The verdict in three sentences
An executive search firm in Hong Kong serves two audiences on one website: boards and CEOs deciding whether to trust you with a confidential mandate, and senior candidates deciding whether to send you their CV. When the site looks dated, both groups notice, and the cost is real: clients hesitate to shortlist you, and strong candidates go to the firm whose site handles their data with visible care. A redesign with a local Hong Kong agency typically runs HKD 150,000 to 450,000 (about USD 19,000 to 58,000), while Kolonell works on a fixed grid of USD 2,900 (Starter), USD 4,900 (Growth) and USD 8,900 (Premium), with the main risks being SEO loss, careless candidate data handling under the PDPO and claims about placements that should never be published.
Two audiences, two sets of credibility tests
Clients and candidates read the same site with very different questions in mind. A redesign that serves only one of them leaves money on the table.
| Audience | What they check first | What breaks trust | What the new site should show |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board chair or CEO with a mandate | Practice areas, partner seniority, sector depth | Generic "we find talent" copy, no named partners | Practice pages (financial services, technology, family business, board appointments) with the partners who lead them |
| Group HR director | Process, timelines, confidentiality | No description of how a search runs | A clear search process page: briefing, mapping, assessment, shortlist, offer support |
| Regional head relocating to Hong Kong | Sector fit, discretion | Flashy layout with stock photos | Insight articles and partner bios that show real market understanding |
| Senior candidate | How to submit a CV, what happens to it | Upload form with no privacy information | Short form, clear purpose statement, retention period, contact for access requests |
| Candidate reading in Chinese | Language | English-only site | Premium, the multilingual tier, with English and Traditional Chinese set in the quote |
| Mobile visitor between meetings | Speed and readability | Heavy pages, broken menus | Lightweight pages tested on phones |
Never invent placements, client names or logos to fill a "track record" page. If clients have agreed to be named, quote them exactly; otherwise describe sectors and role levels in general terms.
What will a redesign cost in Hong Kong in 2026?
| Option | Price (2026 ballpark) | Typical timeline | Strength | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large Hong Kong digital agency | HKD 300,000 to 450,000+ (about USD 38,000 to 58,000+) | 12 to 20 weeks | Full brand work, workshops in person | Cost, long sign-off cycles |
| Mid-size Hong Kong agency | HKD 150,000 to 300,000 (about USD 19,000 to 38,000) | 8 to 14 weeks | Custom design, CMS | Copywriting often extra |
| Freelancer | HKD 50,000 to 120,000 (about USD 6,400 to 15,400) | 6 to 12 weeks | Lower cost | SEO migration and privacy work often missing |
| Kolonell Starter | USD 2,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Compact, sharp site with native English copywriting | Suited to a boutique with one or two practices |
| Kolonell Growth | USD 4,900 | 3 to 4 weeks | Fuller structure: practices, partners, insights, candidate page | Single-language scope unless agreed |
| Kolonell Premium | USD 8,900 | 4 to 6 weeks | The multilingual tier, languages set in the quote | Content in each language must be approved |
Local figures are typical agency quotes and public rate pages, converted from HKD at an approximate rate; they are not survey data. Every Kolonell tier includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks (Premium 4 to 6) once content is ready, and 3 months of support. A candidate portal with logins, an ATS integration or a client extranet is on quote. Maintenance after the first 3 months is also on quote; local retainers commonly run HKD 2,000 to 6,000 per month (market assumption). The full offer is described on the international websites page.
The risks that matter, and how to handle them
Search visibility. Search firms often rank for practice names and for "executive search Hong Kong" type queries. Changing URLs without a plan can erase that. The fix is a full URL inventory from Search Console and a crawl, a 301 redirect map, and close monitoring for 60 days after launch.
Candidate data. CV forms collect personal data, which brings the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance into play, overseen by the PCPD. In practice: collect only what is needed, state the purpose at the point of collection, define how long CVs are kept, and make it easy to request access or correction. Confirm the details with your counsel. This is not legal advice.
Confidential mandates. Insight articles and case descriptions must never reveal a live or past mandate that is not public. Build a compliance review into the timeline before go-live.
| Phase | Kolonell timing | Owner on your side | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| URL inventory and scope | Week 1 | Marketing or managing partner | Full list of URLs to keep or redirect |
| Bios, practice pages, candidate copy | Before build | Each partner for their bio | Signed-off copy |
| Design and build | Weeks 1 to 3 | Managing partner | Two design routes reviewed |
| Privacy and confidentiality review | Week 3 | Counsel or compliance lead | Privacy notice, retention period, no unapproved names |
| Launch and redirects | Weeks 3 to 4, Premium up to 6 | Kolonell with your IT | 301 map live, Search Console resubmitted, launch outside business hours |
When should you choose a local agency instead?
A Hong Kong agency is the better fit if you want in-person workshops with every partner, a complete rebrand including printed material, a candidate portal connected to your ATS from launch, or ongoing campaigns run by a team in the same office tower. If your priority is a credible site with strong English copy, a clean candidate journey and careful migration, delivered in weeks, a fixed-price remote studio covers it.
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Questions to ask before signing: who writes partner bios, how the candidate form handles retention, how the 301 map is checked, what is excluded from the price, and who reviews confidentiality before launch.
Mini case study
Illustrative example, fictional firm. Harbour Peak Partners, a six-partner executive search boutique in Central focused on financial services and family businesses, wants a site in English and Traditional Chinese. A local quote comes in at HKD 260,000, about USD 33,300.
The firm chooses Kolonell Premium, the multilingual tier, at USD 8,900, adds professional partner portraits at about USD 1,300 (market assumption) and a Chinese proofreading pass at about USD 900 (market assumption). Total: 8,900 + 1,300 + 900 = USD 11,100, roughly USD 22,200 below the local quote, with launch planned 6 weeks after copy sign-off.
FAQ
How long does an executive search website redesign take?
With Kolonell, 3 to 4 weeks for Starter or Growth and 4 to 6 weeks for Premium, from the moment content is approved. Partner bio sign-off is usually the slowest step.
Can the site be in English and Traditional Chinese?
Yes, with Premium, the multilingual tier at USD 8,900, with the languages set in the quote. Native proofreading of the Chinese version is often added as a market assumption of USD 500 to 1,500.
Can we publish the names of companies we have placed executives with?
Only with explicit client consent, and never for confidential mandates. Many firms describe sectors and role levels instead, for example "CFO searches for listed financial groups".
What does the PDPO mean for our CV form?
It means collecting only necessary data, stating the purpose, setting a retention period and handling access requests. A form of five to seven fields with a clear notice is a common approach; confirm details with counsel.
Will we lose search rankings when we redesign?
Not if URLs are inventoried, redirected with a 301 map and monitored for about 60 days. No serious provider promises a ranking, but careful migration protects what you already have.
Let's scope your project. Share your practices, languages and candidate flow, and we will confirm the tier and a 3 to 6 week plan. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
