This week on The Engaging Marketeer, I want to talk about something I’ve covered before—but it’s still a problem. I keep seeing it crop up time and time again. It’s when business owners say things like…
“I don’t need a professional website.”
“I don’t need an all-singing, all-dancing website.”
“I don’t need a website at all—my business comes from referrals, networking, or word-of-mouth.”
And hey, when a business does get leads through referrals, that’s great. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you’re getting business from happy clients or networking groups, fantastic! In fact, you’re right—you may not need a website that generates leads.
I actually found a stat from our own business here at Engage Web: we’re currently getting five times more conversions from referrals—specifically word-of-mouth recommendations—than we get from any other source, including our website.
So yes, referrals are brilliant. No argument there.
However… there’s a problem. And it’s a problem many business owners aren’t even aware of.
You might say, “Yeah, I don’t need a fancy website. I don’t need to spend loads on digital marketing.”
Fair enough—if you’re in that lucky position where referrals keep you busy, maybe you don’t need your website to bring in business.
But here’s the thing:
You absolutely do not want your website to be putting people off
That’s a very real risk.
If you use a professional web designer—someone who knows what they’re doing—you’re fine. I’ve been building websites since the ‘90s. (Jesus, that’s a long time… and yes, I feel very old saying that.)
The team here at Engage Web? Brilliant. They build fantastic websites. But we’re not the only ones—there are loads of great web designers and digital marketing companies out there. Just use someone with a proven track record of building sites that not only look good but work.
Whatever you do, do not:
Get Kevin from the pub to knock something up in Wix for a can of Stella.
Ask your VA who “knows how to build websites” but doesn’t know how to make them work.
Use your IT company who sets up your printer and network and thinks they can also design websites.
Hire your print designer who does great flyers and business cards but doesn’t understand screen sizes, responsive design, or accessibility.
Why? Because these people don’t know what they’re doing with websites—and it shows.
You’ll end up with a site that has:
Spelling errors
Broken layouts on mobile
Text overlapping buttons
Massive white spaces you have to scroll through
Just… a general sense that it was made by an amateur
And here’s the scary part: you won’t know it’s losing you business.
You’ll be at a networking event, someone will say “Hey, I’ve told my mate about you—he’s looking to work with someone just like you,” and you’ll never hear from them.
Maybe you try calling. No answer. Maybe you email. They ghost you.
Why? Because they looked at your website and thought:
“Yeah… this guy looks like he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
“If this is how they present themselves, how are they going to handle my business?”
There’s a phrase in business:
How you do anything is how you’re perceived to do everything
So if your website looks amateur, people will assume you are amateur. Even if you’re brilliant. Even if you’ve been recommended.
And for businesses offering high-ticket services—financial advice, accounting, consultancy—it’s even more important not to look cheap. Why would someone trust you with their finances when you can’t even invest in a decent website?
Don’t make this mistake. Please.
Websites can be expensive, yes. You can spend thousands on a good one.
Not at Engage Web, by the way—our Fresh Start Dart website is just £99 + VAT per month, or £165 + VAT with unlimited support. (Shameless plug—sorry, had to.)
But there are loads of other great designers out there who’ll do a fantastic job.
And if your website looks good? Then when someone checks you out after a referral, it all lines up.
They think, “Yeah, this person knows what they’re doing.”
Your credibility goes up.
But if your site looks crap?
They’ll assume you are crap!
You won’t get that client. You won’t even know they checked your site. But they did—and it cost you.
That’s the problem.
I see so many crap websites being proudly shared on social media:
“Check out my new website! My VA built it!”
“My guy in the Philippines did this—looks great, doesn’t it?”
Cue 50 comments saying,
“Wow, looks amazing babe!”
“So professional!”
“About time! Looks smashing!”
But nobody says,
“Mate… this is terrible. Who built this? They’ve done you over. This is going to lose you business.”
Because no one wants to say it. But it’s true.
You wouldn’t try and rewire your own house. You wouldn’t file someone’s VAT returns if you’re not an accountant. So why are you building your own website—or worse, letting someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing build it?
Especially when your website is the first impression most people have of you.
Look, if your business relies on referrals, networking, word-of-mouth—that’s amazing.
Just make sure when people do check you out online, your website doesn’t undo all that good work.
That’s my rant for today.
You’ve been listening to The Engaging Marketeer. I’m off to lie down in a dark room with a damp flannel over my face because I am, quite frankly, knackered.
Catch you on the next episode.
About your host:
Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/
Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com
Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk
