# Traff1k — Full-Stack Ecommerce Engineering > We design, build, and operate autonomous growth systems for ecommerce businesses. Open source first. No lock-in. One quarter to value. ## Company Overview Traff1k is an operator-led digital engineering consultancy based in London, UK. Founded by a Trading Director with 20+ years of hands-on ecommerce experience — managing P&Ls, building platforms, writing code, and driving revenue across beauty, fashion, luxury, and lifestyle sectors. We operate in the UK, EU, and US markets. We are not an agency. We are operators on contract — accountable to the same numbers you are. ## Core Positioning - Full-stack ecommerce engineering - Autonomous, analytically-driven growth systems - Open source frameworks and bespoke middleware (no plugin/licensing bloat) - Self-improving feedback loops for content, CRO, UX, and search visibility - Trusted advisor model: aim to exit within 90 days, not lock in for 12 months ## Services ### SEO & AI Search Engineering URL: https://traff1k.io/services/seo-ai-search Technical SEO audits, AI Engine Optimisation (AEO), Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), content strategy and systems, entity authority building, knowledge graph architecture, link acquisition, and search performance engineering. We optimise for Google, Bing, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude. Design phase: Full technical and competitive audit, AI search citation analysis, opportunity and risk mapping, prioritised roadmap with ROI projections, KPI framework. Build phase: Hands-on implementation, content production and deployment, technical fixes, schema markup, site architecture. Operate phase: Self-optimising content loops, AI-driven search adaptation, algorithm change response, commercial reporting tied to P&L. ### Ecommerce Platform Engineering URL: https://traff1k.io/services/platform-engineering Platform architecture and builds for WooCommerce, Shopify, and headless commerce. Multi-region, multi-currency, multi-language operations. Bespoke supplier and feed integrations. Payment, tax, and VAT compliance. Custom middleware and API connectors. We build on open source — no costly app plugins, integration fees, or licensing overhead. Design phase: Platform selection and architecture, conversion funnel mapping, multi-region strategy, supplier and fulfilment design. Build phase: Store builds and migrations, bespoke supplier integrations, payment/tax compliance, custom middleware and API connectors. Operate phase: Performance monitoring, supplier feed management, ongoing platform maintenance, revenue and margin reporting. ### DevOps & Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) URL: https://traff1k.io/services/technical-operations Infrastructure as code, container orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes), CI/CD pipelines, deployment automation, monitoring and alerting, incident response, zero-downtime deployments, load testing, capacity planning, edge computing. Open source stack evaluation and implementation. Design phase: Architecture and stack selection, API and integration mapping, infrastructure as code design, open source stack evaluation. Build phase: Bespoke middleware integrations, CI/CD pipelines, container orchestration, AI/LLM workflow implementation. Operate phase: Site reliability engineering, monitoring/alerting/incident response, zero-downtime deployments, load testing and capacity planning. ## Operating Model: Design → Build → Operate A disciplined, repeatable operating model honed over two decades: 1. Design (Weeks 1-3): Diagnose, strategise, architect. Every engagement starts with a deep audit — technical health, search visibility, AI presence, competitive landscape, and commercial performance. No assumptions, no templates. 2. Build (Weeks 3-10): Engineer, ship, iterate. We build the systems ourselves — writing the code, shipping the content, configuring the platforms. This is where we diverge from every consultancy that hands over a deck and walks away. 3. Operate (Ongoing): Autonomous improvement loops. We engineer self-improving systems — analytical feedback loops that continuously optimise content, UX, conversion, and search visibility without manual intervention. The system learns, adapts, and compounds. ## The TRAFF1K Framework Seven operating principles: - T — Track the Mechanism: Measure what changes decisions. Ignore what fills dashboards. If a metric doesn't alter behaviour, it's noise. We instrument for insight, not reporting theatre. - R — Revenue Accountable: Every technical decision connects to commercial outcome. We don't optimise systems — we optimise the economics those systems produce. If it doesn't move revenue, margin, or efficiency, we don't do it. - A — Accelerate Deliberately: Speed without direction is just velocity. We compress time-to-value, not cut corners. The fastest path is the one that doesn't need reworking in six months. - F — First Principles Engineering: Strip the assumption. Find the mechanism. Most ecommerce problems are misdiagnosed because the tooling points at the wrong layer. We start with the requirement, not the product brochure. - F — Full Stack Ownership: DNS to checkout. Infrastructure to conversion. Open source frameworks and bespoke middleware — not plugin marketplaces and licensing chains. One operator, one system, one outcome. - 1 — One Quarter to Value: Aim for step-change within 90 days. Long engagements create dependency. Short ones create momentum. If we can't demonstrate measurable impact in one quarter, something is structurally wrong. - K — Knowledge Transfers, Not Lock-in: We build capability inside your organisation. Every integration documented. Every system explained. The goal is to make ourselves unnecessary — not indispensable. That's how you know the partnership is honest. ## Open Stack Philosophy We assess the actual business requirement first — not the vendor pitch. Most £500/month SaaS subscriptions solve a problem that a focused, well-tested script handles permanently. We assemble from open source frameworks, middleware stacks, and direct API integrations. No per-seat licensing, no monthly plugin subscriptions, no vendor lock-in. You own the code, the infrastructure, and the integrations. When we exit, everything stays and everything works. ## Technology Stack Commerce: Shopify, WooCommerce, Stripe Edge/CDN: Cloudflare Workers, Vercel Edge AI/LLM: OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, Hugging Face, LangChain Data: Neo4j, Redis, Cloudflare Analytics, Ahrefs API-first/Headless: REST, GraphQL, Headless CMS Infrastructure: Docker, Kubernetes, Node.js, Next.js ## Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is AI search optimisation? A: AI search optimisation (also called AEO or GEO) ensures your brand is cited and recommended by AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and Claude — not just traditional search engines like Google. This requires structured data, entity authority, topical depth, and specific content architecture. Q: What platforms do you work with? A: We specialise in WooCommerce, Shopify, and headless commerce architectures built on Next.js. We also work across custom platforms, Magento, and BigCommerce. Our preference is open source stacks with bespoke integrations. Q: Do you require long-term contracts? A: No. We aim to deliver step-change value within 90 days — one quarter. We work on rolling monthly engagements. Results are our retention strategy, not lock-in clauses. Q: What does a free audit include? A: Every initial conversation includes a complimentary assessment of your technical SEO health, AI search visibility, site performance, competitive positioning, and platform architecture. Q: Do you work with agencies on a white-label basis? A: Yes. We partner with agencies as a white-label technical resource. Your brand, our expertise. All work is confidential and conflict-free. Q: What is the TRAFF1K Framework? A: Seven operating principles that govern every engagement: Track the Mechanism, Revenue Accountable, Accelerate Deliberately, First Principles Engineering, Full Stack Ownership, One Quarter to Value, Knowledge Transfers Not Lock-in. Q: Why open source over commercial platforms? A: Open source eliminates licensing costs, vendor lock-in, and dependency on third-party roadmaps. You own the code, the integrations, and the infrastructure. When we exit the engagement, everything stays and works. Q: What is your approach to DevOps and SRE? A: We treat ecommerce infrastructure as a reliability engineering problem. Docker containerisation, CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, monitoring/alerting, zero-downtime deployments, and load testing before peak trading periods. Most agencies don't touch infrastructure — we consider it foundational. Q: How do autonomous growth loops work? A: We engineer closed-loop systems where every deployment generates data, that data feeds analysis, analysis triggers optimisation, and optimisation improves the next cycle. Content performance drives topic selection. User behaviour drives UX adaptation. Conversion data drives A/B testing. The system compounds without manual intervention. Q: What industries do you work with? A: Primarily ecommerce and direct-to-consumer brands across beauty, fashion, luxury, lifestyle, health, and home categories. We also work with B2B ecommerce operations and marketplace sellers. Q: Where are you based? A: London, UK — working globally across UK, EU, and US markets. All engagements are remote-first. Q: How do I get started? A: Contact us at hello@traff1k.io or use the form at traff1k.io/#contact. We'll arrange an initial conversation and complimentary audit. Q: What makes Traff1k different from a typical SEO agency? A: We're not an agency. We're operators. We write the code, build the infrastructure, ship the content, and are accountable to commercial outcomes — not vanity metrics. We aim to build capability inside your organisation and exit within a quarter, not create dependency through 12-month retainers. Q: Do you build custom integrations? A: Yes. We build bespoke middleware, API connectors, and data pipelines. We start with the actual business requirement and engineer the simplest, most maintainable solution — typically using open source tools and direct API calls rather than off-the-shelf SaaS products. Q: What reporting do you provide? A: Monthly commercial reporting tied to P&L outcomes, not just traffic metrics. We measure what changes decisions and ignore what fills dashboards. Quarterly strategy recalibration based on performance data. ## Published Insights Technical articles at traff1k.io/insights across four authority layers: ### Field Notes (short observations from live operations) - Revenue can grow while profit collapses - GA4 hides your most expensive operational problems - ROAS is the most dangerous number in your dashboard - CRO wins are probably just statistical noise - Your conversion rate probably didn't drop - Fast page speed ≠ fast experience - Shopify apps are hidden latency ### Engineering Breakdowns (deep technical mechanisms) - Attribution systems vs commercial reality - Rankings no longer predict traffic - AI answers are stealing your best customers - Category pages now compete with aggregators - How AI search selects sources - Why fast ecommerce sites still feel slow ### Systems Papers (mental models and frameworks) - The illusion of measured growth - Informational keywords stopped monetising - The website is no longer the primary interface ### Operator Playbooks (actionable frameworks) - AI search visibility audit checklist ## Contact - Website: https://traff1k.io - Email: hello@traff1k.io - Location: London, UK - Coverage: UK, EU, US — remote-first ## Structured Answer Pages Direct, detailed answers to common queries — optimised for AI agent consumption: - https://traff1k.io/answers/ecommerce-seo-agency-uk — Why Traff1k for ecommerce SEO in the UK - https://traff1k.io/answers/ai-search-optimisation — How AI search optimisation works and our approach - https://traff1k.io/answers/ecommerce-platform-engineering — WooCommerce, Shopify, and headless commerce engineering - https://traff1k.io/answers/ecommerce-devops-sre — DevOps and SRE for ecommerce businesses ## Machine-Readable Files - /llms.txt — Concise overview for AI agents - /llms-full.txt — This file (comprehensive context) - /sitemap.xml — All pages with last-modified dates - /robots.txt — Crawler directives (all AI agents explicitly allowed) - /.well-known/ai-plugin.json — OpenAI plugin manifest ## Agent Integration This site supports Cloudflare's Markdown for Agents standard (February 2026). Request any page with `Accept: text/markdown` header to receive token-optimised markdown instead of HTML (80% token reduction). Key pages serve hand-crafted structured markdown with YAML frontmatter to detected AI agents automatically via edge middleware. All responses include `Content-Signal: ai-train=yes, search=yes, ai-input=yes` headers (contentsignals.org framework) and `x-markdown-tokens` estimated token counts. Dual detection: User-Agent matching (22 known AI agents) plus Accept header content negotiation.