Websites Have Gotten More Complicated - But No One Told the Budget

Websites
19 June 2025

websites have gotten more complicated- but no one told the budget

Let’s be honest for a second.

From the outside, building a website looks pretty straightforward these days. There are ads everywhere telling you that you can “build a beautiful website in minutes”. Platforms like Wix, or Squarespace make it look like all you need is a few nice photos, a logo, and a free afternoon.

And if you’re just setting up a hobby site or something super simple, that might be true.

But if you’re running a business and you want a site that actually works - one that looks great, loads quickly, ranks on Google, works on every device, and evolves with your business - well… that’s a very different ballgame.

And that brings us to one of the biggest headaches in the web world right now:

The complexity-cost mismatch.

Let us explain.

What Clients Expect (Totally Fairly)

Most business owners want a site that’s:

  • Clean, modern and mobile-friendly
  • Easy for people to use
  • Shows up on Google
  • Has things like contact forms, product pages, maybe even a booking system
  • Something they can update themselves
  • And doesn’t cost the earth or take six months to finish

Which, to be fair, all sounds pretty reasonable.

But…

What Developers Are Actually Dealing With

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes.

Websites have become more complex - not just in terms of how they look, but how they work.

You’ve got things like:

  • Search engine optimisation (that’s a whole thing in itself)
  • Making sure it loads fast on any device, from a desktop to a 6-year-old phone on dodgy WI-FI
  • GDPR and cookie compliance
  • Keeping everything secure from hacks or spam
  • Accessibility - so it works for people using screen readers or assistive tech
  • Ongoing updates, bug fixes, plugin maintenance…

Oh, and Google changes the rules constantly, so what ranked well last year might not cut it this year.

Basically, it’s a lot. And it’s not stuff you always see, but it absolutely matters.

So Where’s the Mismatch?

The disconnect is this:

Clients still compare quotes to DIY builders or one-off freelancers charging £200 for a site. But the expectation is for a slick, high-performing, business-ready platform that ticks all the boxes we just mentioned.

It’s not that anyone’s being unreasonable - it’s just that the industry moved on quietly, and now there’s a gap between what people think goes into a website and what actually does.

What’s the Fix? Monthly Support and Honest Advice

At RWD, we’ve leaned into this reality. That’s why we offer monthly website packages.

Because websites aren’t “set and forget” anymore. They need attention, updates, tweaks, improvements - not constantly, but regularly. Things change. Your business changes. And your site needs to keep up.

With our monthly website packages, we’re not just building a site and waving goodbye. We’re here for the long haul. We’ll help with updates, refreshes, new features, and all the background tech stuff that keeps it ticking along nicely.

Not Every Review Means a Rebuild

And just to be clear - reviewing your website every 2-3 years (which we absolutely recommend) doesn’t mean starting from scratch.

Sometimes it’s just a quick tune-up: swapping in a new logo, freshening up your images, adding a new service or tweaking how the site works on mobile. Other times, it might be a bigger revamp.

The point is: if you never look under the bonnet, you won’t know what’s working - and what isn’t.

So, What’s the Takeaway?

Websites aren’t cheap because they’re complicated. They’re valuable because they do a lot for your business.

If your site is helping you get found, building trust, and bringing in customers - that’s a solid return.

But if your site is stuck in the past, running slow, or doesn’t really reflect your business anymore… well, it might be time for a rethink.

No pressure. No hard sell. Just a friendly chat to see if we can help.

Because at the end of the day, we’re not here to overcomplicate things. We’re just here to make sure your website works as hard for your business as you do.

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