Do You Need A Website?

According to a Forbes study, amongst small business owners who don’t have a website, almost 10% of them think they don’t need one at all.

Gone are the days where if you wanted to be present online, the only way to achieve this was a painstakingly hand-crafted static page that took an age to load on your dial-up. Since the boom and subsequent evolution of social media sites, what your brand can do online has changed dramatically over the years.

There are loads of different platforms and opportunities to market your business online to a diverse range of audiences. Given the meteoric rise of social media platforms, marketplace giants, and AI-driven search experiences, there’s an argument that websites are losing relevance. Why build a website when you can sell directly through Instagram, TikTok, or a marketplace like Amazon?

It is estimated that across the world 175 websites are created every minute, with 2.7 million websites registered in the UK with a .co.uk address. Websites are still the primary way that businesses and individuals present themselves online, share information, and engage with their audiences. Think about the way you engage with your favourite brands and services - if they didn’t have a website, your experience would be very different!

As we mentioned above, websites are a forever evolving thing and they need to be flexible to suit your business and the world of digital in 2025.

Good websites in 2025 combine a blend of modern aesthetics, technical performance (looking at you page speeds!), and user-first design principles.

It’s important to note that responsive design isn’t optional, it’s foundational. A good website in 2025 is built mobile-first, ensuring flawless display and functionality on all devices, from phones to desktops. Touch-friendly interfaces are the standard, with buttons and menus designed for fingers, not just mouse clicks.

In a similar vein, websites should be designed for everyone, so accessibility features aren’t just a checkbox, they’re integral. The best websites follow WCAG 2.2 guidelines with care. This one just makes sense - the internet needs to be an inclusive space and the more people that can use your website with ease could mean more conversions, more sales or more leads!

Finally, content is tightly integrated with the community and with a clear aim to provide value. Whether through a blog, resource hub, or embedded user-generated content, modern websites aim to educate, entertain, or connect. Social proof, such as reviews and testimonials, is visible but unobtrusive, helping users make confident decisions.

The truth is, while social platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn are powerful tools, they come with limitations. You just don’t own your audience on social media; algorithms change, and businesses that rely solely on third-party platforms risk losing control of their brand presence. A website is the digital home base for your business—it’s the one place online where you have complete control over the experience, messaging, and customer journey.

If you still need some convincing – here are our top 5 reasons why you should have a website in 2025:

• Trust: Your website is one of the first places customers will go to learn about your business. A professional, user-friendly site builds credibility and reassures potential customers that you're legitimate, established, and trustworthy. In today’s digital-first world, customers expect all businesses to have an online presence.
• Visibility: A well-optimised website ensures you're not just online, but findable. Through great search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies, your site can appear in search results when potential customers are actively looking for products or services you offer.
• Sales & Conversions: Your website can be a powerful sales engine that works around the clock. With clear calls to action, user-friendly navigation, and conversion-focused design, your website can guide visitors toward making a purchase, booking a service, or contacting your team.
• Customer Service: Your website can streamline customer support by offering FAQs, live chat, contact forms, and automated responses. It empowers customers to find answers quickly and reduces the workload on your team. Even outside business hours, your website keeps working, providing help and support whenever your customers need it.
• Consumer Insights: Tools like Google Analytics help you track behavior on your website, measure performance, and make smarter marketing decisions based on real user insights. You can really get to understand so much more about your customers, who they are and what they like!

In 2025, having a website isn’t just a nice-to-have, it's a necessity. While social media and online marketplaces can support your business, they can’t replace the credibility, control, and long-term benefits of owning your digital presence. Whether you’re launching your first website or giving your existing one a refresh, investing in a high-quality online presence is one of the smartest decisions you can make for your business.

If you’re ready to take the next step, let’s chat. It may seem overwhelming at first, but here at Clear, we specialise in building websites that don’t just look great but also drive results. Let’s give your business the online presence that it deserves.