Small Business Website Guide 2024

Your website is your digital storefront. Here's everything you need to build a successful small business website in 2024.

Essential Pages

1. Homepage

• Clear value proposition
• Strong call-to-action
• Trust signals (testimonials, logos)
• Mobile-friendly design

2. About Page

• Your story and mission
• Team photos and bios
• Why customers should choose you

3. Services/Products

• Clear descriptions
• Pricing (if applicable)
• Photos or demos
• CTAs on each service

4. Contact Page

• Phone number
• Email
• Contact form
• Business hours
• Location/map

5. Blog

• Industry insights
• How-to guides
• Case studies
• Company news

SEO Essentials

On-Page SEO

<!-- Title tag -->
<title>Best Plumber in Austin | Fast 24/7 Service</title>

<!-- Meta description -->
<meta name="description" content="Austin's trusted plumber. Same-day service, 24/7 availability. Call now for free quote!">

<!-- Headers -->
<h1>Austin's Trusted Plumbing Service</h1>
<h2>24/7 Emergency Plumbing</h2>

Local SEO

• Google Business Profile
• NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone)
• Local keywords
• Customer reviews
• Local directories

Performance Tips

1. Fast Loading - Under 3 seconds
2. Mobile-First - 60% of traffic is mobile
3. HTTPS - Required for trust and SEO
4. Readable - Clear fonts, good contrast
5. Accessible - WCAG 2.1 compliant

Conversion Optimization

Clear CTAs

<!-- Prominent, action-oriented -->
<button class="cta">Get Free Quote</button>
<button class="cta">Call Now: (555) 123-4567</button>

Trust Signals

• Customer testimonials
• Review stars
• Years in business
• Certifications
• Security badges

Contact Options

• Phone (click-to-call on mobile)
• Email
• Contact form
• Live chat
• Social media

Cost Breakdown

Option	Cost	Best For
DIY (Wix, Squarespace)	$200-500/year	Very small businesses
WordPress	$500-2,000	Most businesses
Custom Development	$3,000-10,000+	Unique needs

Maintenance

Monthly tasks:

• Update content
• Check broken links
• Update plugins/security
• Review analytics
• Respond to inquiries
• Update blog
• Check mobile experience

Legal Requirements

• Privacy policy
• Terms of service
• Cookie consent (EU visitors)
• Accessibility statement
• Business registration info

Measuring Success

Track these metrics:

• Traffic - Visitors per month
• Conversions - Calls, forms, sales
• Bounce Rate - Under 60% is good
• Page Speed - Under 3 seconds
• Mobile Usability - No errors

Common Mistakes

1. No clear CTA - Tell visitors what to do
2. Slow loading - Optimize images and code
3. Not mobile-friendly - Test on phones
4. Hidden contact info - Make it prominent
5. No social proof - Add testimonials
6. Outdated content - Keep it fresh
7. No SSL certificate - Get HTTPS
8. Poor navigation - Keep it simple

Conclusion

A good small business website:

• Loads fast
• Looks professional
• Works on mobile
• Has clear CTAs
• Builds trust
• Ranks in Google
• Converts visitors

Start with essentials, measure results, improve continuously. Your website is an investment that pays dividends for years.