A good small-business website loads quickly on a phone, fits the screen and shows a padlock. At a glance, it says what you do and where.
- Customers can tap to call or send a form that arrives. Hours and prices are current, it’s easy to find on Google, and it shows proof such as reviews.
On your phone
- It loads quickly. Check: run your home page through PageSpeed Insights (pagespeed.web.dev) and read the phone result.
- Google’s target is for the main content to appear within 2.5 seconds. See why a website is slow.
- It works on a phone. Check: open it on your own phone.
- You shouldn’t need to zoom or scroll sideways, and every button should be easy to hit with a thumb. See making a site work on phones.
- It’s secure. Check: the address starts with https and shows a padlock, with no “Not secure” warning. See why a site says “Not secure”.
For your customers
- It says what you do and where, at a glance. Check: show the home page to a friend for five seconds, then ask what you do and where.
- It’s easy to contact. Check: tap the phone number and see that it dials.
- Send yourself an enquiry through the form, and look for it in your inbox and spam folder.
- Hours and prices are up to date. Check: compare them with your Google Business Profile and your price list today.
- It shows proof. Check: look for reviews, photos of real work and the names of your services. Stock photos alone don’t count.
For Google and the law
- It can be found. Check: search your business name on Google. Your site should appear, and your Business Profile should link to it.
- Google Search Console, which is free, shows which pages Google has indexed.
- It covers the legal basics. Check: there’s a link to a privacy notice.
- If the site sets cookies that aren’t strictly necessary, it has a cookie banner.
- An Irish limited company also shows its legal name, number and registered office.
- See do I need a cookie banner and what an Irish company website must show.
- It’s accessible. Check: run the page through WAVE (wave.webaim.org), then try moving through it with the Tab key alone.
- See the European Accessibility Act.
Checking all of it at once
- Most of these checks need only your phone and a few free tools. An automated check such as Sitecomb tests six areas in one go.
- They’re security, privacy, quality, phones, getting customers and visibility to AI. It can’t judge the proof or the words, so read those yourself.
Common questions
How often should I check my website?
Check it every few months, and again after any change to the site, your hours or your prices. Our ten-point website checklist is a quick way to start.
Which sign matters most?
The one that’s broken. A phone number that doesn’t dial or a form that never arrives loses enquiries straight away.
Fix those before anything cosmetic.
Does a good website have to be expensive?
No. A small site that does these ten things well can beat a large one that doesn’t.
Our guide to what a website costs in Ireland sets out the published prices.
What we charge
A new website is €499, with 12 months of hosting and Care included. After that, Care is €20 a month. See prices, or tell us about your site.