Once you’ve made the decision to build a website for your business, you’ll quickly realise there are 2 types of people out there – website builders & marketers! Many business owners will think they can simply go to a web development company in Chennai who will do everything for them. Whilst some may do, most won’t. Here are some key points to consider.

Website Builder vs Marketer

Your website is your shop front. Whilst building your website involves making your site look good, getting people to visit your website requires different skills.

A website can be built with quick loading speeds and beautiful design, but if people aren’t searching for you it won’t matter! People will search using terms like “plumber near me” or “best bakery open now”. Google will then give a few local results. If the website isn’t optimised for these local searches, you won’t be seen.

Things To Consider When Hiring Someone

Ensure whoever you hire (either one or two people) offer:

Responsive Design – Most people will search locally on their phone!
Quick Loading Speeds – Slow websites will turn people away & will rank lower.
Easy Navigation – People should be able to easily find out what services you offer, pricing, contact info etc within seconds.
Optimised For Local Searches – Optimising your Google Business Profile, having your name, address & phone number consistent and location based pages.
Informative Content – Content that provides information to answer peoples questions.
Analytics – To see where people are coming from.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities	Who Usually Handles	Why It Matters
Design & Development	Developer	A functional and professional website.
Loading Speeds & Responsive Design	Developer	Affect rankings and usability.
Google Business Profile	Marketer	Gets you seen in local searches.
Local Keywords & Content	Marketer	Ensures your website is optimised for what people are searching.
Reviews & Reputation	You & Marketer	Builds trust & helps with local rankings.
Analytics	Both	See what is working.

If they can cover all of these, that’s perfect! However, ensure they are communicating with each other. Most issues occur when they are not.

Why You Need A Budget For Local Visibility

Digital marketing in ChennaiEven with a well built website you’ll need to consistently work on your local visibility. can be very competitive, regardless of whether you run a clinic, coaching centre, restaurant or consulting firm. There will be others local to you that will be fighting for the same searches.

Local visibility will usually be achieved through:

A fully completed and active Google Business Profile with real photos & up to date opening times.
Real customer reviews & responses.
Location based content such as service pages mentioning your areas.
Listings on trusted directories with consistent contact info.
Occasionally some paid advertising (if on a budget & lots of competition).

Whilst nothing magical, it will require consistent, boring work to get results.

Questions To Ask

webdevelopment company in ChennaiA good conversation is better than a sales pitch. Whether you’re speaking to a or a freelance, ask them:

Can you show me some live websites you’ve built and are they optimised?
Will your website be optimised from the start or will this involve extra?
Who owns the website, domain & content?
What kind of support will you provide and how much will it cost?
How will we know it has been successful? Will we be seeing more calls, form fills and walk ins?

If they struggle to answer or use too much jargon, move onto the next option.

Red Flags

Guaranteeing top spot.
Not asking any questions about your customers or goals.
Using templates and just changing the logo.
Not allowing access to your accounts & analytics.
Pushing you into long term contracts without providing any work.

FAQs

1. Do I need a developer and a marketer or can they do both?

They can do both if they have real experience. Ask to see examples of websites they’ve built & helped rank. If they don’t do well in one area, pair them up with a specialist.

2. How long until people local to me find my website?

Local changes like Google Business Profile can show results in a few weeks. However, consistently increasing your rankings & enquiries usually takes between 3-6 months.

3. Do I need a website if I have a Google Business Profile?

Whilst it will help, having a website gives you control, credibility and the ability to explain your services. They work best together.

4. How much should a small business spend?

It depends on your goals & how competitive your industry is. A simple website with some basic local set up can be low cost. However, marketing will usually be a larger ongoing cost. Ensure they give you a clear breakdown of what they will be doing.

5. Will I be able to make changes to the website?

Yes, if it has been built using a content system. Ask to have a brief walk through during handover so you can make minor changes.

Final Thoughts

SME DigitalYou don’t have to spend a lot to start with. Focus on having a clean, fast and responsive website. Ensure your local profiles are set up correctly. Build your visibility up gradually. The best person to work with will be someone that asks about your customers. An example of someone who offers both in one place would be . However, have a look at a few options. Remember digital marketing in Chennai is an ongoing cost.

Who Can Build My Business Site and Also Help It Get Found by Nearby Customers?

Building a Fast, Mobile-Friendly Site with a Web Development Company in Chennai