Website design in Newcastle: the complete guide for local businesses
Your website is usually the first real impression people get of your business. Here's what a good one needs, the mistakes that quietly cost you enquiries, what it should cost, and how to hire well.
What every good small business website needs
- A clear first screen. What you do, who it's for, where you are, and one obvious next step.
- Services that are easy to scan. Short descriptions people can understand on a phone.
- Proof. Real reviews, real projects and real photos of you and your work.
- A human about section. People buy from people, especially locally.
- An easy way to get in touch. A short form, a phone number that's tappable on mobile, and a fast reply.
Five mistakes that kill enquiries
- No obvious call to action. If visitors have to hunt for how to contact you, most won't.
- No local trust signals. No reviews, no faces, no sign you're actually in Newcastle.
- Forms that ask too much. Name, number, email and what they need is plenty.
- Slow on mobile. Most of your visitors are on their phone. Heavy images and bloated templates cost you.
- Set and forget. A website should be tweaked after launch based on what people actually do.
Design directly affects sales
Good design isn't decoration. It's the reason someone trusts you enough to call. Steven Healy's review says it best: "Since launching, it's helped us book 50 jobs in the last 6 months alone... The site doesn't just look good, it actually converts."
Security and reliability matter too. Declan Edwards came to me after his previous website was hacked twice in two months. The rebuild fixed the security and made the site "more easily navigable, more usable, clearer offers, and much more brand aligned."
What it costs
For reference, here's what I charge. Every site is custom designed, with no templates:
- Landing page: $1,190 inc. GST.
- Five page website: $3,990 inc. GST.
- Six to ten pages: $4,890 inc. GST.
- Eleven to twenty pages: $6,990 inc. GST.
- Hosting: $299 per year, or $599 per year with ongoing updates included.
The full breakdown of what's included is on my service options page.
Realistic timelines
A landing page can be live in a couple of weeks once content is ready. A five to ten page site usually takes four to eight weeks. The biggest factor is almost always content: copy, photos and decisions.
Platforms
Website builders like Squarespace and Wix are fine for getting started. A custom built site is faster, more secure and more flexible for SEO, which matters once your website needs to bring in work rather than just exist.
How to hire a website designer
- Look at their portfolio on your phone, not your laptop.
- Ask what happens after launch: hosting, updates and who to call.
- Ask who owns the website and domain. It should be you.
- Ask to speak to a past client.
If you'd like a website that brings in work, see my recent work or get in touch.