8 Things Every Small Business Website Needs

A website doesn't need to be complicated. It needs to do a handful of jobs extremely well. Here's our checklist — the same one we use when we build every site.

1. Clear contact information on every page

Phone number, email, address, hours and a contact form. If someone has to hunt for how to reach you, you've lost them.

2. A design that looks like it belongs to your business

Consistent colors, fonts and imagery. A cohesive look builds instant credibility; a mismatched one destroys it.

3. Mobile-first layout

Most people will find you on a phone, often while standing up or walking. Design for the thumb first, then the desktop.

4. Service or product pages

One page per service, written in plain language, using the words customers actually type into Google. This is also the single biggest SEO win available to a small business.

5. Proof that you're real

Reviews, testimonials, photos of your work, licenses, years in business. Trust is a conversion factor, not a decoration.

6. Fast load times and HTTPS

A secure certificate and a site that appears in a second or two. Both affect trust and rankings.

7. A single obvious call to action

"Request your free quote." "Call now." "Book your appointment." Pick the one action that matters most and repeat it.

8. Analytics

Traffic statistics so you can see what's working. Without numbers you're guessing.

And the piece most people forget

Your website should work with your Google Business Profile, not separately from it. Your profile puts your map pin in front of local searchers; your website is the page it sends them to. When a local searcher taps your listing, calls you, or asks for directions, that's a visitor your website earned.