(00:03) The Website Debate (Again)
On this week’s Engaging Marketeer podcast, I’m going to talk about something I’ve kind of covered before—but it’s still a problem, and I’m still seeing it crop up time and time again.
And that’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, because my business mostly comes from referral marketing, from networking, or from word-of-mouth referrals from existing clients.”
(00:49) Referrals Are Great—But…
When a business has that, it’s okay! There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s great if you’re getting business from referrals or networking groups—that’s fantastic.
And you’re right, you may not need a website that brings in business. In fact, I found a stat recently for our own business: we’re currently getting five times more conversions from referrals—from word-of-mouth recommendations—than we get via any other source, including the website. So yes, they are brilliant. Don’t get me wrong.
(01:24) Here’s the Problem…
There is a problem you probably aren’t aware of.
You might say,
“Yes, I don’t need a website to be all-singing, all-dancing.”
“I don’t need the greatest website in the world.”
“I don’t need to spend money on digital marketing.”
And that might be true. If you’re in a lucky position where you get loads of business from referrals and recommendations, brilliant!
(01:49) But What If Your Website Turns People Off?
What you absolutely do not want… is for your website to be putting people off.
And that is a very real possibility.
If you use a professional web designer—someone who’s been building websites for a very long time (I’ve been doing it since the ’90s, for example—Jesus Christ, that’s a long time. Yes, I feel very old. Apologies for that)—you’ll get a proper website.
(02:24) Don’t Use Someone Who Doesn’t Know What They’re Doing
I’ve done a lot of websites. The guys we have here at Engage Web are incredible. They build some fantastic websites. Other web designers are available! There are loads of web designers around the UK and worldwide who do great work.
Please—use any one of them. Anyone with a proven track record.
But whatever you do, and I cannot stress this enough…
Do not use someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.
(02:58) Kevin from the Pub? Just No.
Do not go to Kevin from the pub who’ll put your website together in Wix and charge you a can of Stella for doing so.
Do not go to a VA who thinks they know what they’re doing just because they technically know how to “put a website together.”
Do not ask your IT company—the same people who set up your printer or configure your network—to build your website. Yes, they have technical know-how. But they don’t know how to make a website that works or looks any good. And they certainly don’t know how to make one that works across all devices.
(03:34) Print Designers Aren’t Web Designers
Do not ask your print designer—the one who does your business cards and flyers—to build your site.
Yes, they may be great with visuals. But they haven’t got a bloody clue about accessibility or how a website resizes across devices. Print doesn’t work that way.
(04:06) People Will Judge You
If your website has errors—spelling mistakes, broken layouts, giant empty spaces, overlapping buttons—they will see it.
And they’ll assume that’s how you run your business.
There’s a phrase in business:
“How you do anything is how you are perceived to do everything.”
If your website is crap, they’ll assume you are too.
(05:08) You’ll Never Even Know You Lost the Sale
You’ll get referrals:
“Hey, speak to this guy—I’ve told him all about you. He says he wants to use you.”
But then?
You contact them—and they go,
“Yeah… no, sorry. I’ve gone with someone else.”
“I needed it quick.”
Or worse—they just don’t reply. They won’t tell you your website is crap. They’ll just look at it and think you are too.
And you’ll never know.
(05:36) Professionals Aren’t Expensive—Amateurs Are
There’s a phrase well-known in the trades:
“If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur.”
Yes, websites can be expensive. You can pay thousands of pounds for a website.
(Not at Engage Web, of course—our Fresh Start websites are £99 + VAT per month or £165 + VAT per month with unlimited support. There endeth the ad!)
But there are loads of great web designers out there who can build a fantastic website for you.
(06:08) Your Website Should Reflect Your Reputation
If your website looks good, when someone checks you out online after a referral, they’ll say:
“Oh wow, they look legit. What I’ve heard about them and what I see online matches.”
But if your website looks like it was built by someone clueless—if it’s crap—people will think you’re crap too.
You will lose leads. And you won’t even know it.
(07:09) Especially If You’re in a High-Ticket Industry
If you’re in a high-end business—financial advice, accounting, consultancy—then it’s even more important.
Because if you look cheap and amateur online, why on earth would I trust you with my finances, my business?
If you can’t even sort out your own website, why would I believe you can help me?
(07:44) Rant Mode: Activated
And quite frankly—it annoys me.
I see all these crap websites being shared on social media:
“Hey look at my new website, done by this guy in the Philippines.”
“My VA built this!”
“My IT company made this, check it out.”
And all the friends comment:
“Looks great babe!”
“Smashing site!”
“It’s about time that went live!”
Not one of them says:
“Mate, that’s absolute sh*t. You hired someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. It’s not going to work. Get it done properly.”
(08:39) Leave It to the Pros
You wouldn’t try to do someone’s VAT.
You wouldn’t rewire someone’s house.
You wouldn’t give someone financial advice.
So why would you build your own website, or let someone clueless do it—just because you think:
“Well, it doesn’t matter. I get all my business from referrals anyway.”
Because your website is putting those referrals off.
(09:05) Sign-Off: Damp Flannel Time
That’s my rant for today.
You’ve been listening to The Engaging Marketeer.
I’m gonna go lie down in a dark room and put a damp flannel across my face—because quite frankly, I need to cool the f**k down.
I’ll catch you on the next podcast.
