Do I Really Need a Website If I Get Most of My Customers from Referrals?
Even if you get most of your customers through referrals, people will still Google you. Here’s why a professional website is still essential for building trust and growing your business.
Short answer: Yes. And here's why.
Referrals are gold—there’s no question about it. When happy customers recommend your business, that’s powerful. But here’s the reality:
Even if someone hears about you from a friend, their next step is almost always online.
They’ll Google you, look for your website, check your credibility, and compare you to others—before they ever call or message you.
So if you’re asking, “Do I really need a website?”—here’s a clear and practical answer:
Referrals Start the Trust. Your Website Confirms It.
Imagine this:
A customer hears your name from someone they trust.
They try to find you online.
You don’t show up, or they land on a Facebook page that hasn’t been updated in two years.
What happens?
👉 Doubt creeps in.
👉 They might try someone else who looks more established.
Your website is your digital handshake. It tells people:
"Yes, this is a real, reliable, professional business—and here’s why we’re worth it."
5 Reasons a Website Still Matters—Even with Strong Word of Mouth
People Google You Anyway
Even loyal referrals want to check your business hours, services, or contact info. If you're not online, they might assume you're no longer in business.Credibility
A professional website builds immediate trust. In 2025, no website often signals “not serious,” even if that’s not true.Clarity
You can clearly explain what you offer, who it’s for, and what makes you different—on your own terms.Control
Unlike social media or directory listings, your website is 100% yours. You control the message, the look, and the updates.Growth
Even if referrals are working now, what about next year? A website makes it easier to grow, hire, launch something new, or expand into other markets.
“But I’m Not Tech-Savvy…”
You don’t have to be. With tools like Squarespace, and support from teams like Kanduit, building a clean, modern, mobile-friendly website is easier and more affordable than ever.
The Bottom Line
If you’re serious about your business, a website is not a luxury—it’s the bare minimum.
It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. But it does have to exist. Because even your biggest fans expect to find you online.
Need Help Getting Started?
At Kanduit, we build websites that help SMEs in Germany stay visible, trusted, and relevant—without overcomplicating things.
How Much Should I Budget for Digital Marketing as an SME?
Struggling to set the right digital marketing budget for your small or medium business? This guide breaks down key cost factors, industry benchmarks, and smart budgeting strategies to help you invest wisely and grow online.
A practical guide for small and medium-sized businesses in Germany
As a small or medium-sized business owner, you're probably asking yourself:
"How much should I invest in digital marketing?"
It’s a smart question—and the answer depends on your goals, industry, and how fast you want to grow.
In this post, we’ll break down realistic digital marketing budgets for SMEs, explain what those budgets typically cover, and help you plan smart—without overspending.
Why Digital Marketing Matters for SMEs
Let’s face it: in 2025, digital marketing isn’t optional—it’s essential. Whether your customers are searching on Google, scrolling Instagram, or checking reviews online, they expect to find you and be impressed.
Without a clear digital presence, you're missing out on traffic, leads, and sales.
A Common Rule of Thumb: 5–10% of Your Revenue
A general guideline is to invest 5% to 10% of your annual revenue into marketing. If you want to grow aggressively or launch something new, you might even go up to 12–15%.
For example:
| Annual Revenue | Recommended Marketing Budget (5–10%) |
|---|---|
| €100,000 | €5,000 – €10,000 |
| €250,000 | €12,500 – €25,000 |
| €500,000 | €25,000 – €50,000 |
💡 Note: This includes all marketing—digital and traditional—but more and more, the budget is shifting toward digital channels.
What Does That Budget Cover?
Your digital marketing budget usually includes:
Website development & maintenance
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search Engine Marketing (SEM / Google Ads)
Social Media Advertising (Meta, LinkedIn, etc.)
Content creation (blogs, videos, graphics)
Analytics tools and reporting
Email marketing tools or services
You don’t need to do everything at once, but having a strategy and allocating your budget smartly is key.
How to Prioritize Your Digital Marketing Spend
Not sure where to start? Here’s a simple priority list for most SMEs:
Website – Your foundation. Mobile-friendly, fast, and professional.
SEO – So customers can find you organically on Google.
Google Ads (SEM) – For fast visibility and lead generation.
Analytics Setup – To measure what’s working and where to improve.
Content – Blogs, FAQs, and helpful info that builds trust.
Small Budget? Here’s What You Can Still Do
Even with a limited budget, you can:
Build a simple but solid website (e.g., on Squarespace)
Focus on local SEO (Google Business Profile is free!)
Run small Google Ads campaigns with tight targeting
Track performance using free tools like Google Analytics
At Kanduit, we help SMEs in Germany get the most out of every euro—starting with realistic, goal-based planning.
Final Thoughts: Set a Budget That Fits Your Goals
Your digital marketing budget isn't a cost—it's an investment in growth, visibility, and customer acquisition. Start small if needed, but start strategically.
Not sure what makes sense for your business?
Let’s talk. We’ll help you define the right digital strategy—without overcomplicating things.
Why isn’t my website ranking on Google?
Wondering how much to invest in digital marketing as a small or medium business? This post explains typical budget ranges, what they cover, and how to plan smart—whether you’re just starting out or ready to grow.
As a small or medium-sized business, it can be frustrating to search for your business on Google—and not see it anywhere. You’ve built a website, maybe added some content, but your traffic is low or nonexistent. So, why isn't your website showing up on Google search?
Here are 7 common reasons your site isn’t ranking—and what you can do about it.
1. Your Website Isn’t Indexed
If your website isn’t in Google’s index, it can’t show up in search results. This is often due to:
A missing or incorrect robots.txt file
Pages set to “noindex”
A sitemap that hasn’t been submitted
💡 How to Fix it:
Go to Google Search Console, verify your site, and check the “Pages” report to see which URLs are indexed. Submit a sitemap if needed.
2. There’s Not Enough Content
Google needs content to understand what your site is about. If your pages are too thin, or your homepage just has a few lines of text, that’s a problem.
💡 How to Fix it:
Create helpful, keyword-rich content that answers your customers’ questions. Start with a few core pages (e.g. services, about, contact) and expand with a blog or FAQs.
3. Your Site Isn’t Optimized for Keywords
If you’re not targeting specific search terms, Google won’t know what queries to rank you for.
💡 How to Fix it:
Do basic keyword research (using tools like Google Keyword Planner) and include relevant keywords in your page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and content.
4. Your Website Is Too Slow
Site speed is a ranking factor. If your website loads slowly, especially on mobile, users bounce—and Google notices.
💡 How to Fix it:
Use PageSpeed Insights to test your site. Optimize images, use caching, and avoid heavy scripts or bloated plugins.
5. Your Site Isn’t Mobile-Friendly
Over 60% of searches are from mobile devices. If your site doesn’t work well on smartphones, Google may demote it in the rankings.
💡 How to Fix it:
Use a responsive design (e.g. via Squarespace, WordPress, or Shopify) and test your site on different devices.
6. You Have No Backlinks
Backlinks—links from other websites to yours—are one of the strongest ranking factors. If nobody is linking to your content, Google sees it as less authoritative.
💡 How to Fix it:
Build local citations (e.g. business directories), write guest posts, or create useful content others will naturally link to.
7. You’re in a Competitive Industry
If you’re a small business competing with large companies or directories, it will take time and effort to outrank them.
💡 How to Fix it:
Focus on long-tail keywords (e.g. “plumber Berlin Kreuzberg” instead of just “plumber”) and target local SEO opportunities like Google Business Profile.
Final Thoughts
Getting your website to rank on Google takes time, strategy, and regular updates. But the good news is: once your site is properly set up and optimized, organic traffic can become one of your most valuable marketing channels—without ongoing ad spend.
Need help improving your visibility on Google?
Contact us for a free SEO audit tailored to your business.
Digital Essentials for SMEs: What Every Modern Business Needs to Succeed Online
"The days of relying on the Yellow Pages are over. In 2025, if your business isn’t online, it might as well be invisible. This post breaks down the four digital essentials every SME in Germany needs to stay competitive—from websites to SEO, SEM, and analytics."
A wake-up call for small and medium-sized businesses in Germany
Imagine it’s still 1980. Your business is steady, your regular customers are loyal, your Yellow Pages ad is nicely printed, and you get a few calls from the regional paper now and then.
Now fast forward to 2025. A potential customer needs exactly what you offer—but they don’t reach for the Yellow Pages. They grab their smartphone, type a few words into Google, skim the top results, and click.
But they don’t click on you.
Why? Because you’re not there.
This isn’t a hypothetical. It’s happening right now.
What’s changed—and why does it matter for your business?
Today, customers want instant results. They want to:
Find you on Google
Read reviews
Browse your website
Check your availability
Feel like they can trust you—before they ever speak to you
If your business isn’t digitally present, for many people, it might as well not exist.
The 4 Digital Foundations Every Modern Business Needs
1. A Professional Website
Your website is more than just an online brochure—it’s your digital storefront. It shows who you are, what you offer, and why people should trust you. Without one, many potential customers may move on instantly.
2. SEO – Search Engine Optimization
A website is only useful if people can find it. SEO ensures your site appears when someone searches for your service or product—especially important for local and niche businesses.
3. SEM – Search Engine Marketing
Tools like Google Ads let you target exactly the right customers at the right time. This is a fast, effective way to get noticed—especially if you’re just starting or trying to grow.
4. Data & Analytics
If you don’t know who’s visiting your website, what they’re doing, and what’s working, you’re flying blind. With the right tools, you can make smarter decisions and improve your results over time.
“But I’m not a tech person...”
That’s okay. You don’t have to be.
You just need to realize that digital visibility isn’t a nice-to-have anymore—it’s the baseline for staying competitive.
At Kanduit, we help businesses like yours build a strong digital presence:
No jargon
No pushy upselling
Just clear, expert guidance and practical solutions
The Bottom Line: The Time to Act is Now
Digitalization is not a trend—it’s the standard.
If your customers can’t find you online, they will find someone else.
We’re here to make sure that someone is you.
→ Get in touch with us