Sandbanks DigitalPlain-English guides for UK businesses online.
Honest answers to the questions we get asked most often, about cost, hiring, custom apps, SEO and the differences between platforms. Written by the founders.
How much does a custom website cost in Dorset? (2026)
Real pricing tiers, what affects cost, hidden charges in template platforms, and how to compare quotes. Written for UK small businesses, last updated May 2026.
Read the guide →How much does a website cost for an electrician? (2026)
Realistic price ranges for an electrician's website, what drives the cost, and which features (EV charger pages, EICR pages, quote forms) are worth paying for.
Read the guide →How much does a website cost for a plumber? (2026)
Realistic price ranges for a plumber's or heating engineer's website, what drives the cost, and whether a boiler quote calculator is worth the extra.
Read the guide →How much does a website cost for a builder? (2026)
Realistic price ranges for a builder's website, what drives the cost, and how much the project gallery and case-study pages add.
Read the guide →WordPress vs Custom Website: Which is Right for Your Business?
When WordPress is the right call and when it holds you back, performance, security, SEO and maintenance compared. A genuine view from a Next.js agency.
Read the guide →Local SEO for Dorset Businesses: A Plain-English Guide
How small businesses in Poole, Bournemouth and across Dorset actually rank locally, Google Business Profile, reviews, citations and local content without the jargon.
Read the guide →Freelancer vs Agency for Web Design: Which Should You Hire?
Pros, cons and a simple scope test to decide whether to hire a freelancer, a large agency, or a boutique agency like Sandbanks Digital.
Read the guide →Wix vs Custom Website: Which Should You Choose?
Nine categories compared head to head, cost, SEO, performance, design freedom and platform lock-in. When Wix makes sense and when it costs you more than you think.
Read the guide →WordPress vs Next.js: Which is Better for Your Business?
Ten categories compared, speed, security, SEO, hosting cost and developer experience. We build in Next.js and will tell you honestly when WordPress is the right call.
Read the guide →Squarespace vs Custom Website: Which Should You Choose?
Where Squarespace's design polish and content tools genuinely win, and where its speed, ownership and functionality ceilings start costing you customers.
Read the guide →Why Website Speed Matters (and What 'Fast' Really Means)
What slow pages cost you in rankings and sales, what Core Web Vitals actually measure, what makes a site slow, and how to fix it.
Read the guide →How Long Does Local SEO Take to Work?
A realistic, month-by-month timeline: when the map pack moves, when organic rankings follow, and what speeds it up or slows it down.
Read the guide →Local SEO Pricing Guide: What It Costs in the UK
DIY, one-off projects and monthly retainers compared, what a proper retainer includes, and the pricing red flags to avoid.
Read the guide →Why Most Small Business Websites Fail
The six real reasons small-business sites never win work — no clear next step, slow pages, invisibility, weak proof — and what a site that works does differently.
Read the guide →How to Generate Leads Through Your Website
The full lead loop: the right traffic, a clear offer, effortless contact, proof, capture, fast follow-up and measurement.
Read the guide →Common Mistakes Trades Businesses Make Online
The eight website mistakes that cost trades work — buried phone numbers, no map-pack presence, slow galleries, hidden reviews — and how to fix each.
Read the guide →Website Features That Actually Generate Enquiries
The concrete on-page features that turn visitors into enquiries — sticky tap-to-call, one clear CTA, short forms, visible reviews, speed and clear pricing.
Read the guide →Trades Lead Generation Guide: How to Win More Work
Where trade leads actually come from, how your website ties the channels together, and the mistakes that quietly cost you work.
Read the guide →Electrician Website Checklist: 30 Things Yours Needs
Audit your own electrician website — the essentials, the service pages that win work, trust signals, conversion and local SEO.
Read the guide →Builder SEO Checklist: How to Rank Locally
A practical local SEO checklist for builders — Google Business Profile, on-site SEO, content, reviews, citations and the technical basics.
Read the guide →Google Business Profile Guide for Tradesmen
How to set up and optimise your Google Business Profile to win the local map pack — the most valuable free marketing channel most trades have.
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