About Sara Does Search
Rather than building a traditional agency, I’ve chosen to work alongside a network of independent digital specialists across Eastern Iowa who share the same mindset about thoughtful work.
Designers, developers, SEO strategists, writers, and technical thinkers collaborate on projects where their expertise matters most. This approach allows local businesses to benefit from a wide range of skills while keeping projects flexible, creative, and focused.
The result is websites that feel modern and polished while still reflecting the real personality of the business.
Rooted in Eastern Iowa
Eastern Iowa has a strong tradition of builders, problem-solvers, and entrepreneurs. The businesses here value honesty, craftsmanship, and long-term relationships.
Many of the professionals who contribute to Sara Does Search have chosen independent work because it allows them to stay curious, creative, and deeply invested in the quality of what they produce.
By working together, we’re able to support the growth of local businesses while strengthening the community of digital talent across the region.
Human Websites in an Automated World
Technology and AI are changing how businesses appear online, but the most effective websites still begin with something simple: understanding people.
Here, modern tools and AI are used as helpful assistants. They are a tool in our belt, not a replacement for human thought and insights.
Every website is built to balance:
clarity for customers
structure for search engines and answer engines
and a sense of authenticity that reflects the business behind it
What We Value
Curiosity
The best solutions begin by asking better questions and staying open to new ideas.
Creativity
Design, writing, and technology should work together to communicate clearly and reflect the unique personality of each business.
Innovation
Digital tools and technology are constantly evolving, and we believe in exploring new ways to help businesses be discovered and understood online.
Integrity
Businesses deserve honest strategy, thoughtful work, and solutions built to last.
Community
Local businesses are the backbone of thriving communities, and their online presence should reflect the strength of the people behind them.
The Goal
Our goal at Sara Does Search is simple: to help small businesses build websites that are modern, functional, and easy for customers and the search engine to understand.
By combining thoughtful design, strategic SEO/AEO, and the expertise of independent specialists across Eastern Iowa, we create digital foundations that help businesses be discovered, trusted, and ready to grow.
Human websites built by people who care about local businesses
Hey, I’m Sara Germain.
I’m a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, where I earned a BA in Computer Science. While I wasn’t originally from Iowa, Eastern Iowa quickly became home, and it’s where I now live and raise my family. Living and working in this community has shaped how I approach my work.
I started Sara Does Search with a simple belief: small businesses deserve websites that feel as thoughtful, capable, and authentic as the the eastern Iowa businesses they represent.
Over the last 12 years (yup, I’ve actually been doing SEO that long), I’ve seen many local businesses struggle with websites that looked fine but didn’t clearly communicate what they do or help customers find them online. Too often, business owners were left choosing between expensive agencies or trying to build something themselves without the guidance they needed.
Sara Does Search was created to offer a different approach.