If you’re planning to build a website—whether for your business, portfolio, or online shop—there are a few things you must understand before you begin. Many business owners complain about a website not converting, slow performance, or poor design, and the truth is: most of these problems come from decisions made before the website is created.
In this detailed guide, we’ll break down the five most important things you should know before getting a website, backed by real experience from working with clients and insights from top website developers.
Let’s dive in.
Introduction: Before You Get a Website, Read This…
Most business owners rush to “just get a website” and expect miracles. They assume having an online presence automatically brings sales—but a poorly planned website can become one of the biggest money-wasting tools for your business.
In fact, research from HubSpot shows that users judge a website within 0.5 seconds. A slow, confusing, or unprofessional site sends customers away instantly. This is exactly why many businesses later ask:
- “Why is my website not converting?”
- “Why am I not getting clients even after launching my website?”
- “Why did my last developer disappoint me?”
These issues are rarely about design alone—they are about planning.
Here are five things you absolutely need to understand before you build any website, whether you’re working with freelancers, agencies, or the best web developer in your area.
1. Understand the Purpose of Your Website (Most Owners Skip This Step)
Before choosing colors, features, or developers, ask yourself:
“What EXACTLY do I want this website to do?”
Websites fall into different categories:
| Website Type | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Business Website | Build trust, showcase services | Accounting firm website |
| E-commerce Store | Sell products online | Fashion or electronics shop |
| Portfolio | Display your work or skills | Photographer or designer |
| Booking/Service Platform | Allow clients to schedule appointments | Salon, clinic, hotel |
| Blog/Content Website | Educate & attract traffic | SEO or lifestyle blog |
Most website failures happen because the owner never defines the purpose. If the goal is unclear, the design, content, and structure become random.
Ask yourself:
- Do I want more leads?
- Do I want direct sales?
- Do I want bookings?
- Do I want to build authority?
- Do I want to automate customer service?
Every decision—from layout to features—must align with the purpose.
When you know the goal, the website becomes a tool, not an expense.
2. Budget Isn’t Just About Design—It Includes Maintenance, Hosting & Marketing
Many people expect a fully functional, high-converting website for $30.
But here is the honest truth:
Your website is not a one-time cost—it’s an ongoing investment.
Here’s what your budget should cover:
| Cost Category | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Domain Name | Your website address (e.g., yourbusiness.co.ke) |
| Hosting | Where your website files live—cheap hosting = slow website |
| Website Development | Design, coding, customization, backend setup |
| Content Creation | Copywriting, images, SEO content |
| Security & Backups | Protection from hacks and data loss |
| Maintenance | Updates, new features, bug fixes |
| Marketing | SEO, ads, social media, email automation |
A beautiful website with zero marketing will not bring sales.
This is why it’s important to work with website developers who advise you beyond design.
Tip:
Avoid the cheapest developer—they often cost you double later. Instead, look for professionals who explain hosting, maintenance, and SEO.
3. User Experience (UX) Matters More Than Design
A website can look modern but still fail to convert because:
- It’s slow
- It’s confusing
- Buttons are hard to find
- Too many pop-ups
- Poor mobile responsiveness
According to Google Web.dev, 70% of users leave a site that loads in more than 3 seconds.
Even the best web developer can build stunning designs that fail if UX is ignored.
Your website should be:
✔ Fast
✔ Clean
✔ Simple to navigate
✔ Minimal scrolling
✔ Mobile-friendly (70% of traffic is mobile in Kenya)
✔ Clear with calls-to-action (CTAs)
Examples of Effective CTAs:
- “Book Now”
- “Request a Quote”
- “Download Free Guide”
- “Learn More”
A customer should never struggle to find what you offer or how to contact you.
4. Content Is More Important Than the Website Design
Most people focus on logos, colors, and themes… but forget the heart of your website:
👉 Your content.
Your website will not convert if your message is weak.
Important Areas to Focus On:
- Your homepage headline
- Your service descriptions
- Your about page story
- Your images and graphics
- Your FAQs
- Your testimonials
- Your SEO keywords
A great homepage should answer these within 5 seconds:
- What do you offer?
- Who is it for?
- Why should I trust you?
- What should I do next?
Most business websites fail because they are filled with generic content like:
- “We are committed to excellence.”
- “We offer quality services.”
- “Customer satisfaction is our priority.”
These do not convert.
Write content that speaks to pain points, solutions, and benefits.
Pro Tip:
If writing is not your strength, hire a content writer. This single decision can increase conversions by up to 200%.
5. Choose the Right Developer (This One Decision Can Make or Break Your Website)
One of the biggest regrets business owners have is choosing the wrong developer.
Not all developers understand business. Some are coders, not strategists.
That’s why you find many people complaining:
- “My website not converting.”
- “The developer disappeared.”
- “I can’t update anything.”
- “The site breaks every month.”
- “The design looks different from what I expected.”
Before hiring, assess the developer’s:
✔ Skill
✔ Communication
✔ Understanding of your industry
✔ Support after development
✔ Portfolio
✔ Reviews
✔ Problem-solving ability
Questions to Ask a Developer Before Hiring:
- Will my website be mobile-friendly?
- What CMS will you use (WordPress, Shopify, custom)?
- Do you offer maintenance?
- How many revisions are included?
- Who owns the website and hosting?
- How will you improve conversions?
- Can you integrate SEO from the beginning?
Warning:
Never work with a developer who refuses to give you full access to your website and hosting account.
The best web developer should build, guide, support, and improve—not disappear after being paid.
Comparison Table: Good Developer vs Bad Developer
| Good Developer | Bad Developer |
|---|---|
| Offers clear communication | Poor communication |
| Understands business goals | Only cares about design |
| Provides documentation | No documentation |
| Advises on hosting, SEO, UX | Leaves you to figure out everything |
| Offers support & maintenance | Disappears after payment |
| Builds scalable websites | Creates problems later |
| Writes clean code | Uses shortcuts and cheap templates |
BONUS: Don’t Forget SEO (This Is Where Real Money Is Made)
A website that is not optimized for search will struggle to attract organic traffic.
SEO helps your site appear on Google when people search for:
- “best photographer in Nairobi”
- “affordable salon booking system”
- “website developers in Kenya”
- “how to register a business online”
SEO should be integrated from day one—not after launch.
SEO Essentials to Add Before Launch
- Keyword research
- Optimized titles & meta descriptions
- Fast loading pages
- Image optimization
- Internal linking
- Schema markup
- Mobile optimization
- Blog content strategy
Without SEO, your website becomes a digital brochure—pretty but invisible.
Suggested Images to Include
(You can generate or design these later)
- A flowchart showing the website planning process
- UX vs UI design infographic
- Budget breakdown infographic
- Developer comparison chart
- Screenshot examples of good vs bad CTAs
Images help break text and improve retention.
Conclusion: Build Smart, Not Fast
Getting a website is one of the best investments for your business—but only if done right.
Understanding the purpose, budgeting correctly, focusing on user experience, having strong content, and choosing the right developer can save you thousands of shillings and months of frustration.
If you ignore these five things, you risk ending up with:
- a slow website
- a website not converting
- poor design
- zero traffic
- wasted money
But if you follow this guide, your website will become a powerful tool for attracting clients, building trust, and growing your brand.
Ready to Build a High-Converting Website?
If you want a website that is fast, beautiful, and truly converts:
👉 Contact Ngamu Website Developers — trusted experts in Kenya.
We help businesses build websites that bring real results, not just traffic.