What Makes a Good Small Business Website?
- John Lally
- Jul 4
- 2 min read
What Makes a Good Small Business Website?
A good website doesn’t need to be flashy — it just needs to do its job properly. That means helping customers find you, understand what you offer, and feel confident enough to get in touch.
Here’s what a good small business website actually looks like — and what to focus on if you’re building or updating your own.
1. It’s Clear and Easy to Navigate
Your visitors shouldn’t have to guess what you do or where to click. Every page should have:
The goal is to make life easier for your customer — not to show off every detail of your business.
2. It Works on Mobile
Most people will visit your site from their phone. If your website doesn’t work well on mobile, you’re probably losing customers.
That means:
Fast load times
Big, readable text
Tap-friendly buttons
No awkward zooming or horizontal scrolling
All our website builds are mobile-friendly as standard — it’s not an extra, it’s a must.
3. It Tells People What They Need to Know
Your site should answer three questions straight away:
What do you do?
Where are you based?
How can I get in touch?
Bonus points if you also show examples of your work, explain your process, and include a few testimonials or reviews.
4. It Builds Trust
Your website is often your first impression — and people decide quickly whether to stay or leave.
Trust-building tips:
Use real photos (you, your team, your work)
Keep your branding consistent
Include genuine reviews or client names
Make it easy to contact you (form, phone number, map)
If you’ve got a Google Business Profile, link to it. It shows up well in local search and helps reinforce your credibility.
5. It Helps You Get Found
There’s no point having a great website if nobody can find it. That’s where SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) comes in.
Basics include:
Page titles and headings that include local keywords
Meta descriptions that explain your services
Fast loading speeds
Internal links between pages
We include all of this in our Ashford web design service — and we can help with ongoing SEO too if needed.
Final Thought
A good small business website doesn’t need to be big, expensive or clever. It just needs to be clean, clear, and useful.
If you’d like a hand getting yours in shape — or building one from scratch — we’re here to help. Get in touch and we’ll walk you through the next step.
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