Small Business Web Design London

Why it matters

Does a small business really need a website?

It is a fair question. Plenty of small businesses have got by on word of mouth, a Facebook page and a sign on the van. Here is why a website is still worth having.

People check before they call. Even when a customer is recommended to you, they usually look you up first. A clean website with your services, photos and reviews confirms the recommendation. No website, or a neglected one, plants a doubt.

Google sends work to businesses it can read. When someone nearby searches for what you do, Google chooses from the businesses whose websites and profiles tell it clearly what they offer and where. A website, linked to a Google Business Profile, is how you get onto that list.

Social media is rented space. Your Facebook or Instagram page can be restricted or lost without warning, and only a fraction of your followers see each post. A website belongs to you.

It works when you cannot. A website answers questions, shows prices and takes enquiries while you are on a job, with a customer or asleep.

It levels the field. On a phone screen, a well-made small business website looks every bit as professional as a large competitor's. Customers judge what they see.

How many pages does a small business need?

Fewer than you might think, and we will never sell you more than you need.

One page

If you offer one main service in one area, a single page can carry everything: what you do, where you work, examples, reviews and how to reach you. It is also the right choice for a new business that needs to be online this month.

Three pages

A home page, a services page and a contact page. This suits a small business with a few related services, such as a decorator or a mobile hairdresser.

Six pages

Once you have three or four distinct services, each one deserves its own page. Google ranks pages individually, so a page about boiler repair can appear for boiler repair searches in a way that a general plumbing page cannot. For most small businesses that want to grow through search, six pages is the best starting point.

More than six

If you cover several areas or have a long list of services, a twelve-page website at £1,192 gives each of them room.

What a small business website should do

A small business site has a simple job, and the best ones stick to it.

• Say what you do and where, straight away. A visitor should not have to scroll to find out.
• Show that you are real. Your name, your photos, your reviews, your registration or insurance details.
• Answer the usual questions. Prices or price guides, areas covered, opening hours, how booking works.
• Make contact effortless. A phone number that dials when tapped, a WhatsApp button and a short form.
• Load quickly. Especially on a phone with a weak signal.
• Stay up to date. Which means you must be able to change it yourself.

Sliding banners, animations, pop-ups and long mission statements do none of these jobs. We leave them out.

Small businesses we design websites for

Trades

Plumbers, electricians, builders, roofers, decorators, gardeners, locksmiths and handymen. The priorities are local search, photos of finished work and a fast way to ask for a quote.

Local services

Cleaners, removals, waste clearance, dog groomers, driving instructors and tutors. Clear service areas and prices do most of the selling.

Shops, cafes and takeaways

Opening hours, location, menu or product range and a link to order or reserve.

Health and beauty

Salons, barbers, nail technicians, therapists and personal trainers. A price list, a gallery and online booking.

Professional practices

Bookkeepers, accountants, consultants and solicitors working alone or in small firms, where trust and clarity win the client.

Start-ups

New ventures that need to look credible to their first customers, suppliers and lenders.

Getting found: the first steps for a small business

You do not need a large marketing budget to be found locally. These are the steps that make the most difference, and we set up the first three as part of your website.

• On-page SEO. Titles, headings and text that name your service and your area.
• Google Search Console. So Google knows your site exists and indexes every page.
• Local business schema. Your details in the format search engines read.
• Google Business Profile. The free listing that puts you on Google Maps. We can set it up for you.
• Reviews. Ask every happy customer. Nothing else moves a local business up as reliably.

When you are ready to go further, our monthly SEO services start from £89.99, and local SEO focuses on your own area and the map results.

What it costs to run a small business website

After the website is built, the running costs are modest. You pay for a domain name each year and for hosting, and for a business email address if you want one at your own domain. We tell you these costs in your quote. If you would like us to look after updates, backups and small changes, our care plan is £45 a month, and it is optional.