How a Simple Website Can Bring You More Local Customers

You’re a local business owner. Maybe you’re a plumber in Southend, a mobile hairdresser in Chelmsford, or you run a café tucked away in a quiet corner of Canvey. You’ve built your business with grit, graft, and word of mouth. But here’s the thing—today’s word of mouth isn’t just people chatting at the school gates or in the pub. It’s Google.

And if someone searches “[Your Service] near me” and you’re not there?

They’ll choose someone who is.

That’s why a simple website can make all the difference. Not a fancy, over-designed, overpriced site with spinning logos and confusing menus. Just a solid, good-looking, easy-to-use website that tells people:
“Here’s who I am, here’s what I do, and here’s how to get in touch.”

In this post, we’ll walk through exactly how a basic website can bring you more local customers, what you need to include (and what you can happily ignore), and how to get it all sorted without blowing your budget or losing your weekends to techy nonsense.

Let’s get stuck in.

Why You’re Probably Losing Local Customers Without a Website

First, let’s clear something up:
Having a Facebook page isn’t the same as having a website.

Yes, it’s helpful. But:

• Not everyone uses Facebook (and Meta can change the rules whenever it fancies)

• You don’t control how your business appears

• You can’t rank properly on Google with just a Facebook page

Now imagine someone local hears about you or sees your van parked on their street. They Google your business name.

No website? You look a bit... well... like you’ve vanished.

Worse, Google might show a competitor instead.

A website says: “We’re open, we’re legit, and we’re ready to help.”

John the Locksmith (and the Job That Got Away)

John runs a locksmith business in Brentwood Essex. Most of his work comes from emergency callouts—locked keys in cars, snapped keys in front doors, the usual.

A neighbour recommended him to a friend in Basildon. She Googled “John the Locksmith Essex” to find his number.

Nothing came up. She rang the next locksmith on the list instead.

He lost a £140 job because he didn’t have a basic website with his name and number on it.

True story.

Now he’s got a site built by us and he gets around 8–10 local enquiries a week. All because he’s now findable online.

What a Simple Website Can Do for You

A basic website can do all this (and more):

✅ Get you found on Google
✅ Make you look professional and trustworthy
✅ Show off your work and happy customers
✅ Let people contact you easily
✅ Help you stand out from local competitors
✅ Work for you 24/7—even when you’re asleep or at the job

Most importantly, it makes your business real. Tangible. There.
It gives potential customers the confidence to pick you.

What You Actually Need (and What You Don’t)

Let’s bust a myth:
You don’t need five million pages, a blog you’ll never update, or a logo that cost more than your van.

Here’s what you do need on your website:

1. A clear homepage

Think of this as your virtual shopfront. It should say:

• Who you are

• What you do

• Where you work

• How to get in touch

2. Your services

Spell out what you offer, especially using phrases people are likely to search. For example:

• “Blocked drains in Grays”

• “Emergency electrician in Romford”

• “Mobile dog grooming in Brentwood”

We build this into your site so it speaks Google’s language and your customer’s.

3. Contact info

Phone, email, contact form—whatever works best for you.
Make it easy to reach you.

4. A few good reviews

Even if it’s just 2 or 3 to start with. People love social proof.

5. Photos or proof of your work

Doesn’t have to be fancy. A quick snap on your phone of a finished job builds trust.

6. A Google-friendly setup

So your site actually shows up in searches. We take care of this behind the scenes.

And that’s it. Simple, tidy, and effective.

Why Local SEO Loves a Simple Site

Let’s talk local SEO (don’t panic—it’s not scary).

SEO = Search Engine Optimisation.
Basically, how Google finds your site and decides where to put it in search results.

A well-built website helps Google understand:

• Where you are

• What you do

• Who you help

So when someone types “Painter near me” or “Hairdresser in Southend”, you show up.

No paid ads. No social media faff. Just steady, consistent leads from people nearby looking for exactly what you offer.

Why Fancy Doesn’t Always Mean Better

We've seen it time and time again—businesses paying £2,000+ for all-singing, all-dancing websites... that don’t work.

They’re slow, confusing, or bloated with stuff customers don’t care about. Or worse—they’re built on systems that the business owner can’t even update themselves.

That’s why we created Arrow Marketing Lab
To keep it simple, affordable, and effective.

Real Business. Real Wins.

A few quick examples:

🧰 Martin the handyman in Harlow had no site and relied on Gumtree ads. We built him a simple website with his services and number—now he gets calls straight from Google Maps and hasn’t paid for an ad in 3 months.

💇 Lorna the mobile hairdresser in Colchester got sick of people messaging her through four different apps. Her new site gives prices, shows reviews, and sends all bookings through one form. Sorted.

None of them are techy. None of them needed training.
Just a website that works.

Why Our Sites Aren’t Built on WordPress (and Why That’s a Good Thing)

Here’s the honest truth:
WordPress is brilliant—for bloggers, developers, and people with time to tinker.

But for local businesses?

It can be slow, complicated, and vulnerable to dodgy plugins and endless updates.

We don’t use WordPress. We’ve built our own custom platform that:

• Loads fast (Google loves this)

• Is easy to update

• Doesn’t require constant maintenance

• Is secure and streamlined

You don’t need to worry about updates, themes, or broken links.

You just get a solid, no-fuss site that does the job.

What’s the Process Like?

Getting your site built with us is as simple as ordering a takeaway.

Here’s what happens:

1. You get in touch with us
   Pop us a message or give us a ring. We’ll have a chat about what you do, where you work, and what you want on the site.

2. We get the info we need
   A few details—your logo (if you have one), service info, contact details, and any photos you want to show off.

3. We build the site
   In most cases, you’ll have a working site in a few days. Yes, really.

4. You review and approve it
   Don’t like the background colour? No problem. Want to add your landline as well? Easy.

5. We get you live
   That’s it. Your site is live, listed on Google, and working hard behind the scenes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I really need a website if most of my work is word of mouth?

Yes! Word of mouth often leads to people Googling you. Without a website, you risk them finding someone else.

2. I’m not tech-savvy. Will I be able to update the site?

You don’t need to be. We do the updates for you. Need to change a phone number? Add a photo? Just let us know—we’ll sort it.

3. I’ve already got a website, but it’s not working. Can you help?

Absolutely. If your current site isn’t bringing in leads, it may not be built for local SEO. We can rebuild it properly and transfer what’s working.

4. Will I be on Google?

Yes. We make sure your site is Google-friendly and indexed properly, so local customers can find you.

5. How much does it really cost?

Just £99 for a fully functioning, beautiful, lead-getting website. No hidden costs, no “starting from…” nonsense.

6. Can I get emails through my site?

Yes! We set up contact forms so you can receive messages directly to your inbox—or you can link it to your WhatsApp if you prefer that.

The Bottom Line

A website isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore—it’s your digital business card, your 24/7 shopfront, and your local SEO powerhouse.

And the truth is, you don’t need to overcomplicate it. You just need a site that’s simple, smart, and shows up when your customers are looking for you.

That’s what we do at the 99 Quid Website Company.

We’re here to help small businesses like yours show up, stand out, and win more local work—without all the hassle.

Ready to Get More Local Customers?

👉 Let’s build you a website that works.
No jargon. No delays. No hidden costs. Just a solid site that helps people find—and trust—you.

📞 Contact us now and let’s get started.

Because the next time someone searches your service + your town on Google…
They should find you.