Used to think a cheap website was fine, then I spent $800 on a real one

For years I just used one of those free builder sites. Looked okay, but I got maybe one job a month from it. Six months ago I hired a guy to make a proper site for $800. He set up a portfolio, a contact form that works, the whole thing. Now I'm getting three or four solid leads a week. The old site was just a digital business card. The new one actually sells for me while I'm on the road. Anyone else see a big jump after fixing their online spot?

4 comments

4 Comments

derek_lee1mo ago

How much did that first cheap site cost you in lost jobs?

carr.abby4d ago

The whole "pay a little now or pay a lot later" thing applies to pretty much everything, not just websites. A leaky faucet turns into a ruined floor, a cheap tire blows out on the highway, and a free site just quietly kills your chances before you even know it. People always forget that bad tools don't just fail, they actively cost you opportunities you never even saw coming.

robinp891mo ago

Honestly, that free site was probably fine. Most clients just want to see your work and get a phone number, they don't need a fancy sales machine.

mark_green1mo ago

My cousin runs a landscaping business and had the same free site for five years. He finally paid about what you did and his booked jobs went up 40% in a season. Derek Lee has a point about lost jobs, because that old site just sits there like a billboard no one sees. A real site with a clear contact path does the talking for you when you're busy actually working. The free one might show your phone number, but a good one makes people want to call it.