A website should help a business do something useful. That might be receiving a call, taking a booking or answering enough questions for the right person to ask for a quote. A smart design helps, but it is only the beginning. The work after launch determines whether the website becomes part of the business or another thing its owner means to deal with later.
That is why my main offer combines a website with a year of practical help. I build the website with no upfront cost. You pay £150 a month for two hours of my time, over a 12-month partnership. Those hours go on the priorities we agree together: getting found, improving enquiries, creating useful content or reducing the admin that follows. If it isn't working by month six, you can leave for free.
Why the work continues after launch
An independent business in Syston might already do excellent work through referrals. Its website needs to explain that work to someone who has never met the owner. Once the site is live, we can see which questions visitors still have and whether enquiries are coming from the areas the business actually serves. That information helps us decide what to improve next, rather than treating launch day as the finish line.
Imagine a local decorator whose customers usually send a message asking whether they cover Loughborough. This is an illustrative example, rather than a client result. A clear service-area page might remove uncertainty, while a better enquiry form could ask for the room, location and preferred timing. A simple follow-up process could then make it easier for the decorator to respond without spending the evening copying details between messages.
What the monthly fee covers
Two hours is a focused amount of time. It works best when we agree the most useful job first and keep the scope manageable. One month might go on improving a service page and checking the contact routes. Another might focus on a Google Business Profile or a reusable reply. Larger changes are discussed and quoted separately before work starts. Your advertising budget and paid software are also separate from my time.
The website normally covers five to seven pages and takes two to four weeks once your content is ready. I host it during the partnership. Your domain is registered in your name and paid by you directly, usually £10 to £20 a year. Your domain and content are always yours, and I transfer the website to you, free, whenever you choose to move it. These arrangements go in the written plan so we share the same understanding from the start.
How we decide whether it is working
In month one, we record a baseline and choose two or three measures. A venue might care about suitable booking enquiries; a trades business might prefer phone calls and quote requests. We look at the quality of those conversations as well as their number. Each monthly check-in explains what changed, what we worked on and what we should do next. Seasonal demand and other marketing can affect the figures, so the report needs context.
At month six, you decide whether to carry on or leave for free with your website. After 12 months, you can stay on an ongoing plan or take your site elsewhere. I cannot promise a particular income or number of customers. What I can commit to is the agreed work and an honest review. Before signing, ask about anything unclear in the scope, ownership or exit terms. A free chat is the starting point, with no obligation to buy.
Your questions
Is it really free if there is a monthly fee?
The build has no upfront charge. It comes with a 12-month paid partnership for my time, with a free break at month six, so it is not an unconditional free website. The written quote explains the commitment and any separate costs.
Can I join if I already have a website?
Yes. Improving an existing site can be a better use of effort than rebuilding it. We review what you have and agree the right approach before starting.
What should I bring to the first chat?
Your website address, if you have one, and a brief description of what is frustrating you. You do not need a technical brief or a prepared marketing plan.