Question 1

Do I really need a website if I already get work from referrals?

Accepted Answer

Referrals still check you online before they call. A website gives them your services, area, hours and a clear way to call or book, on a page you control. Social profiles and directories can change rules or disappear. If referrals keep you busy, a simple site mainly protects that word of mouth by making you easy to verify.

Question 2

Will a new website bring me customers on its own?

Accepted Answer

Not by itself. A website turns interest into calls and bookings, but people still have to find it, usually through Google search, Google Maps, ads or social. That is why our Launch plan pairs the site with Google Maps setup and a local guide site. Results depend on your market and competition, and nobody can promise a number of customers.

Question 3

Do I own the website you build for me?

Accepted Answer

Your logo, photos and content stay yours, and your domain should be in your business's name. The exact point at which rights to the built site transfer, and what happens on cancellation, is set out in our Terms of Service. Read it before you sign, and ask us on the call if any part is unclear.

Question 4

Do I need a full website or just a landing page?

Accepted Answer

A landing page is a single page built for one action, like booking a quote. It works for an ad campaign. A business website covers all your services, your area and your story, which gives Google more to understand and customers more reasons to trust you. Many businesses use both: the site as the base and landing pages for ads.

Question 5

What is the downside of building my own site on Wix or Squarespace?

Accepted Answer

Builders are fine tools, but the work stays with you: writing, design, mobile checks, speed, Google setup and updates. Many owners start a site and never finish it. Some builders also add paid apps over time. If you have the time and like doing it, a builder can work. If you would rather run your business, have someone build and maintain it.

Question 6

How do I build a website for my restaurant?

Accepted Answer

A restaurant site needs your menu as real text (not only a photo or PDF), hours, address, phone, a link to order or reserve if you use those tools, and good photos. It must work well on a phone, since most diners look you up on the go. We build restaurant sites in about 48 hours once we have the menu and basics.

Question 7

What should a contractor website have on it?

Accepted Answer

The services you do and the towns you serve, a phone number that is easy to tap, photos of real work, your license details where required, reviews, and a short form to request a quote. Keep it fast on a phone because most homeowners search on one. Avoid stock photos that look nothing like your jobs.

Question 8

Is web design still worth paying for when AI can build sites?

Accepted Answer

AI tools can produce a page quickly, but a site that brings calls still needs accurate content about your business, clear calls to action, local details, speed checks and someone to keep it updated. The AI draft is the easy part. Paying for web design is really paying for the result and the upkeep, not just the layout.

Question 9

Can I buy a domain without hosting?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A domain is just your address on the web and can be registered on its own and pointed at hosting later. The key is that it should be registered in your business's name, with logins you hold, so you never lose it if you change providers. With our plan, hosting is included.

Question 10

How can I check who owns my domain name?

Accepted Answer

Look up your domain in a public WHOIS or registration lookup tool. Many records are hidden behind privacy services, so you may only see the registrar. The surest check is to log in to the registrar account yourself and confirm the registrant is your business. If someone else holds the login, ask them to transfer it to you.

Question 11

What does 'client transfer prohibited' mean on my domain?

Accepted Answer

It is a standard lock set by the registrar that stops the domain being moved to another registrar without permission. It is a security feature, not a sign of a problem. If you want to move the domain, the account owner can remove the lock in the registrar dashboard and request a transfer code.

Question 12

Why do people leave website builders like Wix?

Accepted Answer

Common reasons owners give are rising costs from add-ons, limits on design or speed, and the time it takes to keep the site current. Others simply want someone else to handle it. Moving is usually possible: your domain can be pointed to a new site, and your content can be rebuilt. Check your builder's terms on domain transfers first.

Question 13

What makes a website mobile friendly?

Accepted Answer

Text you can read without zooming, buttons large enough to tap, no sideways scrolling, a phone number that dials on tap, fast loading on a cellular connection and menus that work with a thumb. Test your own site on your phone in a few common tasks: find your hours, call you, request a quote.

Question 14

How do I set up online booking for my business?

Accepted Answer

Pick a booking tool that fits how you work (appointments, classes, tables or quotes), set your hours and services in it, then add a clear Book button to your website and Google Business Profile. Keep the booking link the same everywhere. If you want bookings counted as leads, the tool needs to support tracking.

Question 15

Which is better, a web designer or a web developer?

Accepted Answer

A designer focuses on how the site looks and reads; a developer focuses on how it is built and works. For most small businesses you need both skills in one place, plus someone who understands local search. Ask who will write the content, who handles hosting and who you call when something breaks.

Question 16

How much does website hosting cost for a small business?

Accepted Answer

Basic hosting ranges from a few dollars a month to much more for managed services. Cheap hosting often leaves updates, security and backups to you. On our plans hosting is included in the monthly price, so there is no separate hosting bill from us.

Question 17

How much does a one-page website cost?

Accepted Answer

A one-page site can be cheap to build, but the cost of a website is mostly what happens after launch: hosting, edits, security and staying visible on Google. One page also gives search engines little to work with if you offer several services. Our plan builds the pages you actually need for $297 a month.

Question 18

What is the difference between a domain, hosting and a website?

Accepted Answer

The domain is your address, like yourbusiness.com. Hosting is the computer that stores the site and serves it to visitors. The website is the pages themselves. You can buy them from different companies, but the domain should always be registered to your business so you keep control.

Question 19

Should I pick a .com, .ca or another domain ending?

Accepted Answer

Choose the ending your customers trust and remember. In the US that is usually .com; in Canada, .ca signals a Canadian business and .com works too. Unusual endings can look less familiar. If possible, register the main versions of your name so nobody else can use them.

Question 20

How can I get a business email address cheaply?

Accepted Answer

Once you own a domain, you can set up email at that domain through an email provider, often for a small monthly fee per mailbox. An address like you@yourbusiness.com looks more trustworthy than a free webmail address. Be careful: changing a website should never break your email settings, so note them before any move.

Question 21

What is another name for a landing page?

Accepted Answer

You will also hear lead page, squeeze page, sales page or destination page. They all mean a single page built around one action, such as calling, booking or claiming an offer. They suit ads, while a full website covers everything about your business.

Question 22

What is a local guide site, and why is it in the Launch plan?

Accepted Answer

It is a second, separate site of helpful local content, such as guides about your area or your type of service, that points visitors back to your main site. It gives people a useful reason to find you before they are ready to buy. It is included in the Launch plan alongside your main website.

Question 23

Should I show prices on my website?

Accepted Answer

Where you can, showing prices or price ranges helps customers decide and filters out poor fits. If every job is different, explain what affects the price and offer a quick quote. Avoid prices that are out of date, which annoy customers more than no prices at all.

Question 24

What should a retail store website include?

Accepted Answer

Your hours, address, parking or transit details, what you stock, current offers, photos of the store, a phone number and a link to directions. If you sell online, make the shop easy to reach. Keep hours identical to your Google profile.

Question 25

What should a med spa website include?

Accepted Answer

A clear list of services, your providers and their credentials, booking, pricing or price guidance, location and hours, and policies. Health and treatment claims need care: describe what a service is without promising outcomes, and get the owner's confirmation on anything clinical.

Question 26

How can a grocery store use its website?

Accepted Answer

Show hours, location, departments, specialty and international items, weekly specials, which payments you accept (such as EBT, if authorized), and how to order or call ahead. Shoppers often check whether you carry something before visiting, so clear product categories help.

Question 27

What are good examples of small business websites?

Accepted Answer

Good small business websites look different but share the same basics: they say what you do and where in the first line, show a tap-to-call phone number, use real photos of your work, list services and prices or price ranges where you can, show reviews and make it easy to request a quote or book. Look at the sites of businesses you would hire yourself and note what made you trust them.

Question 28

What is the best website builder for contractors?

Accepted Answer

There is no single best builder. Wix, Squarespace, WordPress and others can all make a decent contractor site. What matters more is what goes on it: your services, the towns you serve, a phone number that dials on tap, photos of real jobs, reviews and a quote form, plus a fast mobile page. Pick a builder only if you have time to keep the site current. If not, have it built and maintained for you.

Question 29

What should an electrician's website include?

Accepted Answer

An electrician's site should list the work you actually do, such as panel upgrades, EV charger installs, rewiring or troubleshooting, and whether you serve homes, businesses or both. Add the towns you cover, your license number where your state or province expects it, a tap-to-call number, photos of real installs, reviews and a short quote form. Only mention emergency or same-day service if you really offer it.

Question 30

What should a plumber's website include?

Accepted Answer

A plumber's site should make the phone number impossible to miss, because many plumbing searches are urgent. List your main services, such as drain cleaning, water heaters, leak repair or repiping, and the towns you serve. Show your hours, whether you take after-hours calls, license details where required, real job photos, reviews and a quick request form. Keep it fast on a phone.

Question 31

What should a roofing company website include?

Accepted Answer

Roofing is a big purchase, so the site has to build trust. Show the roof types and services you handle (repair, replacement, inspections, storm damage), the areas you serve, photos of your own finished jobs, reviews, license and insurance details where they apply, and any manufacturer certifications you can prove. Add a simple form to request an inspection or estimate and a phone number that dials on tap.

Question 32

Is there a good website template for contractors?

Accepted Answer

Most builders offer contractor templates, and several are fine starting points. A template gives you layout and style, not the content that wins jobs. You still need to write your services and service areas, swap stock photos for real job photos, add reviews and your license details, and test the site on a phone. A template filled with generic text tends to look like every other contractor's site.

Question 33

What are good restaurant website examples?

Accepted Answer

The best restaurant sites put the essentials on the first screen: what kind of food, where you are, today's hours and a button to order, reserve or call. The menu is real text that loads fast on a phone, photos show your actual dishes and room, and the address links to a map. Check the sites of places you like to eat and see how many taps it takes to find the menu.

Question 34

What is the best design for a luxury restaurant website?

Accepted Answer

Upscale restaurants usually do well with a calm, simple design: large high-quality photos of your own dishes and dining room, plenty of space, a refined typeface and very little text per screen. The basics still come first. Reservations, hours, location, dress code if you have one and the current menu should be one tap away, and the site must load quickly on a phone despite the big images.

Question 35

Can I get a free website for my restaurant?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in a limited way. Your Google Business Profile is free and can show your menu, hours, photos and an ordering link. Many website builders have free plans, but they usually show the builder's ads and use their address instead of your own domain. Some ordering and reservation services include a basic page. Free options work as a start; check who controls the page and your customer data.

Question 36

Should my restaurant menu be a PDF?

Accepted Answer

It is better not to rely on a PDF alone. PDF menus are often slow to open on a phone, hard to read without zooming and hard for Google and AI tools to read. Put the menu on the page as real text, with dishes, short descriptions and prices if you show them. You can keep a PDF as an extra download for people who want to print it.

Question 37

What are the best mobile website layouts?

Accepted Answer

For most local businesses, a single column works best on a phone: a short headline that says what you do and where, a tap-to-call or booking button near the top, then services, photos, reviews and a short form. Keep menus simple, buttons large and text readable without zooming. A sticky call or book button at the bottom of the screen often helps people act quickly.

Question 38

Are mobile website templates worth using?

Accepted Answer

Most modern templates are responsive, which means one design adjusts to phones, tablets and computers. For most small businesses that is simpler to run than a separate mobile-only site. A template is worth using if it is fast and lets you keep text readable and buttons large. Always test it on a real phone with your own content, because big images and extra apps can slow down a template that looked quick in the demo.

Question 39

What is the best free website speed test?

Accepted Answer

Google's PageSpeed Insights is a good place to start. It is free, scores the page on phone and desktop, and, when your site has enough visitors, shows how fast it loads for real Chrome users. GTmetrix and WebPageTest are other free options with more detail on what loads and when. Use one tool consistently so you can compare results over time.

Question 40

How do GTmetrix and Google PageSpeed differ?

Accepted Answer

Both run lab tests built on Google's Lighthouse, but they present results differently. PageSpeed Insights tests from Google's servers and can add field data from real Chrome users when a site has enough traffic. GTmetrix lets you pick test settings such as location and shows a detailed timeline of how the page loads; some settings need a free account. Neither score alone decides your Google ranking.

Question 41

Is there a browser extension to test website speed?

Accepted Answer

You may not need one. Google Chrome has Lighthouse built in: right-click the page, choose Inspect, open the Lighthouse tab and run a mobile test. Edge has the same tool. Results from your own computer depend on your connection and other open tabs, so run the test a few times, and compare with PageSpeed Insights, which tests from Google's servers.

Question 42

How do I test my website speed on mobile?

Accepted Answer

Run your page through PageSpeed Insights and read the Mobile tab, which simulates a mid-range phone on a slower connection. Then test by hand: open your site on your own phone over cellular data, not Wi-Fi, and time how long it takes to find your phone number or book. If the real-world test feels slow, large images and extra scripts are the usual causes.

Question 43

Is Wix optimized for mobile?

Accepted Answer

Wix sites can work on phones, and Wix gives you tools to adjust how pages look on mobile. How well a site performs still depends on how it is built: large images, many apps and animations can make any site slow or awkward on a phone. Check your own Wix site on a real phone and in PageSpeed Insights rather than assuming the platform handles it.

Question 44

Is Wix free to use for a business?

Accepted Answer

Wix has a free plan, but it shows Wix branding and uses a Wix web address rather than your own domain. Connecting your own domain and removing the branding requires a paid plan, and features such as online payments may need a higher tier. For a business, a free plan is fine to try the editor, but most owners move to a paid plan or another option before launch.

Question 45

Which is better, Wix or Squarespace?

Accepted Answer

Both are capable builders, and the better one depends on how you like to work. Wix gives you more freedom to move things anywhere on the page. Squarespace uses more structured templates that keep a clean look with less effort. Compare current prices, the features you need, such as booking or online store, and how easy each one feels when you try it. Either way, the content and upkeep are still your job.

Question 46

Is Wix a Canadian company, and does it matter?

Accepted Answer

No. Wix is headquartered in Israel and serves customers worldwide, including Canada. For most small businesses where the builder is based matters less than the features, the price in your currency, and where and how your data is stored. If you handle customer data in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada, check the builder's privacy terms and make sure your own privacy policy is accurate.

Question 47

What is the best program to design a website?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you want to do. Designers often plan layouts in tools like Figma before anything is built. Owners who want to build it themselves usually use a website builder such as Wix or Squarespace, or WordPress for more control. Developers may write the code by hand. The best choice is the one you can keep up to date, since an outdated site costs more than a plain one.

Question 48

What makes a good landing page?

Accepted Answer

A good landing page has one goal, such as a call, a booking or a quote request. The headline matches the ad or search that brought the visitor, the main button appears near the top and again lower down, and the page answers the usual questions: what you offer, where, roughly what it costs, and why trust you. Keep the form short, load fast on a phone and remove links that distract from the goal.

Question 49

What is the difference between a landing page, a website and a homepage?

Accepted Answer

A website is the whole set of pages under your domain. The homepage is the front door of that website, the page people see at your main address, and it points visitors to everything else. A landing page is a single page built for one goal, such as calls from one ad or bookings for one service, with few links away from that goal. Many small businesses use a website for search and trust, and add landing pages for ads.

Question 50

Is a small website with a few pages enough?

Accepted Answer

For many local businesses, yes. A small site works if it covers what customers need: what you do, where you work, how to reach you, proof such as reviews or photos of real jobs, and a clear way to call or book. Add a page per main service when you offer distinct services, because each page can answer its own search. Size matters less than whether each page answers a real question clearly and loads fast on a phone.

Question 51

What are the five golden rules of a website?

Accepted Answer

There is no official list; different designers name different rules. A practical set for a local business: make it clear in five seconds what you do and where; make it easy to call, book or ask for a quote from every page; keep it fast and easy to use on a phone; show real proof, such as reviews and photos of your work; and keep it current, with correct hours, prices and contact details.

Question 52

What are the 7 C's of website design?

Accepted Answer

The 7 C's come from Jeffrey Rayport and Bernard Jaworski's e-commerce textbook. They are context (layout and design), content (text, images, offers), community (ways for users to interact), customization (tailoring to each visitor), communication (contact and messages between you and the customer), connection (links to other sites) and commerce (the ability to buy). For a small business, the first five matter most: clear layout, useful content, easy contact and a way to buy or book.

Question 53

What are the different types of web hosting?

Accepted Answer

The common types are shared hosting, where many sites share one server; VPS hosting, a private slice of a server; dedicated hosting, a whole server for one site; cloud hosting, where the site runs across many servers; and managed hosting, where the provider handles updates, backups and security, often for WordPress. Static hosting, which serves ready-made pages from a global network, also suits many small business sites because it is fast and has little to maintain.

Question 54

What is the best hosting for a small business website?

Accepted Answer

The right host is the one that keeps your site fast, secure and backed up without work from you. Check five things: page speed on a phone, free SSL (the padlock), automatic backups, support you can reach, and a clear renewal price, since first-year prices often go up. If you do not want to manage updates, choose managed hosting or a plan where the builder or agency handles hosting for you.

Question 55

What are the different types of domain endings?

Accepted Answer

Domain endings fall into three main groups. Generic endings such as .com, .net and .org can be used by almost anyone. Country endings such as .ca for Canada or .us for the United States are tied to a country, and some have residency rules. Newer endings such as .shop, .plumbing or .capital describe a type of business. Customers tend to type .com by habit, so if you pick another ending, say it clearly on signs and cards.

Question 56

How can I check the age of a domain name?

Accepted Answer

Look up the domain's registration record. Free lookup tools based on RDAP, such as the ICANN lookup at lookup.icann.org, show a creation date, which tells you when the name was first registered in its current run. If a domain expired and was registered again, the creation date resets. To see older history, the Wayback Machine at web.archive.org shows past versions of the site.

Question 57

How do I check when my domain expires?

Accepted Answer

Sign in to the account where you pay for the domain; the expiry date is listed next to the name. You can also look it up for free at lookup.icann.org, which shows the expiry date from the public registration record. Turn on auto-renew and keep the card and the account email up to date, because a missed renewal can take your website and email offline.

Question 58

What is Domains By Proxy on my WHOIS record?

Accepted Answer

Domains By Proxy is a privacy service connected to GoDaddy. When privacy is turned on, its name appears in the public record instead of your name, address and phone, so your details are hidden from spammers. You are still the owner. Check inside your registrar account that the registrant is your business and that you control the login, because the public record will not show it.

Question 59

What is a domain registrar, like Tucows or GoDaddy?

Accepted Answer

A domain registrar is a company accredited to register domain names for you, such as GoDaddy, Tucows, Namecheap or Cloudflare. You pay the registrar each year to keep the name, and its account is where you renew, turn on privacy and point the domain to your website and email. The registrar can be different from your web host. Keep the registrar login in the business owner's name.

Question 60

Do I own my domain if a free website builder gave it to me?

Accepted Answer

Usually you hold the right to use it, but check. Some builders include a domain free for the first year with a paid plan and register it in your name through a partner registrar; others keep it in their own account. Look in your builder's domain settings for the registrant name and whether you can transfer it out. New domains often cannot be transferred for 60 days after registration.

Question 61

What is the best online booking system for a small business?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you sell your time. Compare tools on five points: it works well on a phone, it sends reminders by text or email, it can take a deposit if no-shows cost you money, it syncs with the calendar you already use, and it links from your Google Business Profile and website. Try the free plan or trial with a few real customers before you commit to a monthly fee.

Question 62

Are there free online booking systems for small businesses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Several tools have free plans, such as Google Calendar appointment schedules and the free tiers of booking apps like Square Appointments. Free plans usually limit something: the number of staff, text reminders, branding or online payments. Check the current plan page before you choose, and expect card processing fees on any payment you take, even when the booking tool itself is free.

Question 63

Can I take bookings and payments online for free?

Accepted Answer

You can take bookings for free with many tools, but payments always carry a processing fee on each card transaction, even when the software is free. Some free booking plans also charge for deposits or reminders. To keep costs low, compare the fee per transaction, not only the monthly price, and ask whether a cash discount or surcharge program is allowed where you operate.

Question 64

Should I use an app or my website for bookings?

Accepted Answer

Most small businesses use both: a booking app does the scheduling, and the website and Google Business Profile link to it. Customers rarely download an app to book a local service, so make sure booking works in a phone browser without an install. Put a clear Book button on every page of your site and keep a phone number next to it for people who prefer to call.

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