What Should Your Website Do? Start Here Before You Build.

If you're thinking about getting a website, the first two questions to ask are:

"What type of Website do I actually need?" &

“What do I actually want my website to achieve for me?”

Before any design, code, or content happens, these questions set the entire direction of the project. A website should have a job — a clear purpose that drives how it's built, what it says, and how it functions.

The first thing we need to do is work out what you want to say - is it purely promotional (e.g. a sales funnel), purely informational (e.g. toddlers group meets at 2 pm Wednesdays) or a combination of the two - which most websites are (e.g. this is why you need face cream so visit our online shop for great face cream).

It doesn't matter what the message is; what matters is that before we do anything else (e.g., layout, colours, effects, etc.), we need to be 100% clear on what we are trying to achieve by making the website.

So… what do you want yours to do?

1. Sell Products or Services?

If you want to attract new clients or customers through your website, that’s a whole different setup from just having a digital brochure. You’ll want:

• Clear calls-to-action;

• Booking forms or e-commerce;

• SEO to help you show up on Google.

This is perfect for tradespeople, therapists, consultants, online shops, and service-based businesses.

2. Already Have Clients—Just Need Credibility?

Maybe you already get most of your work through referrals or offline channels. In that case, a professional website gives your business a home base — a place for people to verify who you are, what you do, and that you’re legitimate.

Think of it as your online business card and portfolio rolled into one.

3. Share Public Information?

Sometimes the goal is simply to inform, not to sell. Local churches, community centres, clubs, and charities might just want to share:

• Service times;

• Group schedules;

• Event details;

• Volunteer info.

Simple, functional, and clear.

4. Want to Blog or Vlog?

Maybe you're a writer, creator, or thinker who just wants a platform to share your voice. We can build clean, easy-to-update sites for:

• Blogs;

• Video content;

• Podcast archives;

• Thought leadership.

And if you want to monetise later, we can set you up for that too.

5. Need to Accept Payments or Donations?

Charities, artists, and small businesses often need to accept:

• One-off payments;

• Recurring subscriptions;

• Donations or gift vouchers.

We can help you set that up securely and smoothly.

6. Promoting Creative Work?

If you’re an author, musician, performer or visual artist, your site can act as your stage or gallery. Whether you’re promoting a book, band, or portfolio, the site should:

• Highlight your work;

• Show your personality;

• Make it easy to connect, buy, or book.

The landing page we designed for author Joseph Wyndham

7. A Bit of Everything?

Most websites today are hybrids. You might want:

• A blog + a shop;

• Service pages + a donation button;

• A contact form + calendar + social feed.

That’s perfectly normal—and exactly the kind of thing we help you plan out.

We Ask the Right Questions, So You Don’t Have To Guess What Should Your Website Do?

At WebSmiths, our job is to help you figure out what your website needs to do, not just what it needs to look like.

We’ll guide you through the early questions and recommend the best structure and features to match your goals and budget.

Ready to start? Get in touch and let’s find out what your future website should really do.