Do I need a website if I have Instagram?
Instagram is great for discovery, but it isn’t yours. What a website does that social media can’t — and when you might not need one yet.
Read articleStart with the customer’s questions
Before thinking about pages, list the questions a new customer asks before choosing you: What exactly do you do? Is it right for me? Can I trust you? What does it involve? How do I get in touch? Each page on your website should answer one or more of those questions clearly.
The five essential pages
1. Home
Your home page has a few seconds to tell visitors they’re in the right place. Include:
- a clear headline saying what you do and who you do it for;
- a short summary of your main services;
- proof you can be trusted — examples of your work, real reviews if you have them, or your experience;
- a clear next step, such as “Book a call” or “Request a quote”.
2. Services
Explain each service in plain language: what it is, who it’s for, what’s included and what happens next. If you offer very different services, give each one its own section or page — this also helps you appear in more search results.
3. About
People buy from people. Share who you are, why you started, your experience and how you work. A real photo of you or your team makes a big difference. Keep it honest: no invented awards, clients or numbers.
4. Gallery or work
Show, don’t tell. Photos of your products, your space, before-and-after results or completed projects help customers picture working with you. Use your own images, optimised so they load quickly on phones.
5. Contact
Make contacting you effortless. Offer more than one option — an enquiry form, WhatsApp, phone and email — and include your location, service area and opening hours where relevant.
Useful extras
| Page | When it helps |
|---|---|
| FAQ | You answer the same questions again and again. |
| Reviews | You have genuine reviews you have permission to share. Never invent testimonials. |
| Pricing | Your prices are fixed and simple. If every job is different, a “request a quote” approach works better. |
| Booking | You take appointments — a link to a trusted booking tool is often enough. |
| Blog or guides | You can write helpful articles regularly that your customers search for. |
| Policies | You collect personal data through forms or take payments. A privacy policy is usually needed; terms and refund policies help set expectations. Requirements depend on where you operate. |
One page or several?
A one-page website or landing page works well when you offer one main service, run a focused campaign or need something online quickly. A multi-page website is better when you offer several services, want to appear in more search results or have lots of work to show. Many small businesses start with three to five pages and add more later.
A quick pre-launch checklist
- Every page has a unique title and short description for search engines.
- Your phone number, WhatsApp and email links work on mobile.
- The contact form actually delivers messages to your inbox — test it.
- Images are compressed and have descriptive alternative text.
- The site looks right on a phone, tablet and desktop.
- Your business name, address and contact details are consistent everywhere.
- You’ve checked spelling, prices and every factual claim.
Want it done for you?
I design and build one-to-five-page websites for small businesses, write the content with you and set up the basics above properly. See a free demo of your site first, then decide.
Website design
Custom, hand-coded websites and landing pages for small businesses, starting with a free personalised demo.
See the service
About the author
Brijaditya Sharma is the founder of Digital Help Studio. After nine years in-house handling content distribution for an Indian brand, he now builds websites and runs digital marketing for small businesses worldwide. Connect on LinkedIn.
