Your website isn’t just pretty pictures and words.
It’s your digital home.
Your 24/7 shopfront.
Your trust builder.

If you want clients to take you seriously, there are a few non-negotiables.

Let’s dive into the 10 must-have features your small biz site needs before 2026 👇

1. Clear Navigation (So Clients Don’t Get Lost)

Navigation is like your website’s roadmap.

If your visitors can’t find what they need in two clicks, they’ll bounce.

You want menus that are:

Logical and simple (Home, About, Services, Contact etc.).
Sticky or visible in a standard spot (top bar, footer).
Labeled with real words your clients use (not fancy designer jargon).

2. Mobile-Friendly Design

More than half of web traffic comes from phones these days.

If your site doesn’t look cute and work well on mobile → you’re losing clients before they even see your offer.

Things to check:

Layout stacks sensibly (no teeny-tiny buttons or overlapping text).
Images scaled for mobile.
Mobile menu easy to use.

3. About Page That Builds Trust

People buy from people.

Your About page is one of the most visited pages on your site.

Make it count by doing these:

Share your story & values.
Show a photo of you (or your team). People connect with faces.
Maybe one fun fact (shows you’re human).
Include social proof or achievements if you have them.

4. Strong Calls to Action (CTAs)

Guide your visitors.

Don’t let them wander aimlessly — show them what to do next.

Examples:

“Work with me”
“Book a call”
“Download free guide”

Use buttons, standout colours, space around them so they catch the eye.

5. Contact Form (Not Just an Email Link!)

Yes, “email@domain.com” is fine, but a contact form is so much better.

Why:

Easier for your visitors to fill out.
You control what info you get (name, what they want help with etc.).
Looks more professional.

6. Fast Load Speed

If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, many visitors leave.

Speed = retention + SEO love.

Ways to speed things up:

Compress images.
Use good hosting (Squarespace does well here).
Limit heavy scripts or widgets.

7. SEO Basics Built In

You don’t need to become an SEO expert overnight, but these basics matter:

Keywords in headings, page titles, meta descriptions.
Alt text on images.
Clean URL slugs.
Internal links between your blog posts / pages.

8. Social Proof: Testimonials & Reviews

Let your happy clients do some of the talking.

Testimonials = credibility bombs.

What to include:

Real names + photos (if possible).
Short story or specific result.
Place them where people can see them: homepage, service pages.

9. Lead Capture Form (Grow Your Email List)

Don’t just wait for clients to contact you. Go get them.

Lead magnets (free guide, checklist, quiz etc.) + opt-in form helps you build your email list.

Why it’s gold:

You build an audience you own.
You can nurture them (send helpful emails / tips).
When you launch something, they are ready to hear from you.

10. On-Brand Visual Design

Your design = your vibe.

If your colours, fonts, images look random, people feel it.

Make them feel aligned with you by:

Using consistent fonts, colours, and imagery style.
Showing high quality images.
Keeping layout clean, uncluttered.

👉 Still unsure whether to invest in a branding kit or custom visuals? Check out Custom Branding vs Branding Kit: Which One is Right for Your Business? for guidance.)

⏱ Bonus Features (That Competitors Love)

Just extra things that make your site next-level, based on what similar blogs are recommending:

FAQ section (answers common questions so people don’t message you for the same thing over and over). PrimeView
Legal pages like Privacy Policy + Terms (trust & GDPR stuff). PrimeView
Blog or Resource Section (for fresh content + SEO + showing your expertise). Capturly.com + Logic Inbound

💡 And here’s the best part: the 10 essentials + these bonus features are baked into every website I design — even my templates. So whichever option you choose, your site already comes with all the must-haves.

Which Features Can You Do Right Now?

Here’s a quick checklist you can do TODAY:

Add one testimonial to your homepage.
Ensure your homepage has a clear statement + “What you get / What to do next”.
Check mobile version: tap around, see if things look weird.
Optimise a few image files (compress sizes).
Add or improve one CTA on a service or homepage.

💡 Bonus tip: Want even more actionable ideas to generate leads while you sleep? Check my Attract your clients while sleeping + FREE Lead Magnet Planner post to plan a lead magnet your audience will actually love.

Websites Without the Headache 🪄

If that list made you think “ugh, do I have to do all that?” — the answer is nope. That’s what I’m here for.

I offer:

1-Week Websites (yes, launch in just seven days).
Custom Websites (fully tailored to your brand).
Template Restyles (take a template and let me zhuzh it up for you).
DIY Templates with guides & tutorials (so you’re in the driver’s seat but not lost).

And yes, every single one includes the 10 must-haves + the bonus features.