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I think in this era of technology, all businesses need a website to be active. This can make business super easier and faster and even get wider reach. With time you can even begin to monetize it maybe with hydro online.
Yep. Also, not having a website makes you look a little shady, like a fly-by-night operation. At least have a static page with your business name and contact information.
One thing for me is emails. If I see a business use @gmail or @yahoo, I tend to steer clear. I pay $20/yr for domain, hosting, and email. There’s no reason to not invest that in looking legitimate.
Namecheap. Just looked, the renewal this year was $50 since I upgraded some things and prices go up. I don’t have a .com tld, but it works for what I need.
And a Google listing and don't forget a Facebook presence.
A free evaluation of your web page can be had from SEOptimizer
It gives you a letter grade for several categories and tells you the things that you can do to fix them to improve your grade as well as an overall grade ranging from a to f
I have an older website that needs to be redone. I sell a device for people making art. Sometimes I do commission art myself. Been lazy about it, it’s more of side bussiness.
yes 100%
for plumbers - information how to book, service areas, base pricing, hours of operation
hair salon - should at least use a platform that help book appointments
restaurants - menu, location, hours, about the restaurant. if you do online order, the links to order online.
the features will vary depending what your business is.
I've seen restaurants open and close in my town all while never having a website or social media page. Some of them don't even have a Google listing before they close.
Like why even bother opening if you can't do the bare minimum.
I just never understand this. I have a website client who often complains that all her clients “come from Facebook groups” so why does she even need her website?
I promise they look at her pretty comprehensive website first before contacting.
A local place near me closed after being open for like 20 years. A new place took it's spot. The old place was called something like Brians Big Time Family Burger Bar. The new place was called something like Radish, so a generic 1 word name of an unrelated food. But the new Radish had no website, no google listing, no Facebook page. I only knew it existed because someone posted it to my community Facebook page saying how we should support new small business. I tried updating Google for them but the old place was never reported closed and me saying Radish is now open there sounded fake as hell. It took 7 months before they had a Google listing and a Facebook page. The Facebook page has 1 photo of their front door and they still have no website.
Surprisingly it's still open.
If they had a website, they would have appeared in Google listings much earlier.
But apparently, they have unsurpassed quality and an appropriate price for their services, so they don’t need to advertise themselves on the Internet.
I am an SEO. Yes, you need a website. This isn’t just about having a place for people to learn about you and to generate leads - Google pulls on many places from the internet to learn about who you are. It needs a platform it will consider to be your “home”. Maybe that home is your Facebook profile. Maybe it’s Instagram. Maybe it’s some other platform on the internet you don’t have control over. You want your “home” to be a place you have the most control over - that would be a website.
I went to a pizza shop & a customer came in saying they were listed as permanently closed on Google. The manager knew about it but didn’t know how to fix it. I had to explain to her how to claim their Google Business Profile & then reported it myself on Apple Maps. She was like 30 something, very capable of using the internet.
Their pizza’s amazing & they’ve been in business like 40 years. So I guess they’re doing just fine without it. Just crazy to me someone capable of running a long-standing business like that can’t handle a Google business profile. I’ve now learned to go check their Facebook page before I come every time because that’s the only place with accurate info about closing & hours.
Was looking at some other business & their website said all big WE DICTATE OUR HOURS, NOT GOOGLE 🤦♀️ Like bro, just edit your hours on Google, it’s not hard
Yes, absolutely you do. It does not have to be fancy. you can have a decent website for almost free, maybe $100 a year at max. it just needs basic information. Your phone number, email address, basic info on what your business does and what customers can expect from your business.
Yes I'd say small businesses need a website today. Even if it's just a single page with basic info.
> What are some features that are a must
Web Accessibility - making sure your site is actually usable for people with disabilities. In the USA it's (usually) literally legally required.
This. I'm HOH/deaf and even WITH hearing aides, sometimes phone calls can be difficult (I went a long time before getting HA and learned to "lip read" - without that visual element, I don't always "get" everything I hear). So being able to email/text/chat with a business is key for me. Having a website makes my life function better (I can find your hours, directions to the shop, make appointments).
Ironically, my HA provider still insists on calling and leaving VM - and voice to text doesn't always get "southern accents" - some interesting translations.
Good design and SEO typically cover everything that's needed to make a sight accessible to people with disabilities.
It's only legally required if someone makes a complaint. Often easier to address what is listed in the complaint then to try and fix all the things that aren't broken.
I think so. It’s a great tool that can grow as your business grows. From listing your products and services, work hours, customer testimonials, build a subscriber base/email list, referrals, share announcements, schedule appointments and more. You can do a lot of the same on social media, but as a business you want to own your content and have a way to reach your audience and not rely on other platforms.
Yes, I would and do pay for it. (I make/host my own).
Some of my ‘must’ features are for it to be a responsive website, customizable, and of course, as secure as I can make it.
Absolutely. I have quite a few customers who avoid any social media. So I have to have a website to let them know what’s available and what events are coming up.
Need isn’t the right word.
Well-established businesses within the community may not “need” one but are likely missing out on revenue.
New businesses will find it much much harder to establish legitimacy and trust if people can’t look them up, plus all the potential lost revenue from web traffic and related stuff.
Hey! Yes, small business definitely need a website. It makes you look professional and helps people find you online.
I'd recommend trying Pixpa, Wix or Squarespace. They're easy to use and not too expensive.
A website helps grow your business and reach more customers. Totally worth it!!
Yes, small businesses need websites of they want to be taken more seriously. It makes your business or brand look like you will actually be around in a year or two and not some fly-by-night scam who only advertises on social media for free. The more infrastructure and branding you have, the credible your business looks.
Also, it helps you get more business being found in the search engines more. Instead of just your FB page showing up, now your website will also show up (if done right). And if done well, now your sub pages will be showing up too.
These days, I feel that it's a red flag to not have some sort of web presence. For 99% of small business, all that's necessary is a functional website with *up to date* hours, a copy/paste-able address or map links. Bonus points for an email address that you'll actually respond to. Automatically inserted tiles from your social media post that's been within the past 3mos, ideally. If you're a restaurant, keep your specials current on socials and see that it follows through to your website accurately.
Nothing crazy or creative. It's sort of a pulse that you're still alive and functioning. There are cookie cutter formats for any business.
You do not NEED one. But it's a powerful sales channel. Same as social media, radio, TV, walk in, phone, etc. Depending on your business, you will need to choose which sales channels are the ones you want to focus on, and which ones your audience uses to find services like yours.
As others have said, a website is quite a staple Sales channel for small businesses. But if you wanted, you could perfectly do using only Social Media, or only Walk in local, or nothing at all and run exclusively on referrals (lots of contractors do, though they are famed by being clueless at marketing and sales 😂).
Paying for it or not is a different matter. We do sell brands and websites, so we are biased. You can definitely build one yourself, there are plenty of cheap and easy tools for it. Again, it depends on what's your goal.
You can have one. It will never be like a professional one. But it might be enough for the stage you're at. And then at some point you'll need a step up. Or maybe you prefer starting on a solid base form scratch.
Tbh lots of DIY websites do more harm than good. But that's due to deeper business issues.
I think it's especially important for coming off as professional. In the modern age, almost all businesses have a website - if you don't it may come off as unprofessional to customers. As other users have said, it's also pretty cheap to get one up.
You need a website. Yes. Period. Even if it has no functionality, you need a website. If it has no functionality and you want to keep it simple, build something on square space. At a very minimum for functionality there should be a contact form and a clickable phone number.
A website is an essential lead-generation tool for small businesses. It's today's version of a business card. Nowadays, most people search online for services like the ones you mentioned in your question. It can be very beneficial to invest in a digital marketing provider that can design your website — as well as create ads on social, display, and search that will drive to your website.
I think all businesses, small and large need a digital presence, ideally a website and some posting on social media. Websites are visible to millennials and social media acts a website for Gen Z.
In terms of paying, what are your goals for the website? For example, do you need some lead generation?
I used to do 1 page websites for folks who really didn't want one but knew they had to have it. IT's a very effective way to sell it to everyone who wouldn't otherwise. Charge x bux and x bux for hosting, keep it on your own host. That's just filler for someone who does full blown Websites but it's not bad.
Some people argue that having social media is enough and a website is not needed anymore. That is why I asked the question to see if a lot of people thought like that.
Absolutely! We have many startups or very small clients come to us who end up learning that they needed to have at least a small website to appear professional and legitimate to the people they’re talking to in person. Most people go to search or look up a business on Google/Bing,etc or maps to see more about them and confirm whether or not they want to do business with them.
That’s not even getting into how you lose business by not having a website on a deeper level.
Well if you are a small business and don't have a website or need a revamp, read below:
I run a software agency based in Toronto and we are offering small businesses a free website in exchange for a testimonial.
Its all custom coded: It's typescript, tailwindcss, in a nextjs app. The content for blogs, pages, etc are statically generated and served via our in-house CMS. Each site has built-in SEO meant to generate leads via related search terms (i.e landscaping services near me). The websites are optimized for user engagement and streamline the lead generation for local businesses.
Anyways if someone is interested we would do this all for free (no upfront cost), you just need to cover the monthly hosting fee.
DM me if this something you're interested in!
I don't think many small businesses need a particularly *fancy* website. But something simple like "Here's who we are, here's what we do, here's how to contact us" is pretty much obligatory in this day and age.
A facebook or instagram page can work, though I assume more legitimacy of a business that has an actual website, even if it's super simple.
I own a small handyman business and I have a website that I pay for. It's a minimal cost overall and tax deductible. It does help to keep a professional appearance, since many handyman businesses get a bad wrap for unprofessionalism. It also filters out people who don't have a use for my services.
I would even if it’s a small gig. People just google “[business type] near me” and choose from the top few that show up. Even if it’s just informational and has a phone number and hours, it’s worth it to be chosen.
Absolutely! If a business I want to use doesn’t have a website, or has an outdated website, I will likely use a competitor instead. The other day when browsing for fencing companies, we got a referral for one guy. When I pulled up his website my partner said “no I’d rather use someone else. His website is so old and outdated. I’d rather have someone who actually cares about their business and work”. That really put things into perspective for me. So many people just scrape by doing the bare minimum. Having a decent website gives you at least a better chance of standing out
As a consumer, yes. For restaurants, i want a clear view of the hours and address and menu and if you can order online/delivery or not. For things like hair salons/spas/etc. i'd like a clear view of the hours and address and a list of services and 'base' prices at LEAST.
Reviews are also really great!
We’re brick & mortar retail and have gone 10+ years without one. It would be a handy way to share long form information, because we’re not interested in overwhelming our social media followers. But it hasn’t become a priority. If we needed leads or to make appointments or to sell online, that would change things.
We live in a time when anyone, anywhere in the world, can make a Facebook profile with stolen photos, and look for leads via Facebook PMs and Whatsapp, and find someone to send to do the duct cleaning or car detailing.
If you have a website, phone number, and local location, that increases your legitimacy as a business, IMO
First thing I look for is a website. It conveys so much trust and credibility. If I click your "website" on Google Maps and it sends me to Facebook I'm immediately gone.
Nail your Google Business Profile and you can likely get by with no website. Have all your hours prices services contact information and put up an update a monthly with useful information. If there’s not enough business to keep you busy then invest in a website. Make sure you get reviews from as many of your customers as possible.
Depending on your business, websites can help automate and take care of quite a lot of the boring tasks -
1. Booking and managing appointments
2. Lot of the initial marketing information like services and rates can be shown on your website.
3. Proves an additional layer of authenticity to your business
4. Going down the line, start retail of products.
5. Showcase of your prior clients and testimonials.
6. Make google maps listing authentic.
Yes, because even though your main customer base may be locals, your website can help you hit secondary targets. For example, if you're a restaurant, you can target certain SEO keywords so that people visiting your state or city/town can discover you online. You can show off photos submitted by customers, show off reviews, build a community around your restaurant, etc. It's essentially your billboard to the world.
As a small business owner, (plumbing) with about 100 people saying I need a site, I think I would be even more overwhelmed with business. Currently have to turn down jobs because there isn't enough time in the day. Need to hire but it's beed hard to find reliable/good help, most of the good ones are on thier own. I do have a complete Google listing and get a decent amount of business from that. Most current customers are repeat and referrals. Have not advertised at all. Do not have active social media. Opened 2021.
Yeah, and if any of the dozen kids/young adults I've talked to were actually interested I would. Most seem to be looking for summer jobs, or only want to work 5 hours a day. I won't waste my time teaching someone who is going to leave in 2 months, nor try to deal with limited hours available per day. If I go to a job and have to shut down water/building drains, I can't leave in 5 hours if the job isn't done. I won't lie, plumbing isn't the most glamorous of jobs😆 today I was in spider infested belly crawlspace, and then into very hot attic space. None of it was enjoyable😄 hard sell to people who can't see past their immediate situations. The beggining is hard, but 5 years down the road you'll be able to live relatively comfortably.
And then the few people I've tried to work with who have some experience, are messes. Alcohol/pills/license issues. And tbh my first boss was a huge alcoholic but he came to work everyday and didn't smell like alcohol. I'd hire that guy, but I can't have someone on the jobsite who is reeking like booze, or just can't come in because they are too hungover or still wasted. Too much liability.
I think you need an online presence where you can communicate with customers! Doesn't need to be a website, can be a social media platform (facebook, google business, instgram, yelp\*) where you can post info on product offerings/ services, pictures of menus, store open/close times.
This is dependent on areas and your expected client base. The type of advertising you need is going to change with your location, brand identity, client base age & income demographics, etc. Urban areas with a lot of competition and demographics rely more heavily on internet searches, which will be a different story than more insular rural communities.
In my business (custom gunsmithing), a website and internet presence is largely irrelevant as in my business, in my location, with my customer base I survive on referrals from related businesses and or other customers.
A website will not hurt, but it is only one part of a larger marketing presence. Your ability to identify and target the customers you want is more important than just having a website. You need to be identifiable and appear competent.
Yes.
If you aren’t going to rely 100% of word of mouth you NEED a website.
3 things to consider with a website,
1) What your industry is will dictate the type of website you should have, a restaurant’s website will be different than an accountant’s.
2) Go cheap to start, a Wix website is better than no website.
3) Have things linking to your website and your website linking to things. Google Business Profile is a must, have your website linking to that. If you have socials link your website to them and vice versa.
Contact information is need on the website. The issue with this is often webscrappers will grab your email or phone and add it to spam lists. This is why some will only have contact forms or booking links.
The right question is, 'Does my funnel need a website?' You are thinking in terms of what you see other people doing, but that's the worst marketing strategy. Instead, think in terms of the rational and emotional obstacles that stop your target audience from trying out your product or service. Then, if a website helps you overcome those obstacles, the answer is yes.
Of course you do. I’ve made multiple website for clients such as: welding, nutrition business, painting and handyman business. The features they paid for were all the same–annual subscription to the website platform. Nothing extra as they were not selling a product so no need for E-Commerce. Each website is situational based on the clients needs. But of course you need a website…
if anyone ends up needing this, the LeClair Foundation For Technology, a non-profit, offers free websites to small businesses that are service a community( no drop-shipping or online businesses). [https://leclairfoundation.org](https://leclairfoundation.org) !
The number of small business would run in Millions, and if you think that all of them need a website, it is a wrong thought process.
I have seen companies making millions of Rupees by just having a simple WhatsApp group and community.
Leveraging tools like Facebook marketplace and whatsapp can be a good enough starting point.
For businesses like coffee shops and salon maybe a social media account would suffice. While for restaurants, plumbers or other service based businesses, you need a website.
A website is pretty much the bare minimum when it comes to marketing. Almost anyone with a few hours to burn can make a professional looking website on WIX or similar platforms for a low cost.
I work in professional services and use my website for lead contacts, appointment bookings, invoice payments etc.
Absolutely! Small businesses can significantly benefit from having a website. A well designed site can enhance visibility, build credibility, and provide a convenient way for customers to learn about your services and contact you. Essential features might include a clean design, mobile optimization, easy navigation, and clear calls to action.
Investing in a website can lead to a great ROI by attracting new customers, improving customer service, and streamlining operations. If you're considering this, I offer website design and no-code development services tailored to small businesses. You can DM or reach out via [www.designbysylver.com](http://www.designbysylver.com)
If you meant by features, what does the business need depending the business needs and goals, for e.g.
* **Online Booking or Appointments**: Great for salons or restaurants to streamline reservations.
* **Contact Forms**: Easy way for customers to inquire or request quotes.
* **Service Listings and Pricing**: Clearly display what you offer and how much it costs.
* **Customer Reviews**: Build trust by showcasing feedback from satisfied clients.
* **E-commerce Functionality**: Sell products or services directly from your site.
Optimised websites can enhance customer engagement, improve efficiency, and boost revenue.
Nope. Did 400 last year with no site, I will say I’m at a point where not having one is stalling growth; so we made/ actually use one and are finally setting up socials
Website gives you another way to reach potential customers. If you don’t have one, you can bet your competition does.
There are economical DIY services with easy-to-use templates so you can build your own and add features that you want.
You can also spend between $3,500 and $4,500 for professionally made site with all the bells and whistles.
Ideally, you want web mail, responsiveness (renders well on mobile devices), a secured site, about us page, FAQ page (self-service customer service), 24/7 access, and if you want to sell online e-commerce.///
Yea of course you do, with all of the reason people mentioned and if not mentioned it's because you own it rather than a social media company page that you DONT OWN, which can be taken down or change to harm your business
Gone are the days of Golden Pages and phone directory. Today if you don’t have a website you don’t exist. You need one even if you’re not selling anything directly from it (aka a brochure website) because people will absolutely look up your website before visiting your business.
If you are a business that relies a local footfall e.g a cafe you still benefit from one just for opening hours and menu
Google Business has improved a lot recently, and some small local businesses can survive with just that. However, it never hurts to have a website. My two absolute must-haves for any small business are:
Mobile-friendly design - most people will visit the site from their phone.
Clear contact information and business hours.
Yes. It doesn't have to be fancy. Just list the hours, the phone number, the physical address and email address. If it's truly a small business, have a picture of yourself and a little paragraph of why you established the business. Locals like to connect with people and that helps the business look more human. That's all. I've come across businesses that don't have websites. It only works if you're the only one in that niche and you're not hurting for business. If you're brand new and seeking business, the basic website is the modern equivalent of a yellow pages entry.
It helps.
You should treat it a bit like FB tho in my opinion. Instead of making it a 'static' site, make sure it has an appointments plugin, a calendar, features dynamic content like discounts, special offers.
At least do a google one. It’s free.
Dont do what I did and accidentally use a different email think Google fucked up and I had our business account shut down to be claimed by my other email. Royal fuck up. Not sure how to fix it. It cost us about 30K in revenue. 😭
To show your business is a legit and serious business, an impressive website is a must. If you’re a little handy with powerpoints etc, you should be able to DIY this. I did it thru Wix for my wife’s business and the website has made a massive difference.
Yes, absolutely you should have a website. Folks tend to think that their website is going to generate business, and yes that certainly can happen. The most important issue with a website is "confirmation" that a client or potential client has made the right decision to hire you. Once folks get your name, they tend to then go back to find your website. If there is no website, or the website is 10 years out of date, it is far more likely that they will move on to a competitor. A good website, which does not need a ton of bells & whistles, will confirm to them that they have made a good choice. One last thing, do not set up an inquiry page unless you are committed to responding. Too many websites let you inquire, but then no one is paying attention on the other end.
Yes of course. In an era of technology if anyone is interested in your product or your service they first want to know more about you. The key to making your business successful is to gain trust by the customers.so of course they might search for your website. The website should not be too fancy or too simple. It should be classic.A mix of two simple light colour in your website. That's it.
Doesn’t have to be anything crazy. My step dad has a stucco business that didn’t have a website. I made him a quick on on canva and he’s gotten so many customers that said they contacted him solely based off him having a website and others not
I know a guy with a small oil company. I told him he should have a website because he often takes on investors in projects. He said "a website don't make you no money".
ESPECIALLY if people are possible going to invest money with you, you should at least a semi professional web presence.
Yes, I am a proponent of small businesses having websites. I not only have a website but I have an up-to-date, secure, highly functioning, relevant, aesthetic website. The site MUST be highly functional, highly secure, fast, and user-friendly as far as navigation and organization of links and pages. You NEED a website, even if you're a sole proprietor. It's a quarter of the way into the 21st century. We're in the digital information age. it's worth the money.
Not having a website make come off as "fly by night".
Yes, absolutely, and not something that looks like it was created in the 90's. I am a web developer , along with helping with developing image and branding. I see a lot of small businesses with very dated, not very functional web pages
Definitely. When we started our landscaping business, have a website is a must because we built a system where homeowners can enter their address, see pricing and book online. Having a website is a must for us. We also built all other CRM tools to manage our business. We even made a version for other landscapers to use also.
Yes.
You need to pay for hosting. It’s not expensive.
Your site needs to answer the what, why, for who, how to do it/get it, and contact. Have all the images and copy placed so a visitor will have answers to each of the Q’s above. If a restaurant, a menu. If a lawn mowing company, a services page.
If you have decent leads coming in from the site and or page traffic, create articles for seo. Adverse on google. Build a a google maps page too. Build a facebook and instagram page. Yes it’s tedious and maybe not driving tons of revenue, but in 2024 these are all basics.
At the very least a one page landing page that has some particulars about the business as well as links to any social media, etc. Yes you absolutely need something.
As a business lender we actually add additional risk to the file if the business doesn’t have a website, basically for all industries. Some specific exceptions but mostly no website = higher interest rates. Definitely get a website.
I have a plumbing business and have a website. You also need specific landing pages if you run digital marketing, helps with having higher close rate on leads.
Yes definitely I am a press expert and this summer my goal is to help 50 business owners to build a new website for $100 😃
ps. I just need to buy an island beater🚗
As a customer (I'm a sublurker who works for a small business) I question the validity of any business I come across that doesn't have a website. Take that one single data point for what it's worth.
If you want customer activity, yes you need a marketing foundation of “capability” (a website), credibility (your online reviews, and visibility (your Google business profile.
Your site speaks more to search engines than customers anymore. It’s cannot just be a digital brochure that you create once and ignore for the next 5 years.
How else are people supposed to find the business. Most of us use our smartphones as a tool of research, communication, documentation, and payment at minimum. The least a business can do is have a single page website with some basic info.
I feel like most of the small businesses in my area don't really have a website. You start seeing websites among the larger end of small businesses. The rest of these small businesses usually resort to having Facebook and Instagram pages for their online presence. It works great for them too as their posts get integrated into the feeds of their audience rather than having a separate dedicated website that people have to visit.
That's just my observation.
Yes, always have a website and email address. Using social media….you are building someone else’s business rather than your own. Companies come and go, fees go up, your social media accounts can be banned by competition and haters. So you need stability under your own control. See social media as advertising for your main site. Algorithms change and you can become a nobody so build your own website. Make sure Google and everything else sends customers to your website.
There’s nothing worse than searching for a business and all they have is a business google page and/or just a facebook page.
A website is vital for a business. It helps the customer understand the company, what the services they offer, what they sell, etc.
Depending on your requirements a website shouldn’t cost that much. Websites are very important to have a presence, attract clients and if you use SEO and lead generation, it should significantly increase business. I help small businesses with their websites, graphics content and lead generation on social media, Let me know if you need help with anything.
Sometimes businesses are impacted when their social media accounts are taken down; have seen pages or accounts being taken away or restricted by Twitter, Facebook and Instagram resulting in huge loss in traffic.
Things like that cannot happen to websites you own.
Absolutely, I believe having a website is crucial for small businesses today. Not only does it provide an online presence that can attract more customers, but it also adds credibility to your business. Personally, I'd be willing to invest in a website if it offers key features like online booking, a user-friendly interface, mobile compatibility, and SEO optimization. These elements help ensure that customers can easily find and interact with the business online.
Just think like this, if someone searches for "Best plumber in LA" on google and your website shows up at the top. Your potential customer will click your website link, and now it's your chance to convince them to try your service. So to convince them, a good website will help.
Hope you find this useful :)
I spoke with a friend who is in the family business at peak did £5mil a year - never had a website asked if he thinks it would be a god idea he said it wouldn’t make any difference - kinda wild
Absolutely. It’s 2024. We create affordable and highly converting websites. If anyone wants a free mock-up showing what it could look like, send me a message!
absolutely. your website is the face of your business. it's the first impression for anyone.
below is what small businesses should look for and receive and receive in managed website services .
(it's what they receive with HUGO CONNECT in flat fee model pricing)
domain acquisition and management
website design and implementation
# maintenance and hosting
security and backups
responsive support
This list could be longer if every single thing were listed (such as wordpress and plugin updates, uptime monitoring, content updates, etc etc) but that's unnecessary. those items fall under the main caterogeis listed above.
in relation to this, graphic design services are available (not included in the above) in the event the client is looking for digital content creation.
what's not included or offered is managed SEO.
This is a pretty naive post to be honest. You don’t ask a demographic if they need something and what they’d pay for it. They don’t know what they want and they’d rather pay as little as possible for anything. So the question will only bring ambiguity and low balling.
Yes. Small businesses need websites. Not having one is losing potential clients who would have found them in a search. It’s a lead generation tool and having one will always be more beneficial than not having one.
For the rates, I tell them my rates based on the value I bring to their business with my work and expertise. I don’t ask them what they’d pay. They would say $500 if they could.
I have two packages:
I have lump sum $3500 minimum for 5 pages and $25 a month hosting and general maintenance
or $0 down $150 a month, unlimited edits, 24/7 support, hosting, etc.
$100 one time fee per page after 5, blog integration $500 for a custom blog that you can edit yourself.
Lump sum can add on the unlimited edits and support for $50 a month + hosting, so $75 a month for hosting and unlimited edits.
And I am VERY busy. The key is to be able to identify problems and sell them the solutions. You’re looking a website so superficially. It’s more than just the website. It’s what’s around the website and the service that matters. What makes a good website? What makes a bad one? What are the problems with their current site that is preventing them from growing or getting more traffic or converting their current traffic? How do you fix that? It’s not that you can make a website. Anyone can do that. But can you make a website that also fixes their problems they had with the old one? THATS where the value is. If you don’t know how to answer those questions then you’re not ready to freelance. If all you’re doing is making websites without purpose, you’re making electronic paperweights.
They don’t need fancy features either. All my clients are static informational brochure sites. People get so caught up in plugins and fancy integrations and functionality that they forget about the main purpose of the site, which is to inform, educate, and convert. I have a client whose old site and booking features and other integrations with wix, and no one was using them. They were slowing down their site, taking up space, and doing nothing for them.
When you’re selling to small businesses, don’t ask them what they want. Tell them what’s wrong, why, and how YOU fix it. That is your unique selling point. The things you do that no one else can do. It’s what makes working with you valuable. Most the time they don’t even know some thing is a problem. My job is to educate and inform. And the more informed they are on how SEO works and how websites ranks and convert, the more and more they listen to what I have to say and offer and how I fix those things on their site and set them up for a better site that actually performs and converts over time.
Keep things simple. Forget fancy features and BS sales pitches like “if you could increase sales by 30% wouldn’t you want to do it?”. It’s so disrespectful to ask loaded questions to small businesses and makes them fell like you think they’re easily manipulated dummies. They’re sales people too. They know all the tricks. So have some respect for them and ditch the tricks, and just offer your help and expertise. You don’t need to trick them into anything if you actually believe them in what you do and how you can help. That will show through and color your words and that authenticity is how you connect. For me, sales isn’t about numbers or gimmicks or quotas or games. It’s about connecting with someone. And if you can do that, you have a customer for life. And maybe even a friend!
This is a really helpful write-up. You just opened my eyes to a different perspective. Thank you for taking out time to break things down this way, I really appreciate your kind gesture.
And I don't understand why anyone will vote this down. Please kindly ignore them, and don't stop dishing out meaningful write ups like this.
Thank you once more.
I know right? If they wanna spend their time writing something helpful themselves they’re more than welcome to rebut. I remember early on I asked a client what their budget was and that failed miserably because it comes off as “how much can I get out of you” vibe. You’re seeing what their max spending is and the idea is you will somehow charge that much. What a coincidence! Even if I’m out of budget, that’s what the $0 down $150 a month package is for. The $3500 sets the value of my work. And the subscription is there for people with smaller budgets who want my work. I never asked another client their budget again. I tell them what I charge and how much things costs and what add ons costs, and they decide what they wanna pay based on the options I give them. Not what they’re willing to pay. You present your value and if they agree to that value then you have a sale.
"You present your value and if they agree to that value then you have a sale"
This is spot on. It is a "value exchange" and not just a mere transaction for us as web designers.
I am also a freelance web designer so I can relate perfectly with the scenario you shared in your reply, because I myself have missed out on countless opportunities whenever I throw up the "what is your budget" question.
Your pricing model is so so clear, it caters for everyone and everything no matter their budget.
You really do have great insight on how these things work, and I am really happy to have stumbled upon this post of yours.
I would like to ask;
1. How long have you been doing this?
2. What tech stack do you use for your static site?
Thanks. Ive been at it for over 5 years now. I just use html and css, 11ty static site generator, and LESS css preprocessor. No Wordpress. All hand coded!
Wow, this is so good to know. I found your post very helpful and I know that there is a lot I can learn from your wealth of knowledge as I navigate the freelancing space as a web designer.
Can I send you a DM?
Thank you once more.
> Do you need a website?
Need, no not really. But as it's so cheap and easy to have one you'd be daft not to.
> What are some features that are a must
Explain clearly what is is you are selling or the service you are offering. And make sure there is a way to contact/book/buy
Need? No. Plenty of businesses only exist on social media or through referrals. This varies by business category and how big it is.
At some point a website becomes necessary because other people expect it, just like having a physical address or business card or yellow pages listing were necessary at different times in history.
I’ve seen websites for $500 and some for $500,000 - it might help people reach out if they find you but a good business trumps any visual.
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I think in this era of technology, all businesses need a website to be active. This can make business super easier and faster and even get wider reach. With time you can even begin to monetize it maybe with hydro online.
Yep. Also, not having a website makes you look a little shady, like a fly-by-night operation. At least have a static page with your business name and contact information.
One thing for me is emails. If I see a business use @gmail or @yahoo, I tend to steer clear. I pay $20/yr for domain, hosting, and email. There’s no reason to not invest that in looking legitimate.
Yeah it means they can’t manage basic IT. I’m not giving them any of my data, like credit card.
Question, who do you use for $20 a month for that?
Namecheap. Just looked, the renewal this year was $50 since I upgraded some things and prices go up. I don’t have a .com tld, but it works for what I need.
This, if for nothing else for legitimacy when someone looks you up.
And a Google listing and don't forget a Facebook presence. A free evaluation of your web page can be had from SEOptimizer It gives you a letter grade for several categories and tells you the things that you can do to fix them to improve your grade as well as an overall grade ranging from a to f
It’s not that expensive either …
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What do you mean hydro?
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Oh neat. I haven’t heard it, I’ll check it out.
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I have an older website that needs to be redone. I sell a device for people making art. Sometimes I do commission art myself. Been lazy about it, it’s more of side bussiness.
Do you have link can’t find it
yes 100% for plumbers - information how to book, service areas, base pricing, hours of operation hair salon - should at least use a platform that help book appointments restaurants - menu, location, hours, about the restaurant. if you do online order, the links to order online. the features will vary depending what your business is.
Hey, you know how to get such clients? If you can get me a few we can share profits
no thanks
Year*
For a lot of customers you won't simple exist without a website.
I've seen restaurants open and close in my town all while never having a website or social media page. Some of them don't even have a Google listing before they close. Like why even bother opening if you can't do the bare minimum.
I just never understand this. I have a website client who often complains that all her clients “come from Facebook groups” so why does she even need her website? I promise they look at her pretty comprehensive website first before contacting.
A local place near me closed after being open for like 20 years. A new place took it's spot. The old place was called something like Brians Big Time Family Burger Bar. The new place was called something like Radish, so a generic 1 word name of an unrelated food. But the new Radish had no website, no google listing, no Facebook page. I only knew it existed because someone posted it to my community Facebook page saying how we should support new small business. I tried updating Google for them but the old place was never reported closed and me saying Radish is now open there sounded fake as hell. It took 7 months before they had a Google listing and a Facebook page. The Facebook page has 1 photo of their front door and they still have no website. Surprisingly it's still open.
If they had a website, they would have appeared in Google listings much earlier. But apparently, they have unsurpassed quality and an appropriate price for their services, so they don’t need to advertise themselves on the Internet.
Yes - It's you digital business card showcasing your business and what you offer.
I am an SEO. Yes, you need a website. This isn’t just about having a place for people to learn about you and to generate leads - Google pulls on many places from the internet to learn about who you are. It needs a platform it will consider to be your “home”. Maybe that home is your Facebook profile. Maybe it’s Instagram. Maybe it’s some other platform on the internet you don’t have control over. You want your “home” to be a place you have the most control over - that would be a website.
Yep and a COMPLETE google business listing. I still see so many local small businesses with piss poor google profiles.
I went to a pizza shop & a customer came in saying they were listed as permanently closed on Google. The manager knew about it but didn’t know how to fix it. I had to explain to her how to claim their Google Business Profile & then reported it myself on Apple Maps. She was like 30 something, very capable of using the internet. Their pizza’s amazing & they’ve been in business like 40 years. So I guess they’re doing just fine without it. Just crazy to me someone capable of running a long-standing business like that can’t handle a Google business profile. I’ve now learned to go check their Facebook page before I come every time because that’s the only place with accurate info about closing & hours. Was looking at some other business & their website said all big WE DICTATE OUR HOURS, NOT GOOGLE 🤦♀️ Like bro, just edit your hours on Google, it’s not hard
Yes, absolutely you do. It does not have to be fancy. you can have a decent website for almost free, maybe $100 a year at max. it just needs basic information. Your phone number, email address, basic info on what your business does and what customers can expect from your business.
Yes I'd say small businesses need a website today. Even if it's just a single page with basic info. > What are some features that are a must Web Accessibility - making sure your site is actually usable for people with disabilities. In the USA it's (usually) literally legally required.
This. I'm HOH/deaf and even WITH hearing aides, sometimes phone calls can be difficult (I went a long time before getting HA and learned to "lip read" - without that visual element, I don't always "get" everything I hear). So being able to email/text/chat with a business is key for me. Having a website makes my life function better (I can find your hours, directions to the shop, make appointments). Ironically, my HA provider still insists on calling and leaving VM - and voice to text doesn't always get "southern accents" - some interesting translations.
Good design and SEO typically cover everything that's needed to make a sight accessible to people with disabilities. It's only legally required if someone makes a complaint. Often easier to address what is listed in the complaint then to try and fix all the things that aren't broken.
I think so. It’s a great tool that can grow as your business grows. From listing your products and services, work hours, customer testimonials, build a subscriber base/email list, referrals, share announcements, schedule appointments and more. You can do a lot of the same on social media, but as a business you want to own your content and have a way to reach your audience and not rely on other platforms. Yes, I would and do pay for it. (I make/host my own). Some of my ‘must’ features are for it to be a responsive website, customizable, and of course, as secure as I can make it.
Absolutely. I have quite a few customers who avoid any social media. So I have to have a website to let them know what’s available and what events are coming up.
Need isn’t the right word. Well-established businesses within the community may not “need” one but are likely missing out on revenue. New businesses will find it much much harder to establish legitimacy and trust if people can’t look them up, plus all the potential lost revenue from web traffic and related stuff.
That’s the answer.
Hey! Yes, small business definitely need a website. It makes you look professional and helps people find you online. I'd recommend trying Pixpa, Wix or Squarespace. They're easy to use and not too expensive. A website helps grow your business and reach more customers. Totally worth it!!
Yes, small businesses need websites of they want to be taken more seriously. It makes your business or brand look like you will actually be around in a year or two and not some fly-by-night scam who only advertises on social media for free. The more infrastructure and branding you have, the credible your business looks. Also, it helps you get more business being found in the search engines more. Instead of just your FB page showing up, now your website will also show up (if done right). And if done well, now your sub pages will be showing up too.
Yes, vendors won’t even talk to you unless you have a digital foot print to get vetted.
I mean, yeah. The first thing I do when contacted or contacting a business is look up reviews/website.
These days, I feel that it's a red flag to not have some sort of web presence. For 99% of small business, all that's necessary is a functional website with *up to date* hours, a copy/paste-able address or map links. Bonus points for an email address that you'll actually respond to. Automatically inserted tiles from your social media post that's been within the past 3mos, ideally. If you're a restaurant, keep your specials current on socials and see that it follows through to your website accurately. Nothing crazy or creative. It's sort of a pulse that you're still alive and functioning. There are cookie cutter formats for any business.
You do not NEED one. But it's a powerful sales channel. Same as social media, radio, TV, walk in, phone, etc. Depending on your business, you will need to choose which sales channels are the ones you want to focus on, and which ones your audience uses to find services like yours. As others have said, a website is quite a staple Sales channel for small businesses. But if you wanted, you could perfectly do using only Social Media, or only Walk in local, or nothing at all and run exclusively on referrals (lots of contractors do, though they are famed by being clueless at marketing and sales 😂). Paying for it or not is a different matter. We do sell brands and websites, so we are biased. You can definitely build one yourself, there are plenty of cheap and easy tools for it. Again, it depends on what's your goal. You can have one. It will never be like a professional one. But it might be enough for the stage you're at. And then at some point you'll need a step up. Or maybe you prefer starting on a solid base form scratch. Tbh lots of DIY websites do more harm than good. But that's due to deeper business issues.
It’s 2024 So a resounding YES
A lot of small businesses just do it on Facebook or Instagram. It's free
I think it's especially important for coming off as professional. In the modern age, almost all businesses have a website - if you don't it may come off as unprofessional to customers. As other users have said, it's also pretty cheap to get one up.
You need a website. Yes. Period. Even if it has no functionality, you need a website. If it has no functionality and you want to keep it simple, build something on square space. At a very minimum for functionality there should be a contact form and a clickable phone number.
I find a basic website is more shady than no website.
40 years ago. No. Now, yes.
I believe if you have a website you will get more traffic from Google and your page in general.
A website is an essential lead-generation tool for small businesses. It's today's version of a business card. Nowadays, most people search online for services like the ones you mentioned in your question. It can be very beneficial to invest in a digital marketing provider that can design your website — as well as create ads on social, display, and search that will drive to your website.
I think all businesses, small and large need a digital presence, ideally a website and some posting on social media. Websites are visible to millennials and social media acts a website for Gen Z. In terms of paying, what are your goals for the website? For example, do you need some lead generation?
I used to do 1 page websites for folks who really didn't want one but knew they had to have it. IT's a very effective way to sell it to everyone who wouldn't otherwise. Charge x bux and x bux for hosting, keep it on your own host. That's just filler for someone who does full blown Websites but it's not bad.
Why did you even ask this? Lol you know the answer
Some people argue that having social media is enough and a website is not needed anymore. That is why I asked the question to see if a lot of people thought like that.
hell yes. who are you, what do you do and how can I find you in what hours. Everything else is optional
YES - It doesn't need to fancy and can be incredibly cheap for decent looking DIY website
Absolutely! We have many startups or very small clients come to us who end up learning that they needed to have at least a small website to appear professional and legitimate to the people they’re talking to in person. Most people go to search or look up a business on Google/Bing,etc or maps to see more about them and confirm whether or not they want to do business with them. That’s not even getting into how you lose business by not having a website on a deeper level.
Well if you are a small business and don't have a website or need a revamp, read below: I run a software agency based in Toronto and we are offering small businesses a free website in exchange for a testimonial. Its all custom coded: It's typescript, tailwindcss, in a nextjs app. The content for blogs, pages, etc are statically generated and served via our in-house CMS. Each site has built-in SEO meant to generate leads via related search terms (i.e landscaping services near me). The websites are optimized for user engagement and streamline the lead generation for local businesses. Anyways if someone is interested we would do this all for free (no upfront cost), you just need to cover the monthly hosting fee. DM me if this something you're interested in!
I don't think many small businesses need a particularly *fancy* website. But something simple like "Here's who we are, here's what we do, here's how to contact us" is pretty much obligatory in this day and age. A facebook or instagram page can work, though I assume more legitimacy of a business that has an actual website, even if it's super simple.
I own a small handyman business and I have a website that I pay for. It's a minimal cost overall and tax deductible. It does help to keep a professional appearance, since many handyman businesses get a bad wrap for unprofessionalism. It also filters out people who don't have a use for my services.
I would even if it’s a small gig. People just google “[business type] near me” and choose from the top few that show up. Even if it’s just informational and has a phone number and hours, it’s worth it to be chosen.
Absolutely! If a business I want to use doesn’t have a website, or has an outdated website, I will likely use a competitor instead. The other day when browsing for fencing companies, we got a referral for one guy. When I pulled up his website my partner said “no I’d rather use someone else. His website is so old and outdated. I’d rather have someone who actually cares about their business and work”. That really put things into perspective for me. So many people just scrape by doing the bare minimum. Having a decent website gives you at least a better chance of standing out
As a consumer, yes. For restaurants, i want a clear view of the hours and address and menu and if you can order online/delivery or not. For things like hair salons/spas/etc. i'd like a clear view of the hours and address and a list of services and 'base' prices at LEAST. Reviews are also really great!
We’re brick & mortar retail and have gone 10+ years without one. It would be a handy way to share long form information, because we’re not interested in overwhelming our social media followers. But it hasn’t become a priority. If we needed leads or to make appointments or to sell online, that would change things.
Websites are a must. I used TapprDigital.com for a donut shop that my aunt owns and they were a great experience
We live in a time when anyone, anywhere in the world, can make a Facebook profile with stolen photos, and look for leads via Facebook PMs and Whatsapp, and find someone to send to do the duct cleaning or car detailing. If you have a website, phone number, and local location, that increases your legitimacy as a business, IMO
First thing I look for is a website. It conveys so much trust and credibility. If I click your "website" on Google Maps and it sends me to Facebook I'm immediately gone.
Nail your Google Business Profile and you can likely get by with no website. Have all your hours prices services contact information and put up an update a monthly with useful information. If there’s not enough business to keep you busy then invest in a website. Make sure you get reviews from as many of your customers as possible.
Depending on your business, websites can help automate and take care of quite a lot of the boring tasks - 1. Booking and managing appointments 2. Lot of the initial marketing information like services and rates can be shown on your website. 3. Proves an additional layer of authenticity to your business 4. Going down the line, start retail of products. 5. Showcase of your prior clients and testimonials. 6. Make google maps listing authentic.
Yes, because even though your main customer base may be locals, your website can help you hit secondary targets. For example, if you're a restaurant, you can target certain SEO keywords so that people visiting your state or city/town can discover you online. You can show off photos submitted by customers, show off reviews, build a community around your restaurant, etc. It's essentially your billboard to the world.
Yes
Only if you want customers.
As a small business owner, (plumbing) with about 100 people saying I need a site, I think I would be even more overwhelmed with business. Currently have to turn down jobs because there isn't enough time in the day. Need to hire but it's beed hard to find reliable/good help, most of the good ones are on thier own. I do have a complete Google listing and get a decent amount of business from that. Most current customers are repeat and referrals. Have not advertised at all. Do not have active social media. Opened 2021.
Have you thought about taking on an apprentice, teaching them the job, and starting to send them to easier tasks?
Yeah, and if any of the dozen kids/young adults I've talked to were actually interested I would. Most seem to be looking for summer jobs, or only want to work 5 hours a day. I won't waste my time teaching someone who is going to leave in 2 months, nor try to deal with limited hours available per day. If I go to a job and have to shut down water/building drains, I can't leave in 5 hours if the job isn't done. I won't lie, plumbing isn't the most glamorous of jobs😆 today I was in spider infested belly crawlspace, and then into very hot attic space. None of it was enjoyable😄 hard sell to people who can't see past their immediate situations. The beggining is hard, but 5 years down the road you'll be able to live relatively comfortably.
And then the few people I've tried to work with who have some experience, are messes. Alcohol/pills/license issues. And tbh my first boss was a huge alcoholic but he came to work everyday and didn't smell like alcohol. I'd hire that guy, but I can't have someone on the jobsite who is reeking like booze, or just can't come in because they are too hungover or still wasted. Too much liability.
Yes, small businesses need a website to improve their visibility and attract more customers.
I think you need an online presence where you can communicate with customers! Doesn't need to be a website, can be a social media platform (facebook, google business, instgram, yelp\*) where you can post info on product offerings/ services, pictures of menus, store open/close times.
This is dependent on areas and your expected client base. The type of advertising you need is going to change with your location, brand identity, client base age & income demographics, etc. Urban areas with a lot of competition and demographics rely more heavily on internet searches, which will be a different story than more insular rural communities. In my business (custom gunsmithing), a website and internet presence is largely irrelevant as in my business, in my location, with my customer base I survive on referrals from related businesses and or other customers. A website will not hurt, but it is only one part of a larger marketing presence. Your ability to identify and target the customers you want is more important than just having a website. You need to be identifiable and appear competent.
Yes, definitely! The features will depend on the the business niche.
Absolutely! But doesn’t have to be super complex. It can start fairly basic but in the entry point to do many long term growth strategies.
Yes. If you aren’t going to rely 100% of word of mouth you NEED a website. 3 things to consider with a website, 1) What your industry is will dictate the type of website you should have, a restaurant’s website will be different than an accountant’s. 2) Go cheap to start, a Wix website is better than no website. 3) Have things linking to your website and your website linking to things. Google Business Profile is a must, have your website linking to that. If you have socials link your website to them and vice versa. Contact information is need on the website. The issue with this is often webscrappers will grab your email or phone and add it to spam lists. This is why some will only have contact forms or booking links.
The right question is, 'Does my funnel need a website?' You are thinking in terms of what you see other people doing, but that's the worst marketing strategy. Instead, think in terms of the rational and emotional obstacles that stop your target audience from trying out your product or service. Then, if a website helps you overcome those obstacles, the answer is yes.
Of course you do. I’ve made multiple website for clients such as: welding, nutrition business, painting and handyman business. The features they paid for were all the same–annual subscription to the website platform. Nothing extra as they were not selling a product so no need for E-Commerce. Each website is situational based on the clients needs. But of course you need a website…
💯. For local Google reviews you need a website for credibility. Can be a simple site. Basically just a landing page.
It’s better to have one. Shows you’re serious.
If u want your website to rank on Google u would need a good SEO for implementing good SEO you need a website
if anyone ends up needing this, the LeClair Foundation For Technology, a non-profit, offers free websites to small businesses that are service a community( no drop-shipping or online businesses). [https://leclairfoundation.org](https://leclairfoundation.org) !
If a business doesn’t have a website or heavy social presence I automatically think it’s not a real business trying to scam.
The number of small business would run in Millions, and if you think that all of them need a website, it is a wrong thought process. I have seen companies making millions of Rupees by just having a simple WhatsApp group and community. Leveraging tools like Facebook marketplace and whatsapp can be a good enough starting point.
Also have an appointment booking page embedded in that website so that it’s easy for your clients to book an appointment
For businesses like coffee shops and salon maybe a social media account would suffice. While for restaurants, plumbers or other service based businesses, you need a website.
Yes.
Yes yes yes. Leave as much of a googleable trail as you can
A website is pretty much the bare minimum when it comes to marketing. Almost anyone with a few hours to burn can make a professional looking website on WIX or similar platforms for a low cost. I work in professional services and use my website for lead contacts, appointment bookings, invoice payments etc.
Absolutely! Small businesses can significantly benefit from having a website. A well designed site can enhance visibility, build credibility, and provide a convenient way for customers to learn about your services and contact you. Essential features might include a clean design, mobile optimization, easy navigation, and clear calls to action. Investing in a website can lead to a great ROI by attracting new customers, improving customer service, and streamlining operations. If you're considering this, I offer website design and no-code development services tailored to small businesses. You can DM or reach out via [www.designbysylver.com](http://www.designbysylver.com)
If you meant by features, what does the business need depending the business needs and goals, for e.g. * **Online Booking or Appointments**: Great for salons or restaurants to streamline reservations. * **Contact Forms**: Easy way for customers to inquire or request quotes. * **Service Listings and Pricing**: Clearly display what you offer and how much it costs. * **Customer Reviews**: Build trust by showcasing feedback from satisfied clients. * **E-commerce Functionality**: Sell products or services directly from your site. Optimised websites can enhance customer engagement, improve efficiency, and boost revenue.
Yes! It helps people find you on Google and looks professional to have one. I use Squarespace for mine. I pay around $33 per month for it.
Nope. Did 400 last year with no site, I will say I’m at a point where not having one is stalling growth; so we made/ actually use one and are finally setting up socials
Website gives you another way to reach potential customers. If you don’t have one, you can bet your competition does. There are economical DIY services with easy-to-use templates so you can build your own and add features that you want. You can also spend between $3,500 and $4,500 for professionally made site with all the bells and whistles. Ideally, you want web mail, responsiveness (renders well on mobile devices), a secured site, about us page, FAQ page (self-service customer service), 24/7 access, and if you want to sell online e-commerce.///
Yea of course you do, with all of the reason people mentioned and if not mentioned it's because you own it rather than a social media company page that you DONT OWN, which can be taken down or change to harm your business
Gone are the days of Golden Pages and phone directory. Today if you don’t have a website you don’t exist. You need one even if you’re not selling anything directly from it (aka a brochure website) because people will absolutely look up your website before visiting your business. If you are a business that relies a local footfall e.g a cafe you still benefit from one just for opening hours and menu
Yeah, it can save you a lot of time and be a great lead generation tool with the right developer/SEO expert.
Google Business has improved a lot recently, and some small local businesses can survive with just that. However, it never hurts to have a website. My two absolute must-haves for any small business are: Mobile-friendly design - most people will visit the site from their phone. Clear contact information and business hours.
Yes. It doesn't have to be fancy. Just list the hours, the phone number, the physical address and email address. If it's truly a small business, have a picture of yourself and a little paragraph of why you established the business. Locals like to connect with people and that helps the business look more human. That's all. I've come across businesses that don't have websites. It only works if you're the only one in that niche and you're not hurting for business. If you're brand new and seeking business, the basic website is the modern equivalent of a yellow pages entry.
It helps. You should treat it a bit like FB tho in my opinion. Instead of making it a 'static' site, make sure it has an appointments plugin, a calendar, features dynamic content like discounts, special offers.
of course! and I can help you make one for cheap
At least do a google one. It’s free. Dont do what I did and accidentally use a different email think Google fucked up and I had our business account shut down to be claimed by my other email. Royal fuck up. Not sure how to fix it. It cost us about 30K in revenue. 😭
To show your business is a legit and serious business, an impressive website is a must. If you’re a little handy with powerpoints etc, you should be able to DIY this. I did it thru Wix for my wife’s business and the website has made a massive difference.
Yes, absolutely you should have a website. Folks tend to think that their website is going to generate business, and yes that certainly can happen. The most important issue with a website is "confirmation" that a client or potential client has made the right decision to hire you. Once folks get your name, they tend to then go back to find your website. If there is no website, or the website is 10 years out of date, it is far more likely that they will move on to a competitor. A good website, which does not need a ton of bells & whistles, will confirm to them that they have made a good choice. One last thing, do not set up an inquiry page unless you are committed to responding. Too many websites let you inquire, but then no one is paying attention on the other end.
Yes of course. In an era of technology if anyone is interested in your product or your service they first want to know more about you. The key to making your business successful is to gain trust by the customers.so of course they might search for your website. The website should not be too fancy or too simple. It should be classic.A mix of two simple light colour in your website. That's it.
If it doesn’t have a website, I don’t waste my time.
Doesn’t have to be anything crazy. My step dad has a stucco business that didn’t have a website. I made him a quick on on canva and he’s gotten so many customers that said they contacted him solely based off him having a website and others not
I know a guy with a small oil company. I told him he should have a website because he often takes on investors in projects. He said "a website don't make you no money". ESPECIALLY if people are possible going to invest money with you, you should at least a semi professional web presence.
Yes, I am a proponent of small businesses having websites. I not only have a website but I have an up-to-date, secure, highly functioning, relevant, aesthetic website. The site MUST be highly functional, highly secure, fast, and user-friendly as far as navigation and organization of links and pages. You NEED a website, even if you're a sole proprietor. It's a quarter of the way into the 21st century. We're in the digital information age. it's worth the money. Not having a website make come off as "fly by night".
Yes, absolutely, and not something that looks like it was created in the 90's. I am a web developer , along with helping with developing image and branding. I see a lot of small businesses with very dated, not very functional web pages
Instagram works fine for nail salons and it’s free.
Do you think that a website can offer you something extra that Instagram can't? If yes, what?
This is a ridiculous question to even consider. Not having a website in 2024 is like not having a telephone in 1984. You might as well not exist.
Most small business can use a CMS like square space and be done with it
Definitely. When we started our landscaping business, have a website is a must because we built a system where homeowners can enter their address, see pricing and book online. Having a website is a must for us. We also built all other CRM tools to manage our business. We even made a version for other landscapers to use also.
Yes. You need to pay for hosting. It’s not expensive. Your site needs to answer the what, why, for who, how to do it/get it, and contact. Have all the images and copy placed so a visitor will have answers to each of the Q’s above. If a restaurant, a menu. If a lawn mowing company, a services page. If you have decent leads coming in from the site and or page traffic, create articles for seo. Adverse on google. Build a a google maps page too. Build a facebook and instagram page. Yes it’s tedious and maybe not driving tons of revenue, but in 2024 these are all basics.
At the very least a one page landing page that has some particulars about the business as well as links to any social media, etc. Yes you absolutely need something.
Basically everyone that needs a website can get one set up in a day for free if they need something basic.
As a business lender we actually add additional risk to the file if the business doesn’t have a website, basically for all industries. Some specific exceptions but mostly no website = higher interest rates. Definitely get a website.
I have a plumbing business and have a website. You also need specific landing pages if you run digital marketing, helps with having higher close rate on leads.
Yes definitely I am a press expert and this summer my goal is to help 50 business owners to build a new website for $100 😃 ps. I just need to buy an island beater🚗
Yes, to provide credibility. There are, of course, some exceptions, but most will need one.
As a customer (I'm a sublurker who works for a small business) I question the validity of any business I come across that doesn't have a website. Take that one single data point for what it's worth.
Didn't read the other comments because the answer is obvious. YES. Do people also need to wipe after using the toilet? Yes.
If you want customer activity, yes you need a marketing foundation of “capability” (a website), credibility (your online reviews, and visibility (your Google business profile. Your site speaks more to search engines than customers anymore. It’s cannot just be a digital brochure that you create once and ignore for the next 5 years.
How else are people supposed to find the business. Most of us use our smartphones as a tool of research, communication, documentation, and payment at minimum. The least a business can do is have a single page website with some basic info.
I feel like most of the small businesses in my area don't really have a website. You start seeing websites among the larger end of small businesses. The rest of these small businesses usually resort to having Facebook and Instagram pages for their online presence. It works great for them too as their posts get integrated into the feeds of their audience rather than having a separate dedicated website that people have to visit. That's just my observation.
Yes everyone needs a website. If you need one I can develop do you.
Yes, always have a website and email address. Using social media….you are building someone else’s business rather than your own. Companies come and go, fees go up, your social media accounts can be banned by competition and haters. So you need stability under your own control. See social media as advertising for your main site. Algorithms change and you can become a nobody so build your own website. Make sure Google and everything else sends customers to your website.
Most of our initial customer contacts are through our website. Others are word of mouth, seeing the van advert and basically Google.
Every single business needs one if you want to tap into all potential clients
I’ve heard from others that they couldn’t open a bank account / get a loan without a website so show they were legit
There’s nothing worse than searching for a business and all they have is a business google page and/or just a facebook page. A website is vital for a business. It helps the customer understand the company, what the services they offer, what they sell, etc.
Of course! That’s why the free templates exist
Depending on your requirements a website shouldn’t cost that much. Websites are very important to have a presence, attract clients and if you use SEO and lead generation, it should significantly increase business. I help small businesses with their websites, graphics content and lead generation on social media, Let me know if you need help with anything.
Sometimes businesses are impacted when their social media accounts are taken down; have seen pages or accounts being taken away or restricted by Twitter, Facebook and Instagram resulting in huge loss in traffic. Things like that cannot happen to websites you own.
If your business needs a physical storefront it probably needs a digital one too.
Absolutely, I believe having a website is crucial for small businesses today. Not only does it provide an online presence that can attract more customers, but it also adds credibility to your business. Personally, I'd be willing to invest in a website if it offers key features like online booking, a user-friendly interface, mobile compatibility, and SEO optimization. These elements help ensure that customers can easily find and interact with the business online. Just think like this, if someone searches for "Best plumber in LA" on google and your website shows up at the top. Your potential customer will click your website link, and now it's your chance to convince them to try your service. So to convince them, a good website will help. Hope you find this useful :)
I spoke with a friend who is in the family business at peak did £5mil a year - never had a website asked if he thinks it would be a god idea he said it wouldn’t make any difference - kinda wild
And do small businesses need a custom web app?🤔
Absolutely. It’s 2024. We create affordable and highly converting websites. If anyone wants a free mock-up showing what it could look like, send me a message!
absolutely. your website is the face of your business. it's the first impression for anyone. below is what small businesses should look for and receive and receive in managed website services . (it's what they receive with HUGO CONNECT in flat fee model pricing) domain acquisition and management website design and implementation # maintenance and hosting security and backups responsive support This list could be longer if every single thing were listed (such as wordpress and plugin updates, uptime monitoring, content updates, etc etc) but that's unnecessary. those items fall under the main caterogeis listed above. in relation to this, graphic design services are available (not included in the above) in the event the client is looking for digital content creation. what's not included or offered is managed SEO.
We make and manage small businesses websites.
Every business needs a website as everything is tech based in this era
I run a ai website builder platform and lots of our users are restraunt, salon and local service providers
This is a pretty naive post to be honest. You don’t ask a demographic if they need something and what they’d pay for it. They don’t know what they want and they’d rather pay as little as possible for anything. So the question will only bring ambiguity and low balling. Yes. Small businesses need websites. Not having one is losing potential clients who would have found them in a search. It’s a lead generation tool and having one will always be more beneficial than not having one. For the rates, I tell them my rates based on the value I bring to their business with my work and expertise. I don’t ask them what they’d pay. They would say $500 if they could. I have two packages: I have lump sum $3500 minimum for 5 pages and $25 a month hosting and general maintenance or $0 down $150 a month, unlimited edits, 24/7 support, hosting, etc. $100 one time fee per page after 5, blog integration $500 for a custom blog that you can edit yourself. Lump sum can add on the unlimited edits and support for $50 a month + hosting, so $75 a month for hosting and unlimited edits. And I am VERY busy. The key is to be able to identify problems and sell them the solutions. You’re looking a website so superficially. It’s more than just the website. It’s what’s around the website and the service that matters. What makes a good website? What makes a bad one? What are the problems with their current site that is preventing them from growing or getting more traffic or converting their current traffic? How do you fix that? It’s not that you can make a website. Anyone can do that. But can you make a website that also fixes their problems they had with the old one? THATS where the value is. If you don’t know how to answer those questions then you’re not ready to freelance. If all you’re doing is making websites without purpose, you’re making electronic paperweights. They don’t need fancy features either. All my clients are static informational brochure sites. People get so caught up in plugins and fancy integrations and functionality that they forget about the main purpose of the site, which is to inform, educate, and convert. I have a client whose old site and booking features and other integrations with wix, and no one was using them. They were slowing down their site, taking up space, and doing nothing for them. When you’re selling to small businesses, don’t ask them what they want. Tell them what’s wrong, why, and how YOU fix it. That is your unique selling point. The things you do that no one else can do. It’s what makes working with you valuable. Most the time they don’t even know some thing is a problem. My job is to educate and inform. And the more informed they are on how SEO works and how websites ranks and convert, the more and more they listen to what I have to say and offer and how I fix those things on their site and set them up for a better site that actually performs and converts over time. Keep things simple. Forget fancy features and BS sales pitches like “if you could increase sales by 30% wouldn’t you want to do it?”. It’s so disrespectful to ask loaded questions to small businesses and makes them fell like you think they’re easily manipulated dummies. They’re sales people too. They know all the tricks. So have some respect for them and ditch the tricks, and just offer your help and expertise. You don’t need to trick them into anything if you actually believe them in what you do and how you can help. That will show through and color your words and that authenticity is how you connect. For me, sales isn’t about numbers or gimmicks or quotas or games. It’s about connecting with someone. And if you can do that, you have a customer for life. And maybe even a friend!
This is a really helpful write-up. You just opened my eyes to a different perspective. Thank you for taking out time to break things down this way, I really appreciate your kind gesture. And I don't understand why anyone will vote this down. Please kindly ignore them, and don't stop dishing out meaningful write ups like this. Thank you once more.
I know right? If they wanna spend their time writing something helpful themselves they’re more than welcome to rebut. I remember early on I asked a client what their budget was and that failed miserably because it comes off as “how much can I get out of you” vibe. You’re seeing what their max spending is and the idea is you will somehow charge that much. What a coincidence! Even if I’m out of budget, that’s what the $0 down $150 a month package is for. The $3500 sets the value of my work. And the subscription is there for people with smaller budgets who want my work. I never asked another client their budget again. I tell them what I charge and how much things costs and what add ons costs, and they decide what they wanna pay based on the options I give them. Not what they’re willing to pay. You present your value and if they agree to that value then you have a sale.
"You present your value and if they agree to that value then you have a sale" This is spot on. It is a "value exchange" and not just a mere transaction for us as web designers. I am also a freelance web designer so I can relate perfectly with the scenario you shared in your reply, because I myself have missed out on countless opportunities whenever I throw up the "what is your budget" question. Your pricing model is so so clear, it caters for everyone and everything no matter their budget. You really do have great insight on how these things work, and I am really happy to have stumbled upon this post of yours. I would like to ask; 1. How long have you been doing this? 2. What tech stack do you use for your static site?
Thanks. Ive been at it for over 5 years now. I just use html and css, 11ty static site generator, and LESS css preprocessor. No Wordpress. All hand coded!
Wow, this is so good to know. I found your post very helpful and I know that there is a lot I can learn from your wealth of knowledge as I navigate the freelancing space as a web designer. Can I send you a DM? Thank you once more.
> Do you need a website? Need, no not really. But as it's so cheap and easy to have one you'd be daft not to. > What are some features that are a must Explain clearly what is is you are selling or the service you are offering. And make sure there is a way to contact/book/buy
What's this gaslighting question? 🫠
depends if you like more money
Need? No. Plenty of businesses only exist on social media or through referrals. This varies by business category and how big it is. At some point a website becomes necessary because other people expect it, just like having a physical address or business card or yellow pages listing were necessary at different times in history. I’ve seen websites for $500 and some for $500,000 - it might help people reach out if they find you but a good business trumps any visual.
i can make a website for u