Your competitors are winning business you should be getting. And it's probably not because they're smarter than you or work harder than you. It's because they have better websites.
I know that sounds harsh. But stick with me, because if your website isn't pulling its weight, there's a reason and it's usually fixable.
The Problem: Small Businesses Get Left Behind
Here's what I see in Colorado Springs all the time:
A painting contractor with 20 years of experience and a portfolio of beautiful homes. But when someone searches "best house painter near me," they find a competitor's site first, not because that competitor is better, but because their website actually loads fast, shows their work, and makes it easy to call.
A plumbing company that's been serving the community since 2005. Reliable. Fair prices. Great reviews from people who know them. But their website hasn't been updated since 2018. Meanwhile, a newer competitor with a professional site gets the calls.
It's not fair. But it's real.
The bigger agencies have flashy websites with lots of bells and whistles. They charge $10,000+ because they can. But you? You're stuck in the middle. You're good at your business, really good. But you don't have time to learn web design. You don't have IT staff. And you can't justify paying an agency $15,000 for something you're not even sure will work.
So your website stays old. Or you build something on Wix and hope for the best. Or you don't have one at all.
And every day, customers find your competitor instead.
Why Most Solutions Don't Work
DIY page builders (Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy): They're cheap and easy, but they're slow, bloated, and terrible for search ranking. Your site competes with millions of other template sites. You're invisible.
Freelancers on Upwork: You get what you pay for. A $500 website built in a weekend. No strategy. No follow-up. Just a site that exists.
Big agencies: They treat you like a project number. You can't talk to a human who understands your business. You get a pretty site, but it doesn't actually make you money. And you're locked in with high monthly retainers.
You need something different. You need someone who understands your business, shows you exactly what you're getting, and helps you see the results.
What Actually Works
A website that:
- Loads fast. Not in 3 seconds. In under a second. People won't wait.
- Works on phones. 65% of your customers are on their phones. If your site doesn't work there, you've already lost them.
- Ranks in search. You don't need to be on page one for everything. You need to be visible when someone is actively looking for what you do.
- Shows your work. Before/after photos. Testimonials. Real proof that you deliver.
- Makes it easy to contact you. A phone number, email, contact form. No friction.
And you need to be able to talk to someone who explains what's happening. Not tech jargon. Real talk about how this helps your business.
Why I Started Little Red House Design
I've spent years in tech. I know how to build fast, clean websites that actually work. And I got frustrated watching small business owners, people who are genuinely great at what they do, lose business because they don't have a decent website.
Not because they're doing anything wrong. Just because they don't have access to someone who can help them affordably, locally, and with transparency.
That's why I started Little Red House Design. To be someone you can actually talk to. To build you a site that costs a fraction of what agencies charge, launches in weeks not months, and brings you real customers.
Hand-coded, fast, mobile-first, local, and honest.
What's Next?
If your website isn't working, you're not alone. And it's not your fault. You've been busy running your business. That's what you do best.
But it's time to fix it. Because every day your old website (or no website) is costing you customers.
Let's talk about your site. I'll audit what you have, show you what's missing, and put together a realistic plan that works for your budget and timeline.
No pressure. No commitment. Just honest advice from someone who understands the problem.