That quote from a client about "just needing a website" really got under my skin

Had a call with a potential client yesterday who said they just needed a simple 5 page site and couldn't understand why we were asking about their sales process. They thought a website was just a digital business card, not a tool to actually generate leads. I spent 15 minutes trying to explain how user flow and CTAs affect conversions but they kept saying I was overcomplicating things. Has anyone else dealt with clients who think web design is just about making things look pretty?

2 comments

2 Comments

thomas_brown25d ago

My buddy runs a small marketing agency and had this exact thing happen with a chiropractor. The guy wanted a simple 5 page site, nothing fancy. So they built it, looked nice, zero sales features. Client calls back three months later mad because nobody booked appointments through it. He literally said "I thought people would just see the prices and call." No calls to action, no forms, nothing. Took them another month to redo the whole thing with actual conversion stuff.

alicea2625d ago

That chiropractor probably paid good money for a site that was basically just a digital brochure. I get that people want a simple site, but "simple" should still include the basics for getting customers. A 5 page site with no way for people to actually contact you or book anything is just a set of pretty pictures. The real problem is that a lot of small business owners don't understand that having a website is more like having a salesperson who works 24/7, not just a sign outside your shop. They need to be told upfront that a site without calls to action is like a store with no cash register.