This might sting a little, but most small business websites in the Hawkesbury aren’t actually doing their job.
They look fine.
They exist.
They might even get a few compliments.
But they don’t generate enquiries. They don’t support growth. And they don’t reflect how good the business actually is.
I see this every week working with local businesses across Richmond, Windsor, Kurrajong and surrounds. Good operators, solid reputations… held back by websites that are quietly letting them down.
So let’s talk about why this happens – and what actually makes a website work.
The Website “Looks Good’… But That’s Not the Same as Working
One of the biggest misconceptions is that a website’s job is to look nice.
Design matters… a lot …but a working website needs to do more than impress someone for five seconds.
A good small business website should:
- Clearly explain what you do
- Speak directly to your ideal customer
- Build trust quickly
- Make it easy to take the next step
Most sites miss at least two of those. Some miss all four.
Problem #1: It’s Built for the Owner, Not the Customer
This is incredibly common.
The website talks about:
- The business history
- The owner’s journey
- Features instead of outcomes
- Industry terms customers don’t use
But visitors are thinking:
“Are you right for me?”
If your website doesn’t answer that within seconds, people bounce. Google notices. Enquiries stop.
Problem #2: No Clear Path to Enquiry
If someone wants to contact you, how obvious is it?
Common Hawkesbury website issues I see:
- Phone numbers hidden in menus
- Contact pages buried three clicks deep
- No call-to-action at all
- Forms that feel clunky or outdated
If a visitor has to think about how to contact you, they usually won’t.
Problem #3: Small Business Websites in the Hawkesbury are Invisible on Google (Even Locally)
This one hurts because it’s silent.
Many local business websites:
- Aren’t optimised for local search
- Don’t reference Hawkesbury locations properly
- Have no supporting SEO content
- Rely on a single homepage to rank
So when someone searches:
- “service near me” or
- “service Hawkesbury”
They never see you, even if you’re one of the best.
This is where SEO and web design overlap, and why treating them separately rarely works long-term.
Problem #4: No Ongoing Care = Slow, Broken, Risky
Websites aren’t “set and forget”.
Without proper care:
- WordPress gets outdated
- Plugins break
- Sites slow down
- Security risks increase
I’ve lost count of how many hacked or broken sites I’ve had to repair that started as “it was working fine last year”.
A professional website needs ongoing care, not panic repairs.
So… What Does Make a Website Work?
A working small business website is built with intention.
It:
- Speaks to the right audience
- Is structured for clarity and conversion
- Loads fast and works on all devices
- Is backed by local SEO
- Is maintained properly
It doesn’t need to be flashy.
It doesn’t need gimmicks.
It just needs to be done properly.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
A Quick Word From Me!
I’m Ben, I run Fun Serious Creative Agency, based locally, and I work with Hawkesbury businesses who want websites that actually support their growth, not just exist online.
No hard sell.
No jargon.
Just clear, practical solutions that make sense for real businesses.
I’ve helped a lot of local businesses and a lot of businesses outside of the Hawkesbury too! But one common factor with every website I create is the attention to SEO and ensuring that the site is going to work. Not just today, but in the future.
If your website feels like it should be doing more, it probably is. Call me to find out more.