Your website doesn’t need to be fancy, it needs to be easy to use.
Good UI (how your site looks) and UX (how it feels to use) help visitors trust your business and take action, whether that’s calling you, sending a message, or booking a service.
Here are simple UI/UX tips that make a real difference for small business websites.
1. Make It Obvious What You Do
When someone lands on your website, they should know within 5 seconds:
-
what your business does
-
who it’s for
-
how to contact you
Avoid vague headlines. Be clear and direct.
Example:
❌ “Quality Solutions for Modern Businesses”
✅ “Affordable Web Design for Small Irish Businesses”
2. Keep Navigation Simple
Don’t overload your menu.
Most small business websites only need:
-
Home
-
Services
-
About
-
Contact
If visitors have to think about where to click, something’s wrong.
3. Design for Mobile First
Most of your visitors are on their phones.
Good mobile UX means:
-
text that’s easy to read
-
buttons big enough to tap
-
no side-scrolling
-
fast loading
If your site is awkward on mobile, people leave – simple as that.
4. Use Clear, Obvious Buttons
Every page should guide visitors to the next step.
Good buttons:
-
stand out from the background
-
use simple language (“Call Now”, “Get a Quote”)
-
appear more than once on the page
If people have to search for how to contact you, you’re losing business.
5. Don’t Overcrowd the Page
Less is more.
Clean layouts with:
-
enough space between sections
-
short paragraphs
-
clear headings
feel more professional and easier to use than cluttered pages filled with text and images.
6. Use Real Photos Where Possible
Stock photos can look generic and untrustworthy.
If you can, use:
-
photos of your team
-
your premises
-
your work
-
your vans or equipment
Real images build trust and make your business feel more genuine.
7. Make Contact Details Easy to Find
Your phone number and email should never be hidden.
Best practice:
-
phone number in the header
-
contact page in the main menu
-
clickable phone numbers on mobile
If someone wants to contact you, make it effortless.
8. Keep Colours and Fonts Consistent
Too many colours or fonts make a site feel messy.
Stick to:
-
1-2 main colours
-
1-2 fonts
-
consistent button styles
Consistency makes your site look more polished and trustworthy.
9. Speed Matters More Than You Think
A slow website kills user experience.
Visitors expect pages to load quickly, especially on mobile.
Fast sites feel modern, reliable, and professional.
10. Tell Visitors What to Do Next
Never assume people know what you want them to do.
Use clear prompts like:
-
“Call us today”
-
“Request a quote”
-
“Book an appointment”
Good UX gently guides people toward action.
Final Thought
Good UI/UX isn’t about flashy design, it’s about clarity, simplicity, and ease of use. A small business website that’s easy to navigate, fast to load, and clear about what it offers will always outperform a complicated one.
At SwiftSites, this is exactly how we build websites: simple, clear, and designed to bring in real enquiries.
