategy, Development, Content, and Search
Good website work requires more than knowing how to use WordPress. It takes an understanding of communication, search, technology, organizational needs, and what happens after a website launches.
SEO Specialization
Completed the University of California, Davis Search Engine Optimization Specialization through Coursera.
Content and Communication
Years of writing, editing, content planning, and organizing information for people rather than merely filling page layouts.
Organizational Understanding
Ministry, missions, nonprofit, and business experience inform how I approach communication, stewardship, priorities, and support.
SEO Training
Search knowledge grounded in structured training and practical application
In March 2025, I completed the University of California, Davis Search Engine Optimization Specialization through Coursera. The five-course program covered:
- Introduction to Google SEO
- Google SEO Fundamentals
- Optimizing a Website for Google Search
- Advanced Content and Social Tactics to Optimize SEO
- Google SEO Capstone Project
The specialization strengthened my work in technical SEO, keyword research, content optimization, competitive analysis, search-focused site architecture, and practical measurement.
Selected Website Work
Strategy, Development, and Problem-Solving Applied to Real Projects
Each project begins with a different organization, audience, and challenge. The work is shaped around what the website needs to accomplish rather than forcing every client into the same template.
Church Website
Living Springs Church
A church website rebuilt around clearer visitor pathways, integrated sermons and livestreaming, online giving, and dependable ongoing support.
Mission Organization
Ten2 Project
A focused missions website designed to explain the opportunity clearly and guide interested participants toward inquiry and application.
Local Business Website
Fixit Home Solutions
A local-business website designed to communicate services clearly, build trust, and create stronger paths from search to inquiry.
Different Projects Require Different Solutions
The Common Thread Is Thoughtful Work Built Around a Real Need
Some clients need a complete rebuild. Others need a focused improvement, custom feature, clearer content, stronger search foundations, or dependable ongoing support.
Let’s Talk About Your Website
Work Directly with the Person Responsible for the Strategy and the Build
Whether your website needs a complete rebuild, a focused improvement, stronger search foundations, clearer content, or dependable ongoing support, the first step is a practical conversation about what is not working and what needs to change.
You do not need to arrive with every feature, page, or technical detail already decided. I can help you identify an appropriate path forward.
What You Can Expect
- Direct communication with Gene
- A recommendation shaped around your actual needs
- Clear scope, responsibilities, and next steps
- Support that can continue after launch
Available for selected projects in Sioux Falls and for remote clients throughout the United States.