Your Website Should Make You Money, Not Give You a Headache
If you’re a business owner in Brisbane—whether you’re running a landscaping crew in Carindale or a boutique law firm in the CBD—your website has one job: to get the phone ringing.
Most business owners I talk to are frustrated. They’ve spent thousands of dollars on a website that looks "nice" but doesn't actually bring in new jobs. Or worse, they’re stuck with a site they can’t even update without calling a developer and paying a $200 hourly fee just to change a phone number.
Right now, there is a massive shift happening in how websites are built. You've probably heard of WordPress, you might have heard of Webflow, and there’s a new kid on the block called Lovable (which uses AI to build sites).
I’m going to be blunt: most of what you read online about these platforms is written by tech geeks for other tech geeks. They talk about "clean code" and "extensibility." You don't care about that. You care about how much it costs, how fast it gets live, and if it's going to turn phone visitors into customers.
Here is the honest truth about where you should put your money in 2024 and beyond.
WordPress: The Old Workhorse (That Might Be Costing You Too Much)
WordPress powers about 40% of the internet. It’s been around forever. If you ask ten web designers in Brisbane what they use, eight will say WordPress.
The Good News: Because it’s so common, you’re never "locked in." If you fall out with your web guy, you can find another one down the road who knows how to fix it. It’s also great if you want to rank high on Google because it has some of the best tools for making sure local customers find you when they search for your services.
The Reality Check: WordPress is like an old Ute. It’s reliable, but it needs a lot of maintenance. You have to update the "plugins" (the little apps that run your site) every month. If you don't, the site gets slow, or worse, it gets hacked.
I’ve seen dozens of local businesses lose their entire website because they didn't keep up with updates. If you choose WordPress, you must factor in a monthly cost for someone to keep it running safely. If a developer tells you it's "set and forget," they are lying to you.
Best for: Businesses that want to grow a big blog, have complex needs, or want to ensure they own every single piece of their data.
Webflow: The High-End Showroom
Webflow is the "cool" choice right now. Designers love it because they can make things look incredible without needing to write code.
The Good News: Webflow sites are fast. Very fast. And Google loves fast sites. When someone clicks your link from a Facebook ad, the page loads instantly. It’s also much more secure than WordPress. You don't have to worry about the site breaking every time there's an update because Webflow handles the heavy lifting in the background.
The Reality Check: It’s more expensive to build. Because it’s a specialised tool, the designers who use it usually charge a premium. Also, making small changes yourself can be a bit of a learning curve. If you just want to turn your homepage into a machine that gets you leads, Webflow is a fantastic choice, but be prepared for a higher upfront bill.
Best for: Professional services (Accountants, Real Estate, Architects) where looking "premium" matters and you want a site that stays fast and secure without you touching it.
Lovable & AI: The New Frontier
You might have seen ads for AI website builders like Lovable. The promise is tempting: tell the AI what you do, and it builds a website in minutes for next to nothing.
The Truth: I’ve been testing these tools extensively. For a brand-new business with zero budget, they are "okay." But for an established Brisbane business looking to actually grow? They aren't there yet.
AI tends to create generic websites that look like everyone else's. They often lack the "soul" that makes a local customer trust you. They also struggle with the specific things that get you paid—like making sure your real reviews turn visitors into calls by placing them exactly where a nervous customer needs to see them.
Prediction: In two years, AI will be how we build everything. But right now? It’s a bit like a microwave meal. It’s fast and cheap, but you wouldn't serve it at a wedding. Use it for a weekend hobby project, but don't bet your livelihood on it yet.
What We Recommend (And Why)
At Local Marketing Group, we don't care about the "prestige" of a platform. We care about what makes our clients money.
For 90% of Brisbane small businesses, we recommend WordPress or Webflow, depending on your budget and how much you want to be involved.
Why WordPress for Tradies and Local Services?
If you’re a plumber in Morningside or an electrician in Chermside, you need to show up when people search "plumber near me." WordPress is still the king of local search. It allows us to build specific pages for every suburb you service easily. It’s cost-effective, and because we’ve built hundreds of them, we know how to make them load fast on phones.Why Webflow for High-End Brands?
If you’re selling a high-ticket service ($5,000+), your website needs to look flawless. Webflow allows for that "wow" factor that makes people feel comfortable spending big money with you. It’s the "buy it once, buy it right" option.The Costs: What Should You Actually Pay?
Don't let a marketing agency baffle you with jargon to justify a $20,000 price tag for a 5-page site. Here is a realistic guide for Brisbane businesses:
1. The Budget Option ($1,500 - $3,000): Usually a WordPress site using a template. It’ll work, it’ll get you online, but it won't be unique. Good for starting out. 2. The Growth Option ($4,000 - $8,000): A custom-built WordPress or Webflow site designed specifically to get leads. This includes professional writing (which is more important than the design) and making sure it works perfectly on mobile. 3. The Professional Standard ($10,000+): Custom design, high-end photography, and a focus on beating every competitor in your area.
A word of warning: If someone offers to build you a business website for $500, run away. They are likely using a cheap overseas template that will break in three months, and you'll end up paying someone like me double to fix it.
How Long Does It Take To See Results?
A new website isn't a magic wand. If you launch a new site today, Google needs time to "see" it. The Website Build: 4 to 8 weeks is standard. If someone says they can do it in 3 days, it’s a cookie-cutter job. The Leads: If you’re running ads (Google or Facebook), you should see phone calls the day the site goes live. The Free Traffic (SEO): Usually takes 3 to 6 months to start climbing the rankings for competitive terms like "Brisbane Renovations."
What Should You Do First?
Before you pick a platform, stop looking at designs. Look at your numbers.
How many enquiries do you get a month through your current site? What is a new customer worth to you? If your website was better, could you handle more work?
If you're ready to stop messing around with "pretty" sites and want a tool that actually grows your business, we can help. We specialise in building websites for Brisbane businesses that want more calls and less stress.
Want to see how your current site stacks up? Contact us at Local Marketing Group and we'll give you a straight-talk assessment of what's working and what's wasting your money.