Is a bad website REALLY worse than NO WEBSITE?

Spoiler Alert: Yes — and Here’s Why It Matters for Your Business.

"A bad website is worse than no website at all."

— Amy Masson, Web Developer at Sumy Designs

If you’ve ever visited a website that was slow, confusing, ugly, or just didn’t work properly on your phone, you already know the answer to this question.

Yes, a bad website is worse than no website. And here’s why:

A Bad Website Damages Your Credibility

First impressions matter. When someone lands on your site, they form an opinion about your business in less than a second. If your site looks outdated, is hard to navigate, or isn’t mobile-friendly, many visitors will click away — and may never come back.

"A pointless site done well won't do much good, but a bad one does harm."

— David Bowen, Editor of Net Profit (The Guardian, 1999)

Poor Design = Lost Trust = Lost Business

Would you hire a solicitor whose office looked like it hadn’t been cleaned since 1998? Or eat at a restaurant with peeling wallpaper and a flickering lightbulb?

Your website is your digital shopfront — and a broken or badly designed one tells potential clients:

You're not professional

You don’t pay attention to detail

You might not be trustworthy

Even worse? Some people might assume your business is no longer operating at all.

No Website Can Still Leave a Good Impression

If someone Googles you and finds:

A Google Business profile

Some positive reviews

A Facebook page with up-to-date posts

…that can still build some credibility, even without a website.

But if they find a half-broken website from 2014, that credibility disappears instantly.

So, What Should You Do?

If you’re not ready for a full-featured, high-end website, don’t worry — you don’t have to spend a fortune. But you do need a site that’s:

• Visually clean and clear

  
  

• Mobile-friendly

  
  

• Easy to update

  
  

• Designed with your audience in mind

That’s exactly what WebSmiths does.

Professional Websites for Real-World Budgets

We specialise in websites for small businesses, tradespeople, artists, and entrepreneurs who want a credible online presence without all the fluff and tech overwhelm.

At WebSmiths:

We help you figure out what kind of site you actually need

We use modern platforms with mobile mobile-friendly design

We only publish once you’re 100% happy

And most importantly, you own everything — your domain, your site, your content.

Don’t Let a Bad Site Hold You Back

If your website is hurting more than helping, or you’re nervous about getting started at all, let’s talk.

Contact WebSmiths today — and let’s build something that actually works for your business.

WebSmiths — Practical Web Design with Purpose.

If you've found this article useful, you may also be interested in reading our blog posts titled, Style Matters: How Fonts, Colours and Layout Shape Your Website’s Impact, and Why Your Business Can’t Afford to Ignore Your Website in 2025.