Yes, You Need a Website (A Modern, Responsive Website)

Are you a small, local business courting local clients? See how a website can help you grab customers in your geographic service area.

By Kurt Knippel, eXcelisys Project Manager / VP of Production

It’s 2025 and the times, they are a-changin’. If you’re one of those holdouts still relying on word-of-mouth referrals and a Facebook business page, it’s time to act. Sure, social media platforms are great for establishing a digital presence and providing potential customers with your contact information, but building a modern, responsive website will serve you better over the long haul.

What do we mean by modern? It’s pretty simple. A “modern” website prioritizes the user eXperience by offering site visitors clean, uncluttered webpages that load fast and are easy to navigate so users can find the information they need quickly.

And what do we mean by responsive? A responsive website is built to “respond” to different device display sizes. This allows a site to maintain its features and appearance whether it is accessed on a phone, tablet or desktop. A responsive site will automatically scale and resize features to ensure page setups and navigation don’t become jumbled or confusing when viewed on devices with smaller screens.

Every small, local, family-owned business needs a website – especially if you are in the service industry. 

Maybe you already have a website – but is it doing great work? These days, having a website is not enough. To compete in search rankings, you need a modern, responsive website. If your website looks (and acts) like it was built during the days of dial-up internet, it’s time for an upgrade to boost your web reach.

Top Four Benefits of a Modern, Responsive Website

1) Improved Search Engine Rankings

To build your business, you need to be seen. Consider this: Google processes about 8.5 billion search requests per day. That’s 99,000 per second. If you don’t have a website, you can’t appear in Google search results and your digital reach is limited. 

If you dig deeper into the metrics, you’ll find you need a responsive website because search engines (like Google) prioritize responsive web design in their rankings.

In addition, a modern, phone-friendly site with fast load times stands a better chance of appearing at the top of the search results because most web searches are conducted on mobile devices. You also need to consider “voice” searches conducted on Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. Voice searches return the same results as a searcher would get typing their search terms into a mobile device. Keeping this in mind, it becomes clear that to compete in today’s web-search world you need a mobile-friendly (aka responsive) website.

2) Better Visibility and eXposure in Local Search Results

Let’s say you’re a plumber and you operate in a particular service area. When residents in your area type “plumber” or “plumber near me” into the Google search bar you want your business to appear in the local search results. How do you do this? To start, you need to ensure Google knows your location. The more Google associates you with a specific location, the more you will show up in relevant searches for your area.

How do you let Google know your location? Through your website. On your website, you can add a footer with your address so it appears on every page. You can also embed a Google map of your service area on your website to ensure Google knows your location. Then, you can optimize your Google Business Profile, which Google uses to show your business on maps. This, in turn, will improve your local search visibility. In addition, you can add a website link directly to your Google Business Profile to bring potential customers straight to your site. Look below to find the search results for “pond care Indianapolis.” Our client, ASAP Aquatics, sits at the top of the results.  

3) Increased Credibility & Professionalism

A well-designed website conveys professionalism and stability. While you may be able to engage potential customers through word-of-mouth and social media, a well-made website will help you close the deal. 

Customers want to know WHO you are, WHAT you do and WHY you do it. A small, local business website allows you to showcase your services, credentials, products and pricing alongside contact information and FAQs. In addition, a website can help you build credibility through testimonials, case studies and product/service reviews. 

4) Better Conversion Rates

Responsive web design makes browsing hassle free by eliminating problems like distorted layouts and navigation issues, which can frustrate users into fleeing your site and never coming back. The easier it is for customers to find the information they need (without eXcessive zooming and scrolling), the more likely they are to take the desired action, such as contacting you or making a purchase. Streamlined user journeys and clear calls-to-action contribute to higher conversion rates. Check out the responsive web design eXample below for our client, River View Campground. 

Take the Next Step – Let’s Connect to Discuss Your Needs

Convinced of your need for a modern, mobile-friendly website? Great. Our solution consultants would be happy to offer a free consultation to discuss the website needs of your small, local business.

Why Choose Us?

eXcelisys has 24 years of eXperience and eXpertise in developing high-quality websites tailored to the unique needs of small and family-owned businesses. In fact, we’re a small, independent business run by owner-operators who work directly with clients each day so we understand what you’re going through. And once we build and optimize your modern, responsive website, we don’t walk away. Many of our clients rely on us for ongoing support and maintenance to ensure site security and performance.

Connect with eXcelisys today to embark on a journey towards digital eXcellence so you, too, can enjoy the benefits of a modern, responsive website.