The Website Checklist

If you’re running a small business, your website is one of those things that feels important, but someone often gets pushed to the bottom of your to-do list. And then, when you finally sit down to do it, you realise there are about a million decisions to make.

So let’s simplify it.

Here’s a simple checklist of what a small business website actually needs — nothing fancy, nothing complicated, just the essentials that allow you to powerfully connect with your audience.

A Clear Message (Fast)

When someone lands on your homepage, you only have a few seconds to capture their interest. They should be able to answer these questions within a few seconds:

• What do you do?

• Who do you help?

• How do you help them?

• What should they do next?

If they have to guess, they'll leave. So keep it simple, clear, and friendly.

A Clean “About” Page

This isn’t the place for your whole life story (unless you want it to be). People just want to know:

• who you are

• why you do what you do

• what makes you different

• what they can expect working with you

A warm, short bio can build trust faster than any fancy design.

Services (Written Simply)

You don’t need a long list of every tiny thing you offer. Keep it clear and easy to understand.

A good services page includes:

• what you offer

• who it’s for

• what the outcome is

• how to get started

Social Proof (Testimonials or Case Studies)

People want reassurance that you’re reliable and good at what you do. Testimonials are gold — even just two or three short ones.

If you don’t have testimonials yet, that’s okay. You can also use:

• examples of your work

• short case studies

• “before and after” examples

A Simple Contact Method

Make it easy for people to get in touch. You can include:

• a contact form

• an email address

• a booking link

• your phone number

Just one main option is enough — don’t overwhelm them with choices.

Mobile-Friendly Design

Most people will visit your site on their phone, so it needs to look and feel good on a small screen. That means:

• readable text

• easy-to-tap buttons

• simple navigation

• quick loading times

If it’s fiddly on mobile, people won’t stick around.

A Call to Action (CTA)

Every page should have a next step. Examples of simple CTAs:

• “Book a call”

• “Get in touch”

• “Request a quote”

• “Learn more”

Think of your CTA as a gentle hand guiding someone along — not a pushy sales pitch.

If you’re feeling stuck…

A website doesn’t need to be perfect to be effective. It just needs to be clear, helpful, and easy to use. If you’d like help getting yours sorted — from copy to layout to content planning — I’m always happy to help.