3 Website Options for Small Business (And Why Most Pick the Wrong One)
You need a website. Your business depends on it. But which path should you take?
Most small business owners face three options. Each one affects your wallet, your time, and your results. Let's break down what really happens with each option.
Option 1: DIY Website Builders (The Time Trap)
Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress promise easy websites you can build yourself. The appeal is obvious. Low monthly cost, no need to talk to anyone, complete control over your site.
It sounds great until you actually try it. You spend hours fighting with templates that almost work but never quite fit your business. You watch YouTube videos trying to figure out why your site looks perfect on your computer but broken on phones. You lose entire weekends tweaking things that still don't convert visitors into customers. And when something breaks? You're on your own.
Your time has value. While you're struggling with website builders, you're not serving customers or growing your business.
You're playing web designer instead of doing what you do best.
The kicker: most DIY sites end up slow, hard to find on Google, and looking exactly like thousands of other template sites. And the "savings" disappear when you calculate the cost of your time and the customers you never reached.
The "cheap" option just costs you valuable working hours and customers you'll never know about.
Option 2: Big Expensive Agencies (The Small Fish Problem)
Large agencies have impressive portfolios and charge prices to match. They promise enterprise solutions with teams of specialists working on your project.
Then you get assigned to their junior staff. Your project manager changes three times. Communication happens through ticket systems and scheduled calls weeks apart. They deliver a beautiful site that costs $10,000 upfront, takes six months to build, and still doesn't quite capture what makes your business different.
Big agencies treat small businesses like small priorities.
You're competing for attention with their Fortune 500 clients who pay ten times what you do. They're focused on upselling you more services but they don’t bring in customers. Your emergency is their "we'll get to it next week.
And here's the worst part. That designer in their distant office doesn't know your town. Doesn't understand your customers. Doesn't care about your local market. They hand over your website and disappear. Need updates? That's $150 per hour. Want to add a page? New project, new contract, new wait time.
You paid luxury prices for economy service.
Option 3: Local Web Design Partners (The Smart Choice)
Lamplighter Web Design offers the middle path that small businesses actually need. Professional quality without the inflated agency prices. Personal service without the DIY frustration. Real partnership with someone invested in your business and living in your community.
We deliver hand-coded websites starting at just $187 per month. No $5,000 upfront fees. No hidden costs. Just professional web design that includes hosting, unlimited edits, 24/7 support, and a partner who answers when you call. Professional quality without the inflated prices.
We build hand-coded websites that load in under 2 seconds. Sites that show up on Google. Sites that turn visitors into customers.
Your site gets built in 4-6 weeks, not 6 months. Changes happen in hours, not weeks. And you always know exactly what you're paying.
What This Means for Your Business
DIY platforms sell you software. Big agencies sell you projects. We build partnerships.
When your business grows, your site grows with it. Need a new page? Done. Want to update your services? Easy. Got questions? We're here.
You're not a ticket number. You're not a small account. You're a local business owner who deserves professional service at a fair price.
The right website does three things:
- Shows up when people search for what you do
- Loads fast so visitors stick around
- Turns visitors into customers
DIY sites fail at all three. Agency sites cost too much and move too slow. Lamplighter gets all three right.
Ready to Make the Smart Choice?
Schedule your free Website Performance Evaluation. We'll analyze your current site (or your competition if you don't have one). You'll see exactly where you stand and what's possible.
No pressure. No sales pitch. Just honest analysis and clear options.
Most small businesses pick the wrong website option. They waste time on DIY or money on agencies. Then they find us and wish they'd started here.
Skip that frustration and let’s get started. Call or text me directly at (719) 357-8727.
