Do I need a website if I already have Instagram?

Yes. Instagram is borrowed space: the rules change and it doesn't show up in Google. Your website is yours, and it's what people find when they search for your service in your area.

How many pages does a small business website need?

Often three or four are enough: home, services, about and contact. A few clear pages beat lots of half-finished ones.

Will I be able to update it myself?

You should. Ask for a site you can edit yourself, so you can change text, photos and prices without depending on anyone.

What a small business website in the Canary Islands needs

In Tenerife, lots of businesses run on word of mouth and Instagram. That works until someone searches for you on Google and finds an old website, a half-filled listing or nothing at all. This is what I always check when I design a small business website.

1. What you do, who for and where, on the first screen

Without scrolling. If someone lands on your site and can't tell in five seconds whether you're on their island and do what they need, they leave. A clear headline beats a pretty photo with no context.

2. A contact button people can see

WhatsApp, email or phone, whichever you actually use. Put it at the top and again at the bottom. In the Canaries, many people would rather send a WhatsApp than fill in a form.

3. Built for mobile

Most of your visitors come from their phones. Text that reads without zooming, big buttons and nothing slow to load.

If your website doesn't work on mobile, for many people it doesn't exist.

4. Real photos

Your place, your team, your products, your work. Stock photos are easy to spot and don't build trust. A simple real photo beats a perfect one of somebody else.

5. In your clients' languages

If you work with tourists or foreign residents, an English (or German, or Italian) version opens a big door. You don't need to translate everything. Start with the main pages.

6. The same details everywhere

Name, area, opening hours and phone number should match on your website, Google and social media. Google trusts businesses with consistent details more, and so do your clients.

7. Fast, with basic SEO

Every page should have a title with your service and your area, for example "Physiotherapy in Puerto de la Cruz". Light images and no heavy videos that play on their own.

8. Legal notice, privacy and cookies

In Spain these pages are required by law. They also build trust: a site that has them looks like a serious business.

Want to know how your website is doing? Grab my free branding checklist or see how I approach web design in Tenerife. If your website doesn't look like your brand, it may be worth starting with branding in Tenerife. Or just write to me and we'll take a look.