About Michael Mitov
Web developer, SEO and the person who answers the phone. Building websites since 2000, running Deon Designs since 2008.
Hello, I’m Michael
My given name is Mihail. Most clients and colleagues in Canada know me as Michael, and a few who have worked with me since the early days still use Mihail. Either is fine.
I took my first computer courses and published my first website in 2000, moved to Canada the following year, and have been building, ranking and maintaining websites ever since. Over that time the tools have changed completely, from FrontPage and Dreamweaver to WordPress, Shopify and AI automation, but the job has not. A business needs a website that people can find, trust and act on, and that keeps working.
I founded Deon Designs in 2008. In 2018 I took on the role of Website Developer and SEO Project Manager at an SEO agency, which gave me a clear view of how agencies work, and why many small businesses are better served by one experienced specialist.
How I like to work
- You deal with me directly, from the first call to the hundredth support email.
- Advice is honest, even when the honest answer is “you do not need that”.
- Quotes are fixed and written down before work starts.
- You own your website, domain and accounts. Always.
- Sites are built lean so they are fast, secure and cheap to maintain.
Twenty-five years, briefly
- 2000The first site
Finished a set of computer courses and published my first website.
- 2001Canada
Moved from Europe to Canada and kept building: hand-written HTML and CSS in FrontPage, for anyone who needed a site.
- 2001–2008Nonprofits and the start of SEO
Ran the websites of a nonprofit organization for years. That is where search engine optimization became a habit, through Dreamweaver, then WordPress and Joomla.
- 2008Deon Designs
Opened my own web company, Deon Designs, which I still run today.
- 2008–2010Bigger technical work
Took on larger development and SEO projects in the IT sector, and spent a lot of time testing what actually moves rankings.
- 2010–2018Online stores
Built and ran stores on WooCommerce, Magento, Joomla VirtueMart, Shopify and X-Cart, alongside ongoing nonprofit work.
- 2018Inside an SEO agency
Worked in-house at an SEO agency, as Website Developer and SEO Project Manager, on client builds, web stores, hosting, maintenance and digital marketing.
- 2018–todayAutomation and care
Still building, ranking and maintaining sites, now with AI automation in my own workflow and in the tools I set up for clients.
Certifications and training
Formal training sits alongside two decades of hands-on work.
- Google Analytics Individual Qualification
- Google AdWords Fundamentals Certification
- Google Ads Display Certification
- Google Ads Measurement Certification
- Google Ads Search Certification
- Google Shopping Ads Certification
- Bing Ads Accredited Professional
- Technical SEO Certification, Blue Arrow Academy (2022)
- Technical SEO Course, Semrush (2022)
- Lightning Fast Web Performance, Catchpoint (2022)
- Digital Marketing Bootcamp, Alacrity Academy (2022)
- Social Media Strategy and Marketing, Drury University
- Web Analytics Certified Strategist, Instant eTraining
- Social Media Certified Strategist, Instant eTraining
- Professional Internet Marketer, WebCEO
- Business Management and Marketing, Insotus
- Snagit 2022 Certification
Published writing
I have written 11 bylined articles for the 1st on the List blog on web design, SEO, security and WordPress.
- How to Build a Mobile-First Website: A Complete Guide to SuccessDecember 31, 2024
- Why Custom SEO Is Your Business’s Secret Weapon (And Cookie-Cutter Tactics Just Don’t Cut It)September 30, 2024
- What Is Brand Messaging and How to Get StartedJanuary 9, 2023
- 5 Reasons Image Optimization Matters for SEOSeptember 8, 2022
- 5 Ecommerce SEO Best Practices You Can’t IgnoreMarch 11, 2022
What long-term clients say
I had the privilege to know Mihail for more than 15 years. We have hired him as a contractor to develop, customize, and maintain our website. His professional attitude, experience, web development skills, and programming knowledge help the website to be develop according to our requirements for the corporate branding.
I know Mihail since 2008 when I hired him as a contractor to develop our company website. His outstanding web development experiences and programming knowledge help the website to be develop in a professional manner. He ensured that the requirements for the corporate branding were met and all the technical requirements were implemented. Mihail is still working, updating and maintaining our website for the last 15+ years, and we feel very confident in his ability and web development skills.
Want to work together?
A few lines about your site and what is bothering you is enough. You will get a reply from me within one business day: what I would look at first, and what it would roughly involve.