exaltis-blog

[exaltis-blog]

Beware of Unethical Web Designers: How to Protect Your Business and Your Website

Starting or running a small business is challenging—every penny spent must deliver value. That’s why building a website, a critical tool for marketing and sales, comes with such high stakes. It’s your online storefront, your first impression, and often, the way customers connect with your products or services. But too many business owners fall victim to unethical web designers who are more focused on taking your money than delivering results.

A recent project I was involved in made me realise just how prevalent this issue is, which I’ll explain below.

Recent Website Audits

Over the last few months, I have been working closely with Racheal Straughan of Market Collective and Mayfli to help local, small businesses understand how well their website is (or isn’t) working for them.

My role in the project was to carry out a website audit to analyse their entire online presence, including:

Website usability

Website accessibility for those with visual impairments

Search Engine Optimisation issues

How users find and interact with their website

Google Business Page Audit

During this process, it became very clear that the issues I mentioned above are unfortunately very common. I discovered websites that were completely broken, some worked OK on a desktop but not on mobile – with one, the developer hadn’t even provided the options to check out on mobile devices! The list of issues for each small business was shocking……and most had paid good money to a developer they thought they could trust.

At Exaltis, a growing number of businesses have approached us seeking help to fix or rebuild their websites after disappointing or outright unethical experiences with previous developers. It’s clear that this is a topic worth shining a light on.

The good news? You can protect yourself and your business by knowing what to look out for and taking a few proactive steps. If you’re thinking about investing in a new website, here’s an in-depth look at what you should watch out for, real-life examples of things gone wrong, and our best advice to avoid falling victim to immoral web designers.

The Harsh Reality of Unethical Web Designers

Unfortunately, not all web designers are created equal. Here are the most common issues small businesses face when dealing with unethical or careless designers:

No SEO: Some websites may look impressive but are nearly invisible online because the designer hasn’t included any search engine optimisation (SEO). If people can’t find you on Google, your website won’t generate traffic or leads.

Poor Usability: Many websites are slow, buggy, and frustrating to navigate. This leads to high bounce rates and lost customers. A bad user experience can kill your online conversions.

Outdated and Unsecure: Websites that aren’t updated regularly or don’t follow best practices for security can leave your business vulnerable to cyberattacks and technological breakdowns.

Disappearing Act: Imagine paying good money for a designer who vanishes after delivering a clunky, unfinished site—or worse, leaving you with no site at all. Sadly, this happens more often than you’d expect.

Real Stories, Real Lessons

Here are just a few unfortunate cases I’ve seen recently that highlight why you need to choose your web designer carefully:

A local business owner invested £5,000 upfront for a website but only received a single homepage a year later. That’s it—a glorified placeholder.

Another paid a designer £1,000 upfront, who then took their stock items to “photograph for the site.” The designer disappeared—with the stock!

One website had no mobile checkout option—the developer hadn’t made the online store mobile-friendly! No one could make a purchase from their phone, which is where most traffic comes from.

These stories are heart-breaking — but avoidable.

How to Guard Against Unethical Web Designers

The good news is that with just a little know-how and diligence, you can avoid the pitfalls of immoral web designers and invest in someone trustworthy instead.

1. Do Your Research

Before signing any contracts, take a good look at the designer’s portfolio and website. If their own website is hard to use or filled with jargon, consider that a red flag. Check reviews on verified platforms like Google Business or Facebook. A consistent stream of positive reviews is a good sign.

2. Ask the Right Questions

Here are essential questions to ask any potential designer:

Is the price fixed, or is it an estimate?

Does the price include content creation and updates?

Will the website include SEO (search engine optimisation) from the start?

Is hosting included in the service?

Can I easily update the site myself? Do you offer training?

Who owns the domain and website once it’s completed?

Can I move my website to a different provider if needed?

These questions will help you assess their professionalism and uncover any hidden costs.

3. Get Clear Agreements in Writing

Always insist on a clear contract that includes:

The project’s scope

Expected deliverables (e.g. pages, features)

Timelines and milestones

Payment schedules

This will protect both you and the designer, ensuring everyone’s expectations are aligned.

4. Avoid Large Upfront Payments

Never pay the entire project cost upfront. A fair arrangement might involve a 25% deposit, partial payments as milestones are reached, and the final payment upon completion.

5. Trust Your Instincts

If something feels off—whether it’s pushy sales tactics or overpromising results—it probably is. Walk away and find someone you feel confident about.

SEO as a Tool for Healthy Web Design

A website’s design and usability are only part of the puzzle. SEO is crucial to ensure your site performs as a lead-generating machine. Many unethical designers skip SEO entirely, which makes your website hard to find online. To avoid this, you can invest in an SEO-friendly design from the start or use tools like:

Yoast SEO (for WordPress): Offers SEO guidance and readability checks.

Google Search Console: A free tool for analysing website performance.

SEMrush & Ahrefs: Paid tools for keyword research, backlink analysis, and rank tracking.

A designer or team that includes SEO as part of their service will make your website more visible to potential customers from day one.

A Final Word of Advice

Running a small business is tough. Every decision matters, and your website is no exception. Revamping or rebuilding a bad website can cost thousands of pounds and even more in lost time and sales. By doing your research and working with an ethical, experienced web designer, you can ensure your investment pays off.

Your website should be a tool for growing your business—not a source of frustration. Take the time to choose wisely, and you’ll reap the rewards for years to come.

If you’re overwhelmed or unsure about where to start, consider reaching out to professionals like Exaltis who specialise in creating SEO-optimised and user-friendly websites. The right design partner will approach your project with transparency, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to your success.

You could also reach out to Market Collective or your local council and find out if they are running any new projects where grant funding is available. The project with one of our local councils was a huge success, so it’s certainly worth an ask!

[exaltis-blog]

How often do you ask Google, Alexa or Siri for information now, rather than doing an internet search? If you're anything like me, it's a daily thing as getting those quick answers is so convenient!

[exaltis-blog]

Want to boost foot traffic, increase online visibility, and skyrocket your sales? Then you NEED to understand Local SEO. Click the link below to find out what Local SEO is, and to get step-by-step instructions to help you.

[exaltis-blog]

If you have a brick-and-mortar store or serve a specific geographic region, then local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is your secret weapon for attracting more local customers. Find out why here.

[exaltis-blog]

What exactly are SEO services, and how can they benefit your business? This blog post will guide you through the wonders of SEO.

[exaltis-blog]

Writing blog posts is so important to drive traffic to your website, for SEO and for long-term results! Here are 5 reasons why you need to start a blog today.

[exaltis-blog]

We're currently offering a heavily discounted website package just for startups. The package includes your domain, website design, content and more! Get in touch today for more information.

[exaltis-blog]

Millions of customers use local search every day to find products and services in their area which they are ready to buy. Local SEO helps to get your business in front of those customers at the exact moment they’re searching online. https://exaltis.uk/what-is-local-seo/

[exaltis-blog]

Need a new website? We make it easy and affordable.

We don’t just provide a blank website for you to add content to – we provide stunning, affordable business websites complete with the content to make it as easy as possible for you to get online. https://exaltis.uk/

[exaltis-blog]

Not getting many website visitors and no idea why? We're currently offering a FREE WEBSITE AUDIT.

We'll identify any website errors, SEO issues and even see where you currently appear in online search results. Claim your free report today.

[exaltis-blog]

How well is your website working for your business? Do you need some help getting noticed online? Find out more here: https://exaltis.uk/seo-services/ #seo #marketing #sme #Newcastle #northeast #businesstips #online (at Newcastle upon Tyne)