Most customers now form their first impression of a company not in its office but on a phone screen. A social media page matters, but it isn't yours — when the algorithm changes or the account is blocked, you can lose all contact with customers (more: Social media or a website?). Your own website, on the other hand, always belongs to you. When planning a site in 2026, pay attention to these 7 things.
1. Mobile first
Most visitors come to your site on a phone. Instead of designing for desktop and then "squeezing" it onto a phone, do it the other way round — think about the mobile view first: big buttons, readable type, easy one-thumb navigation. Before accepting the site, open it on your own phone and test the main actions yourself — calling, sending an enquiry, ordering.
2. Speed
If a page takes longer than 3 seconds to load, a large share of visitors leave without waiting. Speed is also one of the factors Google takes into account in rankings. The basics of speed are optimised images (the modern WebP format, the right size), good hosting and dropping unnecessary scripts.
3. Clear ways to get in touch
Phone, WhatsApp, address and opening hours should be one tap away from every page. Customers shouldn't have to search for how to contact you. On mobile, the "Call" and "WhatsApp" buttons are the most-used elements.
4. HTTPS is a must
On sites without an SSL certificate, browsers show a "Not secure" warning. That hurts both trust and your position in search engines. Automatic renewal of the certificate matters too — a certificate renewed by hand will be forgotten one day.
5. Your own domain
A short, memorable domain like yourcompany.az is needed for both the website and corporate email. Compared with free email addresses, [email protected] looks more professional. Register the domain in the company's name: How do I buy a .az domain?
6. Easy management
Changing a price, a photo or a news item shouldn't mean calling a developer every time. Ask how easy the admin panel is when you order the site: after 10 minutes of training, a staff member should be able to add a new product or news item.
7. Backups and support
A site lives on after launch: updates, security, backups. Decide in advance who will look after the site and how — and put it in writing in the contract.
Bonus: write the site's goal as a number
Instead of "we need a website", set a goal like "we want 30 enquiries a month". Then it becomes clear which pages, forms and advertising the site needs, and you can measure the result.
A checklist before ordering a website
- The domain is in the company's name;
- The mobile version has been shown and approved separately;
- You've been taught how to use the admin panel;
- It's written down who manages hosting, SSL and backups;
- The site files and database can be handed over to you.
If you want to refresh your site this year, see the packages and prices on our website development page or write to us — we'll choose the right solution for your needs together.
