What Makes a Website ‘Good’? A No-Nonsense Guide for Business Owners
You’ve probably asked yourself this at some point: “Is my website actually good?” Not just sleek. Not fresh. But good – doing-its-job good.
Here’s the thing: most business owners aren’t web designers. You’re not obsessing over font weights and mobile layouts in your free time. You just want a website that helps your business grow, gets seen online, and makes your phone ring.
So let’s break down, in plain language, what makes a website actually good – and why some sites just work better than others.
It Works Without You Babysitting It
A good website shows up, day or night, and does its job without needing constant hand-holding. It should:
- Load quickly on desktops and mobile – 63% of Google searches happen on a smart phone
- Make it crystal clear what you do and who you do it for
- Give people an easy way to contact you
- Work on all devices without weird formatting issues
If your site takes 10 seconds to load or your “Contact” button doesn’t work on mobile, that’s not just annoying – it’s costing you customers. We talk about this a lot in Why First Impressions Matter, because the truth is, most people leave a site before they even scroll.
It Brings in the Right Kind of Traffic
Your website isn’t a billboard. It’s a tool. And it should be attracting people who actually need what you offer. That means it has to show up in search results for the right things – not just when someone searches for your business name.
That’s where SEO comes in. Not the overhyped, expensive kind. The real, organic kind. You don’t need to rank for “best business ever.” You need to show up for “deck builder in Sacramento” or “dog groomer near me.” If you’re not sure how that works, this breakdown of SEO is a good place to start.
Even better? Your website should be set up so you can keep showing up. That’s why we love creating City Service Pages for clients – quiet little SEO powerhouses that help you rank in surrounding areas without cluttering up your menu.
It Feels Like You
One of the easiest ways to spot a bad website? It sounds like it was written by someone who’s never met you, never talked to your customers, and definitely doesn’t know what you do. You click the homepage and you’re met with:
“Welcome to our company where we prioritize solutions for scalable growth and customer-centric synergy.”
Yikes.
A good website sounds like you. It reflects how you talk, how you work, and the kind of experience someone can expect when they hire you. You don’t need to copy what the big guys are doing – you need to sound like the real business you are.
We covered this in How to Make Your Website Speak Your Brand’s Language.
It’s Built to Grow With You
A good website doesn’t paint you into a corner. It gives you room to grow—whether that means adding a booking tool, writing blog posts, showing off new work, or updating your service areas. If it’s hard to update, or you have to call a developer every time you want to change a phone number, that’s not a good system.
This is something we focus on with every build. You shouldn’t have to overhaul your entire site every time your business levels up. You just need a solid foundation and a clear plan.
So… Is Your Website Good?
If it brings in qualified leads, loads fast, looks great on mobile, matches your brand, and is easy to update – yeah. You’ve got a good site.
If not? That doesn’t mean you failed. It just means it might be time for a tune-up. And no, that doesn’t automatically mean a full redesign. Sometimes a few small content updates, some SEO cleanup, or reorganizing your homepage can make a huge difference. If you’re not sure where to start, reach out to our team today for a Free Discovery Call.
