What Every First-Time Business Website Must Have (And What to Avoid)
Starting your first business website? First of all – congrats! Whether you're a plumber in Braintree, a dog groomer in Derby, or a yoga instructor in York, having a website is one of the smartest things you can do for your business.
But here’s the truth: not all websites are created equal.
We’ve seen the good, the bad, and the utterly baffling (yes, even one with Comic Sans AND auto-playing music). So in this guide, we're going to walk you through exactly what your first business website must have – and just as importantly, what to avoid like the dodgy meat at a village BBQ.
Let’s get stuck in.
Why Your First Website Matters More Than You Think
Picture this: Someone recommends your business. What’s the first thing that potential customer does? They Google you.
If you don’t show up? Red flag.
If you do show up but your website looks like it was built in 1998 by a teenager on dial-up? Bigger red flag.
Your website is your digital shopfront. It works for you 24/7, even while you’re asleep or binge-watching The Great British Bake Off. It’s where people decide whether they’ll trust you, buy from you, or move on to someone else.
So let’s get your first website right.
The Essentials – What Your First Website Must Have
1. Clear, Simple Navigation
If people land on your site and feel like they need a treasure map to find your services, they’ll leave.
What to do:
Stick to the basics:
Home
About
Services
Contact
Optional: Blog (for SEO) and Testimonials (for trust).
Example:
Jenny runs a cleaning business in Chelmsford. Her first website had 12 menu items. Twelve! Visitors didn’t know where to go, and bookings were slow. We simplified it to five clear sections and enquiries doubled within two weeks.
2. Your Contact Details (Everywhere)
Don’t make people hunt. Your phone number, email address, and social media should be easy to find on every page – especially mobile.
Pro tip:
Put your contact info in both the header (top) and footer (bottom) of every page.
Also:
Have a contact page with a simple form. No one likes copying and pasting email addresses.
3. Mobile-Friendly Design
Most of your visitors are on their phones. If your site doesn’t work properly on mobile, you’re waving goodbye to business.
At 99 Quid Websites, every site we build is mobile-friendly as standard – no squinting or scrolling sideways.
4. A Professional Look (Without the Fluff)
You don’t need flashy animations, spinning logos, or three sliders on the homepage. You need something clean, clear, and focused on what you do and why you're good at it.
Avoid: Templates that look like they were made for a nightclub in Ibiza. You’re a professional, not a DJ (unless you are a DJ, in which case… still be tasteful).
5. An About Page With Personality
This is your chance to build trust. Don’t write a corporate essay. Tell your story. Be human.
Example:
Trevor, a self-employed roofer from Colchester, shared on his About page how he started as an apprentice with his dad and now runs his own team. That small touch made customers feel they knew him – and his quote requests soared.
6. Clear Call to Action (CTA)
What do you want people to do on your website?
Call you?
Fill in a form?
Book a service?
Make it obvious. Buttons help. So do phrases like:
“Get Your Free Quote Today”
“Call Now for Fast, Friendly Service”
We build every 99 Quid Website with a strong CTA in all the right places – because what’s the point of a website if it doesn’t bring in business?
The "Avoid It Like the Plague" List
1. No Music. Ever.
Nobody wants to visit a website and get blasted with Eye of the Tiger. Just... don’t.
2. Outdated Info
If your website says “Christmas Opening Times 2022” in June 2025, it’s not a great look. Keep it updated – especially your contact details, pricing, and services.
3. Too Much Text
Avoid walls of text. Break things up. Use headings, bullet points, and images.
Real talk: No one is reading your 800-word essay on why you started your plumbing business in 1994. Keep it relevant, keep it snappy.
4. Stock Photos of American People
If your business is based in Huddersfield, why are there stock photos of smiling people in sunshine-filled offices from Florida?
We’re in the UK. Let’s keep it relatable.
Instead: Use a photo of yourself or your actual work (we can help with that too – even smartphone pics can look great when done right).
5. DIY Website Builders That Drain Your Time
You’ve probably seen them. “Build a website in 10 minutes!”
But then… you spend three weeks trying to figure out fonts, layouts, mobile settings, and why your booking form won’t send.
There’s a better way: We build it all for you on our own user-friendly platform. No WordPress, no plugins, no faffing.
The Hidden Must-Haves That Make All the Difference
1. Fast Load Time
People are impatient. If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, they’ll leave. We optimise every 99 Quid Website to be snappy and quick.
2. Basic SEO Built In
Your site should be found on Google. That means:
Your name and location mentioned in text
Proper meta titles and descriptions
Image alt tags
A sitemap (don’t worry, we handle all this behind the scenes)
3. Legal Pages (Yes, Really)
It’s boring but necessary. You need:
Privacy Policy
Cookie notice (especially if you’re using tracking)
Terms and Conditions (depending on what you offer)
We can provide simple templates or add yours for you.
4. A Way to Grow Later
Starting simple is smart. But you should be able to grow your site as your business grows:
Add more services
Add a blog
Add a booking form
With our platform, that’s easy. No need to start again or rebuild from scratch.
Real Stories from First-Timers
Case Study: Leah the Dog Walker
Leah started her business in Basildon with just a Facebook page. But as she grew, people wanted more info – pricing, times, testimonials. She came to us for a 99 Quid Website.
We created a clean, mobile-friendly site with:
A gallery of happy dogs
A form to book trial walks
A page with FAQs (like “Do you walk dogs in the rain?” – answer: yes, with waterproofs)
Within a month, she’d doubled her weekly bookings.
Case Study: Tony the Gas Engineer
Tony didn’t even have a Gmail address when he came to us. We helped him:
Set up a professional email
Write content that explained his boiler services clearly
Show off his certifications (very important for trust)
He now gets leads every week from his new site and doesn’t have to rely on Checkatrade.
FAQs
Q: Do I really need a website if I’ve already got Facebook or Instagram?
A: Social media is great – but you don’t own it. One algorithm change and your reach can drop overnight. Your website is your online home. You’re in control.
Q: What if I’m not good with tech?
A: That’s exactly why we built 99 Quid Websites the way we did. You don’t need to touch code, or even log in if you don’t want to. We take care of it.
Q: How long does it take?
A: Most websites are ready in 5–7 days. If you’re quick with your content and photos, we can be quicker.
Q: What do I need to give you to get started?
A: A few basics:
Your logo (if you have one – if not, we can help)
Info about your business
Contact details
Any images you’d like to include
We’ll guide you through the rest.
Q: Can I update the website later?
A: Yes! You can send us changes, or we can show you how to do simple edits if you prefer a DIY approach.
Q: Is it really just £99?
A: Yes – one-off cost. No hidden extras. If you want extras like a contact form, blog, or gallery – just let us know. They’re often included or very affordable.
Your Website Should Work as Hard as You Do
You’ve worked hard to build your business. Your website should reflect that – and help you grow. It shouldn’t be a source of stress, cost you thousands, or sit around gathering digital dust.
That’s why we built 99 Quid Websites. No complicated platforms. No overwhelming options. Just clean, simple websites built for real UK businesses.
Ready to Get Online (the Easy Way)?
We’d love to help.
👉 Contact us today to chat about your new website. We’ll guide you through it all, from first click to final polish.
Remember – your customers are Googling you. Let’s make sure they like what they see.
