Why UK Small Businesses Need a Professional Website in 2026
Here's a number that should make any business owner uncomfortable: 76% of consumers research businesses online before visiting or making a purchase (BrightLocal Consumer Review Survey). If you're running your business through Facebook, Instagram, and word-of-mouth alone, you're invisible to three-quarters of potential customers who are actively looking for your services right now. I've built websites for hundreds of UK small businesses over the past decade, and the conversation usually starts the same way: "I'm doing alright with social media, do I really need a website?" The honest answer is yes — but not because websites are trendy or because everyone says you should have one. You need a professional website because of how Google works, how customers behave, and how local search actually functions in 2026.
