Working with Newport businesses over the years, I’ve seen the same pattern time and again. A company starts with a DIY Wix site or something thrown together on the cheap, struggles to get enquiries, then finally invests properly in their online presence. The transformation is always dramatic.
Newport’s business community is incredibly diverse, from the bustling city centre to the industrial estates. What I’ve noticed is that businesses here are savvy. They understand value, but they also know when something isn’t working.
The DIY Disaster That Started It All
One of our Newport mortgage adviser clients came to us after spending months battling with a Squarespace site. Honestly, it was painful to look at. The mobile version was completely broken, contact forms weren’t working, and potential customers couldn’t even figure out how to get in touch.
This is something I see too often. Business owners think they’re saving money with these DIY platforms, but they end up losing customers instead. The mortgage adviser told me he’d had three people mention his website looked “unprofessional” during phone calls. That’s when he knew something had to change.
We rebuilt his entire online presence using WordPress and Bricks. Within two months, his enquiries had doubled. More importantly, the quality of leads improved dramatically because people could actually navigate his services properly.
Why Newport Businesses Are Moving Away From Big Agencies
I’ve picked up several clients in Newport who were fed up with Cardiff’s larger agencies. The problem isn’t the quality of work, it’s the communication. Big agencies often ignore what clients actually want and push their own agenda.
A local accountancy firm switched to us after their previous agency kept insisting on trendy design features that meant nothing to their target market. “I just want people to book appointments easily,” the owner told me. Sometimes it really is that simple.
We focus on what actually works for local businesses. Clear navigation, fast loading times, mobile responsiveness, and proper SEO. No fancy React components that look impressive but can’t be updated without a developer.
The SEO Foundation That Actually Matters
Everyone’s banging on about AI and AEO these days, but here’s my honest opinion: good SEO is still fundamental. The AI tools everyone’s excited about? They’re just scraping well-ranking content anyway.
For Newport businesses, local SEO is absolutely crucial. We make sure every site we build has proper schema markup, local business information, and content that actually serves the community. It’s not rocket science, but it requires attention to detail.
One Newport restaurant owner was amazed when his site started appearing for “best restaurants near Newport station” searches. We’d simply optimised his location pages properly and added relevant local content. The booking system we integrated meant those searches converted into actual customers.
The Hosting Nightmare We Keep Rescuing People From
I can’t stand GoDaddy, and Newport businesses are finally catching on. They steal domains when you search them, lock you into awful builders, and basically hold your site hostage with renewal fees.
We host everything on Krystal instead. They’re UK-based, plant a tree for every site, and actually care about their customers. Plus, having your site hosted in the UK makes a real difference for loading speeds across South Wales.
When clients move their sites from GoDaddy to our hosting setup, the speed improvement is immediately noticeable. One Newport tradesman’s site went from taking 8 seconds to load to under 2 seconds. That’s the difference between customers staying and leaving.
The All-In-One Approach That Actually Works
Here’s what sets us apart: we handle everything. Domain, hosting, emails, SSL certificates, backups, updates. One monthly fee, no surprises, no hunting around for different suppliers when something goes wrong.
This matters more in Newport than you might think. Local businesses are busy, and they don’t want to become part-time web administrators. They want to focus on serving customers, not troubleshooting email problems.
We also include minor changes and fixes for free. Need a new team member added? Updated opening hours? New service description? Just drop us a line. Compare that to agencies charging £100 per hour for every little update.
Beyond Cardiff: Growing Across South Wales
While we’re based in Cardiff, some of our best success stories come from Newport businesses who wanted that personal touch without the big agency price tag. The digital landscape across South Wales is evolving rapidly, and Newport businesses are leading the charge.
What I love about working with Newport clients is their practical approach. They want websites that work, generate leads, and don’t require a computer science degree to manage. That’s exactly what we deliver.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a typical Newport business website take to build?
Most sites are live within 2-3 weeks. We don’t drag projects out unnecessarily. Once you’ve approved the design and provided content, we crack on with the build. Simple as that.
Can I update the website myself after it’s built?
Absolutely. We use WordPress and Bricks specifically so you can make changes yourself. We provide training and documentation, plus we’re always available for support. Unlike those trendy React sites where you’re locked into paying developers forever.
What happens if my website breaks?
We monitor all our sites and handle any technical issues as part of your monthly package. No surprise charges, no waiting days for responses. Your business depends on your website, so we treat problems urgently.
Do you work with businesses outside Newport?
Yes, we work across South Wales and beyond. Our Cardiff clients get the same personal service, and we’re expanding into other areas based on demand.
Ready to Transform Your Newport Business Online?
If your current website isn’t generating enquiries, or you’re stuck with a DIY disaster that’s making you look unprofessional, let’s have a chat. We’ll give you an honest assessment of what needs fixing and how we can help.
Don’t cheap out on your business’s most important marketing tool. When someone searches for your services in Newport, your website might be their first impression of your company. Make sure it’s a good one.
See more success stories or get in touch to discuss your project. No sales pressure, just practical advice from someone who’s been building websites for local businesses for six years.