10 Things Every Business Website Needs

Your website is often a potential client's first contact with your company — and it has only a few seconds to make a good impression. We've reviewed a lot of business websites and noticed that what they usually lack isn't design, but the basics.

Here is a ten-point checklist. Go through it with your own website and see how many you tick.

1. A clear message above the fold

Within three seconds a visitor must understand what you do, for whom and why you. Instead of a generic “Welcome to our website”, be specific: “We design family homes — from concept to building permit”.

2. A visible call to action

What do you want the visitor to do? Call, send an enquiry, book an appointment? Make that button stand out on every page, not hidden at the bottom of the contact page.

3. A great mobile experience

More than 60% of visits now come from phones. Text must be readable without zooming, buttons big enough for a finger and forms easy to fill in.

4. Fast loading

A site that takes more than three seconds to load loses a large share of visitors before they even see the content. Speed also affects your Google rankings.

5. A page for every service

Every key service should have its own page with a description, benefits, a price or price range and answers to common questions. That helps both visitors and SEO.

6. Proof that you can be trusted

People trust other people. Show what confirms your quality:

• Case studies and examples of work with a short description of results.
• Client testimonials with names and companies.
• Certificates, awards and partners.
• Photos of your real team instead of stock images.

7. Easy-to-find contact details

Phone, email and address belong in the footer of every page, with the phone number tappable on mobile. Add opening hours and a map if clients visit you.

8. Basic SEO setup

Without it Google struggles to find you, no matter how beautiful the site is:

• A unique title and description for every page.
• A logical heading structure (H1, H2, H3).
• A sitemap and robots.txt file.
• Descriptive alt text on images.
• Google Search Console and a Google Business Profile connected.

9. Security and an SSL certificate

Your address must start with https. Browsers mark sites without SSL as “not secure”, which drives visitors away. Regular backups and updates are also a must.

10. Legal pages

A privacy policy is a legal requirement as soon as your site collects personal data — even through a simple contact form. Terms of use and, if you use analytics cookies, a cookie notice complete the legal basics.

How many does your website tick?

If you ticked eight or more — you're off to a great start. If it's fewer than six, your website is probably missing out on enquiries it could be getting.

We'll happily review your website for free and send you a list of concrete improvements.