30 November 2025

Why a £120 Website Is Not the Same as a £1,200 Website
(The Differences Most People Don’t See)

The website market today is like OLX

The same “product” can cost £120, £500 or £1,200.But here’s the thing… it is never the same product.

If you’re thinking about a new website, you’ve probably asked yourself:“Why should I pay more if someone can build a site for a few hundred?”

And that’s a completely fair question.That’s why in this article I break everything down — no technical jargon.

1. Let’s start with the core truth

A £120 website is… an image.

Not a tool.

A cheap website looks nice.A professional website works.

The difference?A £120 website is like a business card made in Paint — you can show it to someone, but it won’t bring you clients.

A £1,200 website is a marketing tool that:

  • generates enquiries

  • increases sales

  • is visible on Google

  • has analytics

  • works perfectly on mobile

  • loads fast

  • has a proper SEO structure

  • is built correctly from a technical point of view

£120 doesn’t even cover one fifth of this.

2. Visual design vs real UX

Cheap websites often look “nice” because they’re made from templates.But users get lost after 10 seconds.

On a professional website:

  • buttons are where users expect them

  • the offer is clear

  • the client knows exactly where to click

  • the phone number is always visible

  • contacting you is effortless

Because the most important rule is simple:A website is not meant to look pretty.A website is meant to sell.

3. SEO — this is where the real gap starts

A cheap website has no SEO.No structure, no descriptions, no headings, no clean URLs.

The result?Google can’t see it. And if Google can’t see it — clients can’t either.

A professional website:

  • is built around a keyword strategy

  • has a proper content structure

  • is technically optimised

  • is fast on mobile

  • has core SEO actions implemented

This is not an add-on.This is the foundation.

4. Loading speed: the difference between “I stay” and “I leave”

Cheap websites use uncompressed images, too many scripts and the cheapest hosting available.

The result?Load time: 4–6 seconds.

Users leave after 2 seconds.

A professional website loads in 0.8–1.2 seconds.Smooth performance = more enquiries. Simple as that.

5. Mobile-first: cheap websites fail on phones

70–85% of traffic comes from mobile devices.Yet on cheap websites:

  • text is too small

  • buttons are too close together

  • menus don’t work

  • click-to-call doesn’t exist

  • layouts break

A professional website is designed for mobile first — as the main device, not an afterthought.

6. Security and updates — missing from cheap websites

A £120 website may:

  • have no SSL certificate

  • be vulnerable to malware

  • break after the first update

  • get hacked using basic methods

A professional website:

  • has proper security

  • uses correct server configuration

  • includes anti-spam protection

  • complies with GDPR

  • includes a cookie policy

Again — the difference between a “nice website” and a safe business tool.

7. Website copy: who actually writes it?

On cheap websites, the content is usually written by:

  • the client

  • a family member

  • ChatGPT with no guidance

  • or there is no content at all

The result?The website doesn’t sell.

On a professional website, content means:

  • benefit-driven language

  • clear CTAs

  • SEO optimisation

  • conversion-focused structure

  • industry-specific messaging

One good piece of copy can increase calls by 30–40%.

8. After launch support — cheap means “you’re on your own”

With £120 projects, once the site goes live, the client hears:“That’s it. Good luck.”

With professional projects:

  • you get ongoing support

  • you can request changes

  • you receive guidance

  • technical issues are handled

  • you’re not left alone

This is not about price.It’s about standards of work.

9. When is the cheap option actually OK?

There are only two cases:

✔ a very simple one-person business card site✔ a temporary or test website

But if you want:

  • real clients

  • Google visibility

  • long-term performance

  • a professional image

then a £120 website is like buying a car without an engine.It looks nice. But what’s the point?

10. Why a £1,200 website is actually cheaper

Because it:

  • works

  • is visible

  • brings clients

  • doesn’t need constant fixes

  • doesn’t need rebuilding after six months

  • is a tool, not decoration

After one year:A cheap website = a loss.A professional website = an investment that pays back.

Summary

A £120 website and a £1,200 website don’t differ in “price”.They differ in everything:

  • purpose

  • quality

  • technology

  • security

  • SEO

  • conversion

  • stability

  • support

A cheap website may look similar.But only a professional website works for you — 24/7.

If you want a website that actually brings clients,I build them every day.