Blog · Websites
A website for a local business: what you really need (and what you don't)
7 October 2026 · by Tony
When people talk about a website they immediately think of something big and expensive. For a local business it's the opposite: what works is a clear, fast, well-made site that answers the questions of the people looking for you.
What you really need
- Say right away what you do, where and for whom, on the first screen
- Opening hours, address and phone number clearly visible, with a button to call or message on WhatsApp
- Real photos of your work, not pictures taken from the internet
- A simple way to contact you or book
- A page that opens fast and reads well on a phone
What you can skip (at least at the start)
- Complicated animations and background music
- Ten pages with very long texts
- Features nobody will use
Why the phone matters
Most people who look for you do it from their phone, often when they're out and about. If the site is slow or hard to read, that person moves on to the next result within seconds.
Getting found
A site written in clear words, with the area you work in and the things you do, helps Google understand when to show you. A complete Google Business Profile and a few reviews also make a difference.
If you don't know where to start, tell me about your business: I'll tell you what you really need and what can wait.