Are you thinking about getting a new website (or updating an old one)? You probably have a million questions like how much does it cost? What’s the turnaround time? Will my investment actually create more revenue and bring in new customers? How do I make sure it’s worth it in the long run?
Your website is one of the most important tools in your business. But it’s not just about looking good. It needs to be easy to use, show up in Google searches, and actually help people take action—whether that’s booking an appointment, buying a product, or getting in touch.
Before you look before you leap, here are the 10 most common questions businesses ask about web design, along with the information that will help you make smart decisions for your business.
Single Most Important thing Designers want you to Know
A website is not a magic carpet—it won’t just take off on its own. If you want it to fly, you need to find an old lamp, then you have to polish it up (optimise your site), let the genie out (build traffic through SEO, content, and marketing), and then be clear about your three wishes (what you actually want your website to achieve—more leads, more sales, or more brand awareness).
Without a plan, even the most beautiful website will just sit there, gathering dust.
Your website needs love and attention. You can’t just set and forget. You need to do the work to convert those clicks to customers and show them the journey you’re going to take them on. If you aren’t prepared to actively drive traffic to your website, it’s not going to be a magical solution for your business.
To get the most out of your website, it needs to be kept fresh and regularly updated. This means you need to add new content, write blog posts (answer common customer questions for example), and make sure your services or product pages are up-to-date.
Your website is a part of your overall marketing plan. You need to drive traffic towards it if you want it to rank well. Social media, Google Business Profile Manager and other marketing efforts—every post, ad, or email campaign should have a clear path leading people back to your site.
Since we know search engines prioritise active websites, you need regular updates to improve your chances of ranking well in Google. A well-maintained site that’s part of a larger marketing plan will always perform better than one that’s just sitting there collecting digital dust.
How much does a Website Cost?
The cost of a website varies based on design complexity (is there a store?), features, and platforms (such as WordPress or Shopify). You can check out our pricing here.
A small business website might start at a few thousand dollars, while a custom-built eCommerce or enterprise site could cost significantly more, while a single page website costs less, and can be perfect for new businesses starting out.
The other costs associated with a website is your hosting (monthly or yearly), domain name renewal and other domains you have that point to that website and maintenance and updates.
How long does it Take to build a Website?
This depends on a lot of factors such as the designers workload, the preparation completed by the client, (like images and copy text), researching SEO keywords for the industry, competitor research and time to review before it goes live. A simple website can take three to six weeks, while a more complex sites with advanced functionality can take longer. Businesses should plan ahead to avoid rushing the process, which can impact quality and SEO performance, although websites can be completed in stages to get things up and running and add the more complex pages like bookings, stores and more afterwards.
Which platform should I use?
We prefer WordPress for ease of customisation and providing more control with the websites overall design, functionality and SEO friendliness.
The best platform depends on business goals:
- WordPress (with an SEO-friendly theme and plugins like Rank Math) is ideal for most businesses.
- Shopify is an option for eCommerce sites, with built-in SEO tools.
- Wix and Squarespace are beginner-friendly but have limited SEO flexibility compared to WordPress.
- Custom-built websites can offer better performance and speed if designed properly but require more maintenance.
Will my website be mobile-friendly?
The answer is a very loud YES! Every web design makes sure the mobile version of the site is a priority for reasons such as Google’s mobile-first indexing. This mean Google tests your website on it s mobile version FIRST, and judges your sites ranking on this figure. So yes, all websites must be fully optimised for smartphones and tablets to rank well. This includes:
- Responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes
- Fast mobile load speeds (we use pagespeed for one of our testing tools).
- Clickable, easy-to-read navigation without zooming.
How important is SEO for my website?
Let me ask you this . . . how important is sleep for your body? SEO is the same for your website and critical for your site to rank well. SEO is like the handbook search engines use to find out what your site is about. It doesn’t have time to read everything on you website so a well-designed website must be optimised for search engines from the start.
The latest SEO factors to consider include:
- Core Web Vitals (site speed, interactivity, and visual stability)
- Keyword research and search intent (matching content to user needs)
- Schema markup (structured data to help Google understand your content)
- High-quality content (Google’s helpful content update prioritises valuable, original content)
Can I update my website myself?
If your website is built with a CMS like Shopify, or Wix, lets you can update text, images, and blog content with more easy than a WordPress site, it really depends on how savvy you are with technology and if your designers is happy to give you some essential training. However, regular maintenance (like plugin updates, security patches, and SEO optimisations) generally need a web designer or developer to avoid breaking the site. A good designer will make sure you have backups and can limit your access to certain aspects to help out.
What should I Include On My Website
A well-structured website should have:
- A home page, that explains what your business can do to solve a problem and make their lives easier.
- Contact details clear and easy to find
- Accessibility for all users (ie your type should be big enough with enough space around it to read easily)
- Outline of Services and Products pages with clear paths
- A Contact page or Contact form on each page
- A easy to use menu for navigation
- Call-to-action buttons scattered throughout the site
- Blog or article pages to improve SEO and attract traffic
- Testimonials or Portfolio pages
- Speed and clear images in next generation format
- A SEO strategy
- Links to all your contact details an social media
How do I drive traffic to my website?
Now you have built your website, you need to get people to see your site and turn clicks into clients.
- Use local SEO with a smashing Google Business Profile and get customers to leave positive reviews for you business.
- Share – Use your social media content and presence and share valuable insights that engage your followers.
- Start a blog to answer industry questions and rank in search results
- Run paid advertising campaigns such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads
- Implement email marketing with newsletters and promotions
Will my website be secure?
Security is a major ranking factor and a necessity for user trust. A secure website should have:
- An SSL certificate for encrypted connections (HTTPS). So when people type in your address you have that “s” on the end, and some search engines will warn or block sites that don’t have that https in the address
- Your website is more secure if its updated regularly with plugins and backups
- Strong passwords and security plugins, especially for WordPress
- Backups and malware scanning to prevent hacking or data loss
What ongoing maintenance does my website need?
Websites need continuous updates to remain functional, fast, and secure. Regular maintenance can include:
- Updating content to keep it fresh and relevant especially when something in your industry changes.
- Running security scans and updating software
- Checking for broken links and page errors and redirections like 404 “not found” errors
- Monitoring page speed and optimising where needed
- Reviewing SEO rankings, Google rankings and analysis and adjusting as needed
What's next?
A well-designed website is more than just a digital brochure—it’s a 24/7 marketing tool. Your business needs to be focusing on not just design but SEO to ensure their site is not only visually appealing but also search engine-friendly, user-friendly, and conversion-focused.
Need a website that stands out or a review of your current website? Get in touch to discuss a tailored solution for your business.
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