The short answer
The best small business websites aren’t the fanciest. They say clearly what the business does and where, show real photos and reviews, make it easy to get in touch from a phone, and load fast.
The 12 things good small business websites do
Above the fold
- Say what you do and where, in one line. “Electrician in Hamilton” beats “Powering your future”.
- Show one clear action. Call, book or get a quote, not five buttons that compete.
- Put your phone number where thumbs reach it. Most visitors are on a phone.
Trust
- Real photos. Your work, your team, your premises. No stock photos of handshakes.
- Reviews with names. First name and suburb are enough.
- Credentials. Registrations, memberships, years in business.
Clarity
- A clear list of services, in the words customers use.
- Prices, or at least a starting price. It filters time-wasters and builds trust.
- Your service area, written out in full.
Basics
- Fast on a phone. Under three seconds on mobile data.
- Titles and descriptions written for Google, page by page.
- A short contact form with a privacy policy next to it.
Ideas by type of business
| Business | What matters most on the website |
|---|---|
| Tradies | Click-to-call, photos of jobs, service area |
| Builders | Project galleries, how you work, credentials |
| Cafés and restaurants | Menu as a web page, hours, map, bookings |
| Salons and beauty | Services with prices, booking link, gallery |
| Health practitioners | A page per treatment, practitioner profiles, booking |
| Accountants | Services in plain English, team, software you use |
See what we include for tradies, builders, cafés, salons, health practitioners and accountants.
What to leave out
- Sliders and auto-playing videos that slow the page down.
- Pop-ups that appear before people have read anything.
- Long “about our passion” paragraphs. Show it with photos and reviews.
- Pages with no purpose, just to fill the menu.
See exactly what’s included
Compare our three websites side by side, prices and all.
Frequently asked questions
How many pages should a small business website have?
Most do well with four to six: home, services, about, blog and contact. A one-page website is enough for many sole traders.
Should I show my prices?
If you can, yes. Even “from” prices help customers decide and save you time on enquiries that were never going to go ahead.
How often should I update my website?
Check it every few months: prices, hours, photos and services change. A website that’s clearly out of date loses trust.
