Frequently Asked Questions

StrategyFive has two service pathways. You choose the pathway at the start.

• CRO Programme: A managed programme where StrategyFive owns the CRO roadmap, release cadence, and measurement hygiene. Entry is via a 90 day Performance Gateway at £0, with fees starting only once GA4 confirms at least a 12% uplift in revenue per visitor or conversion rate against an agreed baseline.
• Development: A collaborative WooCommerce development retainer with CRO expertise. You choose priorities and StrategyFive advises on impact and risks. Delivery runs within a monthly time budget. There is no Performance Gateway and no uplift guarantee.

Both pathways require your site to be on the StrategyFive Platform. This standardises speed, stability, staging, release safety, backups, monitoring, and governance.

If you want StrategyFive to own the roadmap and prove uplift in GA4, choose CRO Programme. If you need a partner to ship a backlog and you want to direct development priorities, choose Development.

StrategyFive is designed for established WooCommerce brands with product market fit and enough traffic and trading stability to support meaningful optimisation.

• WooCommerce site with consistent trading and meaningful session volume.
• A functioning acquisition engine such as paid search, SEO, email, affiliates, or partnerships.
• Willingness to grant access to GA4 and align on baseline measurement rules.
• Openness to controlled releases and avoiding conflicting changes during agreed windows.

We start with a short qualification call to confirm pathway fit, measurement viability, and platform migration readiness.

If it is a fit, we provide a written proposal. The proposal confirms baseline rules, tier selection, governance expectations, and a start date.

We are not the right partner for every store. It is better to be clear upfront.

• Non WooCommerce platforms.
• Stores without stable trading or meaningful session volume.
• Teams that cannot grant GA4 access or align on baseline measurement rules.
• Situations where controlled releases and change control are not possible.
• Brands looking for a general digital agency, a redesign studio, or paid media management.

We help WooCommerce brands grow profitably by improving revenue per visitor, conversion performance, and customer experience, without compromising platform stability.

Depending on the pathway, the work typically includes:

• Speed, stability, and measurement foundations, including Core Web Vitals and technical hygiene work where appropriate.
• UX and friction removal across key journeys such as product discovery, product pages, cart, checkout, and key post purchase steps.
• Experimentation and compounding gains, including A/B testing when foundations are reliable and traffic supports it.
• Safe delivery through staging, controlled releases, rollback readiness for higher risk changes, and post release checks.

We implement changes. Reporting shows what shipped, what changed, and the outcome.

No. StrategyFive is not a redesign studio. We optimise for consistent progress rather than dramatic redesigns that introduce risk.

No. We specialise in WordPress and WooCommerce.

No. StrategyFive is not a paid media management service. We focus on onsite performance, conversion, and the delivery system that supports safe releases.

Yes, as long as roles and change control are clear.

For CRO Programme, StrategyFive owns the roadmap, prioritisation, release cadence, and measurement hygiene. During the Performance Gateway, non essential client requested work is out of scope and is either deferred until after proof or triggers a switch to Development.

Client led changes that materially interfere with measurement or roadmap delivery can end the Gateway by mutual agreement.

For Development, you own priorities and StrategyFive advises on conversion impact, technical risk, and sequencing. Delivery still follows staging first and controlled releases.

The CRO Programme is a managed programme where StrategyFive owns the CRO roadmap, prioritisation, release cadence, and measurement hygiene.

It is designed to improve revenue per visitor and conversion rate in a disciplined, measurable way, using GA4 as the source of truth.

Entry is via the 90 day Performance Gateway at £0.

The Performance Gateway is the proof period for the CRO Programme.

We deliver the Gateway at £0 for up to 90 days, aiming to reach the success threshold in GA4.

The success threshold is at least a 12% uplift in revenue per visitor or conversion rate in GA4 against an agreed baseline.

If any rolling 30 day measurement window meets the success threshold, the first invoice covers that successful window in arrears and the client moves onto a fixed monthly tier.

No. The Gateway lasts up to 90 days.

If the success threshold is met earlier, billing starts for the preceding successful 30 day measurement window in arrears.

The success threshold is at least a 12% uplift in revenue per visitor or conversion rate in GA4 against an agreed baseline.

Core definitions:

• Revenue per visitor: net revenue divided by sessions, measured in GA4.
• Conversion rate: measured in GA4 using the agreed primary conversion event.

The baseline window and comparison method are agreed at onboarding and recorded in the shared context log. Default is year on year comparison. Where year on year is not viable, a pegged baseline is agreed and logged.

The CRO Programme includes:

• Speed and technical optimisation on the StrategyFive Platform.
• Measurement and analytics foundations in GA4.
• UX and conversion audits across key journeys.
• Experimentation and A/B testing once foundations are reliable.
• Monthly reporting and a shared context log.

Delivery follows three stages:

• Stage 1: speed, stability, and measurement.
• Stage 2: UX and friction removal.
• Stage 3: experimentation and compounding gains.

The CRO Programme is intentionally focused. It does not include:

• Client led development backlogs, feature builds, or redesign projects.
• Building new functionality that is not required to execute the CRO roadmap.
• Ongoing support for third party code bases outside StrategyFive Platform.

If you want to direct development priorities or ship a backlog, the correct product is Development.

During the Gateway, controlled releases and measurement hygiene protect fairness.

Non essential work requested by the client is treated as out of scope and is either deferred until after proof or triggers a switch to Development.

Client led changes that materially interfere with measurement or roadmap delivery can end the Gateway by mutual agreement.

Switching is possible, but the rules are intentionally strict to protect fairness and credibility.

Any of the following should trigger a switch discussion from CRO Programme to Development:

• The client requests feature development that is not required for the CRO roadmap.
• The client insists on shipping changes outside the agreed release cadence during the Gateway.
• The client asks StrategyFive to implement a backlog that would materially alter templates, checkout, navigation, catalogue structure, pricing presentation, promotions logic, or tracking setup during the Gateway window.

When a switch is agreed during the Gateway, the Gateway ends by mutual agreement. Development billing starts from the next billing period.

Onboarding starts with confirming access, environments, and the staging workflow.

At minimum we need GA4 access and WordPress and WooCommerce administrator access. We also confirm what is needed to migrate to the StrategyFive Platform and operate controlled releases safely.

Reporting is designed to show progress clearly and keep measurement fair.

• A live dashboard view showing baseline versus current, what shipped, and outcomes.
• A monthly performance summary covering uplift versus baseline, tests run, learnings, and the next month plan.
• Success threshold progress is shown only for CRO Programme clients.

The shared context log records events that affect interpretation, such as major launches, pricing changes, promotions, consent changes, tracking gaps, and incidents.

A pegged baseline is an agreed fixed baseline used when year on year comparison is not viable.

It is agreed at onboarding and recorded in the shared context log, so uplift comparisons remain fair.

If the success threshold is not met within 90 days, you pay nothing for the Performance Gateway period.

We still share what shipped, the measurement context, and what we would recommend next.

Development is a collaborative WooCommerce development retainer with CRO expertise.

You own priorities. StrategyFive provides estimates and advises on conversion impact, technical risk, and sequencing.

Delivery runs within a monthly time budget. There is no Performance Gateway and no uplift guarantee.

Your site is hosted on the StrategyFive Platform.

The Development retainer includes:

• StrategyFive Platform plus maintenance and performance work.
• A monthly time budget that can be used for CRO analysis, development, QA, releases, and reporting.
• CRO expertise to help prioritise the highest impact work first.
• Transparent time tracking, weekly updates, and monthly time reporting.

Development is designed to be predictable and fair. It does not include:

• Uncapped work beyond the monthly time budget.
• Uplift guarantees. Performance reporting is provided as insight, not as a contractual success threshold.

Any work beyond the monthly time budget requires explicit written approval and is billed at the standard hourly rate, or borrowed by agreement.

Platform Only includes the StrategyFive Platform only. Development work is £75 per hour plus VAT.

Any time beyond the monthly budget is either borrowed from the next month by agreement, or billed at £75 per hour plus VAT.

Time is tracked in 30 minute increments.

The monthly time budget can be used for:

• CRO analysis and prioritisation.
• Development and implementation.
• QA and release work.
• Performance and stability work.
• Tracking and measurement work.
• Reporting and optional calls if required.

Meetings, planning, and reporting are tracked within the time budget.

You can roll unused hours into the next month only.

You can also borrow up to one month of hours forward by agreement.

On termination, any unused hours are refunded.

Overage work is only done with explicit written approval.

By agreement, extra time can be borrowed from the next month. If not, it is billed at £75 per hour plus VAT. Time is tracked in 30 minute increments.

We keep communication predictable and specific.

• Weekly: a written update via the StrategyFive dashboard, including what shipped, what is next, and time used.
• Monthly: a time report by category, plus remaining hours carried into the next month if applicable.
• Ongoing: a dashboard view of work shipped and performance snapshots. For Development, performance is framed as insight rather than guarantee.

Yes. The time budget can be used for CRO analysis and conversion related work, alongside build and engineering.

StrategyFive helps prioritise by expected conversion impact and delivery risk. Performance reporting is provided as insight, not as a contractual success threshold.

Yes. Switching is possible and the rules are clear.

During the Performance Gateway, non essential client requested work is out of scope and is either deferred until after proof or triggers a switch to Development. If a switch is agreed during the Gateway, the Gateway ends by mutual agreement and Development billing starts from the next billing period.

In the first week we:

• Confirm access, environments, and the staging workflow.
• Agree month one priorities and the monthly cap.
• Create a backlog list and define a definition of done for releases.
• Confirm time tracking and reporting cadence.

StrategyFive Platform is the managed WordPress and WooCommerce environment that underpins both pathways.

It is not positioned as generic hosting. It is a delivery system for performance, stability, safe releases, and measurable optimisation.

Yes. All clients must be on the StrategyFive Platform for CRO Programme and Development.

The platform layer standardises speed, stability, staging, release safety, backups, monitoring, and governance.

Platform capabilities include:

• Managed hosting, maintenance, security hardening, and updates.
• Staging environments for QA and controlled releases.
• Daily backups and tested restore procedures.
• Monitoring and alerting, with clear incident response routines.
• Caching and performance tooling tuned for WooCommerce behaviour.
• A standardised approach to Core Web Vitals improvement and technical hygiene.

We prioritise user perceived speed and checkout reliability over vanity metrics.

Our performance and reliability approach includes:

• Conservative caching patterns that respect WooCommerce cookies and personalised sessions.
• Optimising images, assets, and caching policies. We use critical CSS and safe script deferral where appropriate.
• Using persistent object caching where it provides measurable benefit.
• Avoiding changes that improve one metric but introduce instability or tracking regressions.

Yes. We use staging first for all meaningful changes.

We ship through controlled releases within an agreed release window. For higher risk changes, we plan rollback readiness. After release, we run checks for tracking, performance, and checkout flows.

Platform includes daily backups and tested restore procedures.

We also run monitoring and alerting with clear incident response routines, so issues are spotted and handled quickly.

Support is provided during UK business hours as standard.

For priority one incidents, clients can escalate via email and telephone. The primary objective is restoration of service, followed by root cause analysis and prevention.

Pricing is designed to be predictable and fair. It avoids revenue share and complex variable fees.

• CRO Programme: entry is via a 90 day Performance Gateway at £0. Fees start only once GA4 confirms the success threshold in a rolling 30 day window.
• Development: a fixed monthly retainer that includes the StrategyFive Platform plus a monthly time budget.
• Platform Only: StrategyFive Platform on its own at £250 per month plus VAT.

Billing is monthly in arrears. All time is tracked. Time is either included within the relevant budget, or billed separately when approved.

The CRO Programme starts with performance proof through the Performance Gateway.

Once the Gateway is successful, CRO Programme fees are fixed monthly by tier. There is no revenue share.

Development is fixed monthly by tier and acts as a budget cap. It has no Performance Gateway and no uplift guarantee.

After the Performance Gateway, CRO Programme clients move onto a fixed monthly tier on the StrategyFive Platform.

All prices are per month and exclude VAT.

Development tiers include the StrategyFive Platform plus a monthly time budget.

Any time beyond the monthly budget is either borrowed from the next month by agreement, or billed at £75 per hour plus VAT.

Yes. Platform Only is £250 per month plus VAT.

It includes the StrategyFive Platform only. It does not include the CRO Programme, UX audits, or A/B testing.

Development work on Platform Only is £75 per hour plus VAT.

The Performance Gateway lasts up to 90 days and is delivered at £0.

If any rolling 30 day measurement window meets the success threshold, the first invoice covers that successful window in arrears at the tier agreed at onboarding. After proof, the client moves onto the fixed monthly tier.

GA4 is the source of truth for performance validation.

• Revenue per visitor: net revenue divided by sessions, measured in GA4.
• Conversion rate: measured in GA4 using the agreed primary conversion event.

The baseline is agreed at onboarding. Default is year on year comparison. Where year on year is not viable, a pegged baseline is agreed and logged in the shared context log.

Success threshold progress is shown only for CRO Programme clients. Development reporting is framed as insight rather than guarantee.

For CRO Programme clients, any out of scope development is billed at £75 per hour plus VAT, in 30 minute increments, with written approval before work begins.

For Development clients, any work beyond the monthly time budget requires explicit written approval. Extra time is either borrowed from the next month by agreement, or billed at £75 per hour plus VAT.

Billing is monthly in arrears and invoices are issued via email.

Time is tracked in 30 minute increments. Meetings, planning, and reporting are tracked.

All time is either included within the relevant budget, or billed separately when approved.

Unused Development time can roll over into the next month only.

By agreement, you can borrow up to one month of hours forward.

On termination, any unused hours are refunded.

Support is provided during UK business hours as standard, Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:30, excluding UK public holidays.

For priority one incidents, clients can escalate via email and telephone.

The primary objective is restoration of service, followed by root cause analysis and prevention.

Delivery is designed to be repeatable, safe, and measurable.

• Staging first for all meaningful changes.
• Controlled releases within an agreed release window.
• Rollback readiness for higher risk changes.
• Post release checks for tracking, performance, and checkout flows.
• Monitoring and error logging to reduce incident frequency and improve response time.
• WooCommerce best practice development patterns. We use hooks where possible, keep template overrides minimal, and never modify core plugin files.

Yes. Staging environments for QA and controlled releases are part of StrategyFive Platform.

StrategyFive guarantees the quality of its own work.

If something StrategyFive built breaks, StrategyFive fixes it.

If the issue is a defect in something StrategyFive built, StrategyFive fixes it.

If the issue is caused by third party code, external services, or client introduced changes, investigation and fixes are treated as development work. That time is either included within the relevant Development time budget, or billed at £75 per hour plus VAT with written approval.

Email support@strategyfive.io with the affected URL, a clear description of the issue, and steps to reproduce.

For priority one incidents, escalate via email and telephone.

Security is built into StrategyFive Platform and delivery standards.

• Managed hosting, maintenance, security hardening, and updates.
• Staging first and controlled releases, so changes are tested before they go live.
• Daily backups and tested restore procedures.
• Monitoring and alerting, with clear incident response routines.

StrategyFive operates under UK GDPR and related data protection obligations.

Clients remain the Data Controller for customer data. StrategyFive acts as a Data Processor where relevant during delivery.

Confidentiality obligations are defined in the contract and survive termination.

AI is used as a productivity layer, not a substitute for judgement or engineering quality.

We do not place personal data or sensitive client data into public AI tools unless explicitly agreed.

We keep an audit trail of what shipped and why, including links to tickets, commits, and release notes.

All policies are available on our Terms and Policies page.

You can find Terms and Conditions, the Privacy Notice, and the Cookie Notice at strategyfive.io/legal/.

These FAQs summarise how we work. Your contract and Terms contain the binding definitions.

StrategyFive is built around two pathways, both delivered on StrategyFive Platform:

• CRO Programme: managed roadmap with a 90 day Performance Gateway at £0. Fees start only once GA4 confirms at least a 12% uplift in revenue per visitor or conversion rate against an agreed baseline.
• Development: collaborative retainer with a monthly time budget and no Performance Gateway. There is no uplift guarantee.

The 12% uplift promise applies only to the CRO Programme when StrategyFive owns the roadmap.

Development time budgets roll over by one month only and can be borrowed forward by up to one month by agreement.

Unused hours are refunded on termination.

Overage is only done with explicit written approval and billed at £75 per hour plus VAT.

Exit is designed to be clear and practical.

StrategyFive provides backups, documentation, and access to deliverables as agreed.