Answers
Questions, answered.
Straight answers to the questions businesses ask us most about websites, systems, branding, marketing and AI search. 35 answers, written by the M7Alpha team.
About M7Alpha
About us- What does M7Alpha Creative Studios do?
- M7Alpha Creative Studios is a web design and development agency in Malta. We design and build websites and e-commerce stores, develop custom internal systems, create brands, run digital marketing, and provide AEO, GEO and SEO consultancy so businesses are found in Google and recommended by AI assistants. We have been doing this since 2004 and have delivered more than 300 websites.
- Where is M7Alpha based?
- Our studio is at Level 1, Baldacchino Buildings, Valletta Road, Żurrieq ZRQ 9011, Malta. We work with businesses across Malta and Gozo, and with clients abroad remotely. Meetings are by appointment: email us or book a discovery call.
- Do you outsource any of the work?
- No. Every project is designed, built and managed by our own in-house team. We never pass work on to other agencies, which keeps delivery faster and means you always deal directly with the people doing the work.
- What are AEO and GEO, and why do they matter for a Maltese business?
- AEO (answer engine optimisation) and GEO (generative engine optimisation) make your business the answer when people ask AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot or Perplexity for a recommendation. They build on SEO: clear, factual content, structured data and a consistent business identity across the web, so AI tools can understand, trust and cite you.
- What size of business do you work with?
- Businesses of every size and in every industry, from local shops and start-ups to some of Malta’s largest groups, including AX Group, eCabs, Malet Travel and Hugo’s. Several clients have worked with us for 10 to 15 years.
- Do you support websites after launch?
- Yes. Maintenance and support retainers give you first priority and lower running costs, and can cover hosting, updates, security, content, digital marketing and ongoing development. Our systems are modular, so new features can be added at any stage as your business grows.
- When was M7Alpha founded?
- M7Alpha Creative Studios was founded in 2004 by Maurice Aquilina, who still leads the studio as Founder and Director.
- What are M7Alpha’s opening hours?
- Our studio hours are Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00. Meetings are by appointment: email us or book a discovery call.
- How do I start a project with M7Alpha?
- Send us a short enquiry through our contact page or book a free discovery call. We will ask about your goals, timeline and budget, then send a clear proposal with scope, timeline and cost.
- Which industries does M7Alpha work with?
- We work with every industry. Our clients include businesses in hospitality, transport and mobility, technology, construction, education, retail, travel and professional services.
Web Design & Development
Service details- How long does it take to build a website in Malta?
- It depends on scope. A focused company website usually takes a matter of weeks, while larger platforms, e-commerce stores and multi-division corporate sites take a few months. We agree a clear timeline in the proposal, before any work starts.
- How much does a website cost?
- Cost depends on the number of pages and templates, custom functionality, e-commerce needs, integrations, content and ongoing support. We quote every project individually after a short discovery call, so you only pay for what your business actually needs.
- Do you use templates or build custom websites?
- We design and build custom websites. Your site is planned around your business, your customers and the questions they ask, which makes it faster, easier to manage and more effective in search than a generic template.
- Will I be able to update the website myself?
- Yes. Our websites come with a content management system set up for your team, so you can edit pages, publish news and manage products without technical knowledge. We also offer support retainers if you prefer us to handle updates.
- Is SEO included in your web design service?
- Yes. Every website includes technical SEO foundations: fast loading, clean structure, metadata, structured data, sitemaps and redirects from your old site. For ongoing growth in Google and AI assistants, we also offer dedicated AEO, GEO and SEO consultancy.
- Can you redesign my existing website without losing my Google rankings?
- Yes. We audit your current site, keep or redirect every important URL, and carry over your best content so search engines can follow the move. Redirect planning is a standard part of every redesign we do.
Internal Systems
Service details- What is an internal system?
- An internal system is custom software that your business uses behind the scenes, such as a management system, portal or booking platform. It replaces spreadsheets and disconnected tools with one place for your team’s work and data.
- Why choose a custom system over off-the-shelf software?
- Off-the-shelf software makes you adapt to its way of working and often charges per user for features you never use. A custom system is built around your processes, integrates with the tools you already have, and can be extended whenever your needs change.
- Can a custom system connect to our existing website and software?
- Yes. We regularly integrate systems with websites, accounting and payment platforms, email services and third-party tools through their APIs, so information flows automatically instead of being copied by hand.
- How long does it take to build an internal system?
- It depends on the processes involved. We usually deliver in phases, starting with the features that save the most time, so your team can start using the system early while further modules are built.
- Who owns the system and the data?
- You do. Your business data belongs to you, and we agree ownership and hosting arrangements clearly in the proposal before any development starts.
Brand Building & Consultancy
Service details- What is included in a brand identity?
- A brand identity usually includes a logo and its variations, a colour palette, typography, imagery style and graphic elements, all documented in a brand book that explains how to use them consistently.
- What is the difference between a logo and a brand?
- A logo is one visual mark. A brand is the full impression people have of your business: your positioning, personality, messaging and the consistent visual identity that expresses them. A strong logo matters, but it works best as part of a clear brand.
- Can you refresh our brand without losing recognition?
- Yes. A brand refresh modernises your identity while keeping the elements customers already recognise. We have refreshed long-established Maltese brands, including Zamco, which has traded for over 50 years.
- Do you also apply the new brand to our website and marketing?
- Yes. Because branding, web design and digital marketing all happen in-house, we can roll your new identity out across your website, social media, signage and print in one coordinated project.
Digital Media Marketing & Management
Service details- What does a digital marketing agency do?
- A digital marketing agency plans and runs your online marketing: strategy, content, social media, advertising, email and reporting. The aim is to reach the right audiences consistently and turn attention into enquiries and sales.
- Do you manage social media accounts for businesses in Malta?
- Yes. We manage social media for businesses in Malta and abroad end to end, from strategy and content creation to publishing, community management and monthly reporting.
- How do you measure marketing results?
- We agree goals at the start, such as enquiries, sales, bookings or reach, and track them with analytics. Monthly reports show what is working and what we will change next.
- Can you run paid advertising on Google and social media?
- Yes. We plan, set up and optimise paid campaigns on Google and social platforms, aligned with your organic marketing and measured against clear objectives.
AEO, GEO & SEO Consultancy
Service details- What is AEO?
- AEO, or answer engine optimisation, is the practice of structuring your content so search engines and AI assistants can lift it as a direct answer to a question. It relies on clear, factual, well-organised content and structured data.
- What is GEO?
- GEO, or generative engine optimisation, focuses on how generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot and Perplexity understand, trust and recommend your business. It covers your website, structured data and how consistently your business is described across the web.
- Is SEO still important now that people use AI assistants?
- Yes. AI assistants rely heavily on content that search engines already understand and trust. Strong SEO is the foundation that AEO and GEO build on, so the three work best together.
- How do I get my business recommended by ChatGPT?
- Make it easy for AI to understand and trust you: publish clear, answer-first content about your services, add complete structured data, keep your business details identical across your website, Google Business Profile and directories, and earn mentions on reputable sites. We audit and improve all of these.
- How long does AEO, GEO and SEO take to show results?
- Technical fixes can have an effect within weeks, while content and reputation work builds over months. We report progress regularly so you can see changes in rankings, AI mentions and AI-referred traffic.
- Can you check how my business appears in AI assistants today?
- Yes. Our AI visibility audit tests the questions your customers ask across the major AI assistants and shows where you appear, where competitors appear instead, and what to fix first.