5 Common Website Mistakes Small Businesses Make — and How to Fix Them

In today’s competitive digital landscape, having a website isn’t just optional — it’s essential. Whether you’re running a café in Honiton, a hair salon in Lyme Regis, or a building firm in Chard, your online presence is often your first impression. And in 2025, first impressions matter more than ever.

So what makes a professionally designed website so powerful? Let’s explore why small businesses across Devon, Dorset, and Somerset are choosing to invest in custom websites — and how it’s helping them grow faster and connect better.

1. Build Trust and Credibility

A modern, well-built website shows potential customers that you’re serious and trustworthy. A templated or DIY site might be “good enough,” but your visitors can tell when your site isn’t polished — and they’re more likely to click away.

At Kode Designs, we create clean, high-performance sites that instantly build credibility for local businesses. Our Website Design services are tailored to showcase what makes your brand unique.

2. Improve Your Visibility on Google

Even the best-looking website needs visibility. That’s where SEO comes in.

Search engine optimisation isn’t a luxury anymore — it’s a necessity if you want to show up when local customers search “plumber in Axminster” or “printing in Seaton.”

Our SEO Maintenance services ensure your site is not just live, but thriving — with ongoing keyword targeting, technical optimisation, and location-specific strategies.

3. Support Your Offline Materials with Cohesive Design

Your website should feel like an extension of your print marketing — not a separate entity.

Our Print Design & Printing services ensure your flyers, signage, and brochures all align with your digital presence. From logo design to branded business cards, we help businesses stand out on and offline.

4. Mobile-Friendly and Easy to Manage

Did you know over 60% of local searches now happen on mobile? That means your website must perform flawlessly across all devices.

We build responsive websites that look great on phones, tablets, and desktops — and we use platforms like WordPress that make content updates simple, even for non-techies.

5. Get Found by the Right Customers, Not Just More Traffic

We don’t chase vanity metrics. At Kode Designs, we focus on connecting you with the customers that matter — the ones ready to call, click, or visit.

With our local-first approach and bespoke design process, your business will stand out in all the right ways.

Ready to Stand Out in 2025?

A smart, SEO-optimised website can transform how customers find and engage with your business. At Kode Designs, we work with businesses across Axminster, Chard, Crewkerne, Honiton, Lyme Regis, and Seaton — helping them build a stronger online presence.

Let’s create something that works.

View our portfolio or get in touch today.