What every small business website needs.

Updated November 2026

Who you are and what you do

Within a few seconds of landing on your site, a visitor should know your business name, what you do and roughly where you are. Put that in a clear headline at the top. “Plumbing and heating across Tullamore and Clara” tells people far more than “Welcome to our website”.

How to reach you

Your phone number should be a tap-to-call link, so people on a phone can ring you with one tap. Add your email address and, if people visit you, your full address with a link to a map. Put these near the top and again at the bottom of the page.

When you’re open

Opening hours are one of the most-checked details on any local business website. Keep them current, including bank holidays and seasonal changes. Out-of-date hours cost you customers and trust.

What you offer

List your main services or products as real text, not inside images or PDFs. Text is easier to read on a phone, works with screen readers and can be found by Google. If you’re comfortable showing prices, do. People like knowing roughly what to expect before they get in touch.

Photos of the real thing

Your own photos of your premises, your work and your team do more than stock images ever can. They help people recognise you when they arrive. A recent phone photo in good light is usually fine.

A privacy notice

If your website collects any personal data, even through a simple contact form, you need a privacy notice explaining what you collect and why. Link to it from every page.

What you can leave out

• Long “about us” histories most visitors won’t read
• Image sliders, which slow pages down and hide most of their content
• Pop-ups asking people to sign up to a newsletter
• Tracking and advertising scripts you don’t actively use