What a Small Business Website Actually Needs (And What It Doesn't)
· 3 min read · Written by Jack, founder of Mumbles Studio
If you're running a small business, whether that's a café, a trade or a local shop, it's tempting to think a website needs to do everything: a blog, an online shop, a booking system, a members' area. In my experience, that's usually the opposite of what actually helps.
What it genuinely needs
Clear information about what you do. Your services or products in plain language, without having to dig through several pages to find them.
A way to get in touch that actually works. A contact form that goes somewhere, a phone number you can tap on a mobile, or a booking link that's easy to find rather than buried in a menu.
Something that works properly on a phone. Most people looking for a local business are on their phone, often while they're out. If your site is slow or awkward on a small screen, you lose them before they've read a word.
A handful of real photos. Actual pictures of your work, your premises or your team build more trust than any amount of stock photography.
What it usually doesn't need (at least to start)
- A blog you won't have time to keep up
- An online shop if you're not actually selling online
- Five different fonts and colours
- Ten pages of content nobody reads past the first two
Simple, done well
The businesses I see struggling online aren't struggling because their website is too simple. They're struggling because it's trying to do too much and doing none of it well.
If you're not sure whether your current site has fallen into that trap, try the free SEO Snapshot, or have a look at how I approach a small business website build.
Want a hand with this?
If you'd rather not do it yourself, I can help — plain English, clear scope.