Garrett Walker Designs

Websites That Convert
Call (224) 688-2364

Web Design for Lake County, IL & Southeast Wisconsin

Stand Out. Get Found. Get Called.
Most small-business websites look just like the competitor down the street. I build sites that look like your business, show up on Google and AI search, and are maintained by a 20-year IT and security pro. Every project starts with a free Sameness Audit and a free demo site. No cost, no obligation.
Get My Free Sameness Audit

Why Local Businesses Choose Garrett Walker Designs

Not another template shop. A real person in Lake County who designs, secures, and maintains your site.

Stand Out, Don't Blend In

A free Sameness Audit shows how your website and marketing stack up against competitors. Then I design something that's unmistakably yours, not a recycled template or generic AI look.

Found on Google & AI Search

Every site includes local SEO, schema markup, a real FAQ, and Google Business Profile setup, so Google, ChatGPT, and Gemini can find and recommend your business.

Built & Secured by an IT Pro

20+ years in enterprise IT and security. SSL, backups, business email, and updates are handled by someone who has supported 500+ user business environments.

Local & Accountable

Based in Waukegan, serving Lake County, IL and southeast Wisconsin. You work directly with me. No call centers, no long-term contracts.
Garrett walker headshot office

Why Garrett? Websites Built by an IT Pro, Not a Template Mill

I'm Garrett Walker, and I spent 20+ years in enterprise IT and security, most recently running internal IT and security operations for a 500+ user, multi-site manufacturer. I started Garrett Walker Designs because I kept seeing local businesses stuck with websites that look exactly like their competitors', aren't secured properly, and never show up when customers search.
When you work with me, you get:
  • A site that looks like your business, not a reused template or a generic AI design.
  • Search and AI visibility built in: local SEO, schema markup, FAQs, and Google Business Profile setup.
  • Real IT support: SSL, backups, business email, domain and DNS handled for you.
  • One local point of contact in Waukegan who answers the phone.
Proudly serving Waukegan, Gurnee, Zion, Libertyville, Mundelein, Grayslake, North Chicago, Lake Forest, and all of Lake County, IL, plus Kenosha, Racine, Pleasant Prairie, and southeast Wisconsin.
Not sure where your site stands? Request a free Sameness Audit and a free demo site. No cost, no obligation.
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It's as Easy as 1, 2, 3...

You are just a few small steps away from growing your business online.
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1. Get your free Sameness Audit

Tell me about your business and I'll review your current website, Google listing, and marketing against your local competitors. You get a plain-English report showing where you blend in and where you're losing customers.

All I need is:
  • Your business name and website (if you have one)
  • Your main products or services
  • The area you serve
Get Started Now
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2. I build your demo site for FREE

Using your audit results, I design a custom demo site that fixes what's holding you back, with a look that's yours, local SEO, and search-ready structure built in. You review it and request changes.
 
You see exactly what you're getting and are 100% satisfied before you pay a dime.
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3. Review your site and go live

Once you approve the design, I finish your content, connect your domain and business email, submit your site to Google, set up your Google Business Profile, and launch.

After launch, I keep it running: monthly updates, hosting, SSL, backups, and security monitoring, handled by an IT pro instead of a call center.
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Website Examples

Concept demo sites I built for real local businesses in Lake County. Click any one to open the live site and look around.
 
Example tonys handyman service
Example house of fire
Example moes fish chicken grill

Everything your business needs to get found and get called
 

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✓ Custom Design That Doesn't Look Like Your Competitors
✓ Mobile-Friendly on Every Device
✓ Local SEO for Your Town and Service Area
✓ Google & AI Search Visibility (schema markup, FAQs, Google Business Profile)
✓ SSL Certificate, Backups & Site Security
✓ Business Email & Domain Setup
✓ Hosting and Monthly Updates Included
✓ Real-Time Traffic Stats
✓ Local Support from a 20-Year IT Pro
✓ Live in About 1 to 2 Weeks

 
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Simple, Affordable Pricing
No complicated plans. No hidden fees.

Simply pay a one-time set up fee followed by a low monthly service for hosting and support. That’s it! Your site will be ready in about a week.
View Plans & Pricing

FAQ
Commonly asked questions and answers.

What is a Sameness Audit?
A free review of your website, Google Business Profile, and marketing compared to your local competitors. I show you where your business blends in, what's costing you calls, and exactly what to fix. Plain English, no obligation.
 
Will you really build my demo site for free?
Yes. Every project starts with a free custom demo so you can see exactly what you're getting before you pay anything. If you don't love it, you walk away.
 
How is Garrett Walker Designs different from other web designers?
You work directly with me, a 20-year enterprise IT and security professional, not a call center or overseas team. Your site is designed to look like your business, not a reused template, and it's built and secured the way I secured business systems for 500+ users.
 
Will my website show up on Google and in AI search tools like ChatGPT?
Every site is built with local SEO, schema markup (structured data search engines and AI tools read), clear service and FAQ content, and a properly set up Google Business Profile. That gives Google, ChatGPT, and Gemini the information they need to find and recommend you. No one can guarantee rankings, but these are the foundations most small-business sites are missing.
 
What areas do you serve?
I'm based in Waukegan, IL and work with businesses throughout Lake County, including Gurnee, Zion, Libertyville, Mundelein, Grayslake, North Chicago, and Lake Forest, plus Kenosha, Racine, and southeast Wisconsin. I can also work remotely with businesses anywhere in the U.S.
 
How long does it take to launch?
Most sites go live in about 1 to 2 weeks after you approve your demo, depending on how quickly content and feedback come in.
 
Do I have to sign a long-term contract?
No. There's a one-time setup fee and a monthly service plan for hosting, security, and updates. No long-term contracts.
 
Can you help with business email, domains, and other tech?
Yes. That's my background. I can set up your domain, business email, DNS, and Google Business Profile, and help with the tech that usually falls through the cracks for small businesses.

Find out if your business blends in. Free.

Get a free Sameness Audit and a free demo site, with no cost and no obligation. Fill out the form below or call or text Garrett directly at (224) 688-2364.
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Fill out the form below to get started.

I look forward to hearing from you!