2) Content entry tasks have become easier

When I’m building a website, content entry is often a time-consuming task. Ecommerce stores can have thousands of products, and this data must be imported onto the website when it’s built. ChatGPT can format a CSV file in seconds, and get all of my product data into a format that’s compatible with WooCommerce or Shopify. This saves valuable time, because I don’t have to spend hours messing about with spreadsheets.

In addition, AI can format plain text so it’s ready for use on a webpage. It can automatically add heading tags and paragraph tags, along with hyperlinks. This means you can write an article in a document, then use AI to transform it into HTML that follows best practises for SEO. As a web designer, I’ve been able to reduce the time I spend on monotonous tasks, so this is another huge positive. 

4) Organic website traffic has decreased

Upon launch, I install Google Analytics & Search Console on all of my client websites. Since Google’s updates and the new “AI Overview” section, I’ve noticed a decrease in organic traffic across many websites. Entrepreneur stated that Google’s AI Overviews are already slashing organic traffic by as much as 64% [3] – which is an alarming statistic. 

SEO has changed dramatically, and I’ve adapted to Google’s updates. Content must demonstrate Experience, Expertise, Authority and Trust to outrank competitors. I always advise my clients that SEO is an ongoing investment and not a one-off gig. I provide monthly SEO packages, where I regularly produce high-quality content that targets a wide range of keywords. 

If you want a high volume of website traffic, it’s now vital that you invest in paid advertising alongside SEO. Facebook Ads and Google Search Ads are affordable ways of increasing traffic, this reduces your reliance on organic search results and unpredictable algorithms.

Conclusion

In my personal experience, AI has had a positive impact on the web design industry. It’s made it easier for human-built websites to stand out, and outperform cheap generic websites. Content creation and content entry have become easier, and AI has helped me focus on more complex development tasks. 

As AI becomes more advanced, I believe it’s important that web designers and developers keep improving their skillset. This will help you produce visually stunning websites that drive real results for businesses. The website market has become more saturated, but the cream always rises to the top. Don’t get drawn in by the media doom and gloom about AI, take time to research Large Language Models and how they actually work. They are flawed systems that often spread mis-information. 

Thank you for reading! If you’re looking for a professional website, feel free to contact us for a chat.

References

[1] Amount of AI Content in Google Search Results – Ongoing Study – https://originality.ai/ai-content-in-google-search-results

[2] UK Website Statistics 2025 – https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/business/software/website-statistics/

[3] Your Website Traffic Will Vanish in 2025. Do This Now! – https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/your-website-traffic-will-vanish-in-2025-do-this-now/485668

[4] Number of businesses operating in the UK hits record high – NatWest and Beauhurst – https://www.natwestgroup.com/news-and-insights/news-room/press-releases/enterprise/2025/feb/number-of-businesses-operating-in-the-uk-hits-record-high-natwes.html

[5] Internet retail sales as a percentage of total retail sales in Great Britain from January 2018 to March 2025 – https://www.statista.com/statistics/286384/internet-share-of-retail-sales-monthly-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/

2) Customer Reviews

People are constantly searching Google to find the best deals for products and services, and online reviews can be the deciding factor. Research by BrightLocal discovered that up to 98% of consumers read reviews before making a purchase [2]. 

Your website should show reviews that meet the following requirements:

– Recently published reviews, ideally less than 12 months old.

– Use reviews from reputable platforms, like Google Reviews.

– Only show genuine reviews from your real customers. Showing any fake reviews may damage your brand’s image.

– For online stores, you should allow customers to upload reviews with images. Images of them using your product can help build social proof with potential customers.

Alongside your reviews, you should include a button where people can click to view all of your reviews on the original platform. E.g. they can click to view all of your Google Reviews. This helps people verify that your website’s reviews are real.

4) Contact information

Your company’s contact information needs to be clearly visible on your website. You should include a “contact us” page, and also include contact details in your website header and footer. Showing accurate contact information builds trust, because people can see you’re a real business and they can get in touch if they require support.

Many websites use AI chatbots for customer service, which can frustrate your website visitors and lead to bad reviews. Research from Five9 found that 75% of consumers prefer talking to actual humans for customer service [4]. Showing your phone number and email address allows people to easily contact you, without talking to a pesky chatbot. 

6) A clearly visible logo

Your brand’s logo is often imprinted in people’s memory. Iconic graphics like the Nike tick flash into your mind when the name is mentioned. Linearity reported that 75% of customers recognize a brand by its logo alone [6].Having your logo on your website builds trust and can help people recall positive memories of your business. It also reassures them they’re on the correct website and not a fake one.

8) Recently published content and seasonal offers

When I’m browsing the web, I often see ancient websites with their last blog post being published over 5 years ago. This suggests that the business hasn’t updated their website in many years, and they may no longer be trading. Not updating your website can destroy trust and cause you to lose out on potential sales.

You should regularly publish new content and articles on your website, along with seasonal offers throughout the year. Events like Christmas are the perfect time to promote special offers on your website, and boost your sales. Forbes reported that the average lifespan of a website is just 2 years and 7 months [8]. You shouldn’t just launch your website and never update it again. Learn how to update your website yourself, or work with a web design agency who provide Website Maintenance services. 

10) An “About Us” page

There is a story behind every business – your website needs to tell yours. You should add a detailed About Us page, with a description of your company and its history. It’s also useful to include profiles for your staff members, so people can get to know your team. Having a good about us page is fantastic for building trust and making your business look authentic. When someone lands on your website for the first time, they often know nothing about your company. People like to thoroughly research a business before committing to a purchase, and this vital page can boost your probability of making a sale.

Conclusion

Those are our top 10 ways of building trust with your website visitors. They are simple and effective, and we’ve found they increase conversions on our clients’ websites and help them generate revenue. There are many other factors to consider when building your website, to ensure it shows your business in a positive light. If you’re looking for a new website for your business, feel free to contact us for a chat and get a free no-obligation quote.

Thanks for reading!

References

[1] 51% Of Users Say They Would Leave A Website Marked “Not Secure” Immediately – https://comodosslstore.com/resources/51-of-users-say-they-would-leave-a-website-marked-not-secure-immediately/

[2] How Reviews And Ratings Affect Clients’ Buying Decisions – https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2024/07/11/how-reviews-and-ratings-affect-clients-buying-decisions/

[3] Why Do Faces Make The Ad More Successful? – https://www.ad-lib.io/resources/why-do-faces-make-the-ad-more-successful

[4] 75% of consumers prefer talking to actual humans for customer service – https://contactcentresummit.co.uk/briefing/75-of-consumers-prefer-talking-to-actual-humans-for-customer-service/

[5] The Role of Certifications in Enhancing Brand Credibility – https://www.venuez.dk/the-role-of-certifications-in-enhancing-brand-credibility/

[6] 130 logo statistics: design trends, influence, and business success – https://www.linearity.io/blog/logo-statistics/

[7] 63% of shoppers prefer shopping locally, according to poll – https://www.djsresearch.co.uk/RetailMarketResearchInsightsAndFindings/article/63percent-of-shoppers-prefer-shopping-locally-according-to-poll-04878

[8] Your Website’s Life Span May Be Shorter Than You Think – https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesagencycouncil/2021/03/01/your-websites-life-span-may-be-shorter-than-you-think/

[9] Website Speed Statistics: Top Picks – https://www.sitebuilderreport.com/website-speed-statistics

Self-Taught Skills

I was hooked on website design and development right away, and spent countless hours studying it online. Some of my most valuable learning experiences were from YouTube videos. One YouTube channel in particular taught me a lot of skills – DevelopPHP by Adam Khoury [1]. He had comprehensive courses on how to build a membership website using PHP, all completely free on YouTube! I used this valuable resource to learn how to build my own membership website, for my gaming community.

College

I continued to study IT and web design as part of my college courses. I knew I wanted to make a career out of building websites, and I dedicated myself to strengthening my skills. In my spare time I kept creating different websites, and learning coding techniques. I taught myself all the fundamentals of the key coding languages – HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP and SQL. I achieved excellent grades at college, and received several offers from universities.

What about stock photography?

Stock photography can be a useful resource for website owners who need high-quality images but don’t have the resources to create them from scratch. However, there are some pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to use stock photography on your website.

Stock photography is less expensive than hiring a professional photographer, or designing custom graphics from scratch. Stock photography websites also have a huge library of images, based on different topics. This makes it easy to find the right image for your website, and downloads are available on demand.

The main drawback of stock photography is a lack of originality. Because stock photos are available to anyone, they can be overused, making your website look generic. Furthermore, some stock photos may appear staged or inauthentic. This can detract from your website’s credibility. It’s important you choose stock photography carefully, and think about the message it sends out to potential customers.

Is photography the most important part of a website, or just nice to have?

Photography can be a crucial part of a website, but it is not necessarily the most important part. The importance of photography depends on the type of website, its goals, and its target audience. For example, a website that sells products online may rely heavily on high-quality product photography to showcase their products effectively and entice customers to make a purchase. On the other hand, a website that provides information or services may not require as much emphasis on photography.

Other factors that are important for a website’s success include usability, functionality, navigation, content quality, search engine optimization, branding, and user experience. A website that is easy to use, visually appealing, and provides valuable content is more likely to engage visitors and achieve its goals than a website with only great photography but poor usability or content. Therefore, while photography can certainly enhance a website’s appeal, it is not the only or most important part of a successful website.

Benefit #1 – Small Setup Costs

Setting up a dropshipping site is very affordable, and will cost a lot less than a traditional ecommerce startup. You can use a platform such as Shopify to get your website up and running. Their hosting plans start at around £20 a month for smaller stores. Once you have purchased your domain and website, you will just need to find a reputable supplier.

Benefit #2 – Huge Range of Suppliers

With dropshipping you have a huge range of global suppliers to choose from, helping you source quality products at a low cost. The wholesale platform Alibaba has over 50,000 suppliers from around the world. You can easily establish relationships with suppliers in China and other regions. If you do your research you can find the perfect supplier for your business and target market.

Benefit #3 – Global Target Market

Many suppliers offer global shipping options as part of their service. You can get accurate prices for shipping to any country around the world, and you can plan your business model around these shipping costs. With dropshipping it’s possible for a company in the UK to sell to customers in the USA, Australia and Asia simultaneously. Your supplier will arrange all the logistics for you, saving you a large amount of money.

Benefit #4 – Unique Products

Dropshipping allows you to sell unique products which you might not find on the traditional high-street. If you browse through wholesale sites like CJDropshipping you can find innovative products, which you may have never seen before. You can strategically choose your products, and put together a wide range on your website.

Benefit #6 – Free Resources and Advice

There are thousands of free videos on YouTube which teach you about Dropshipping and how it works. Having this wealth of resources means you will never get stuck, and you can learn more about the dropshipping business model for free. Some dropshipping entrepreneurs offer courses too if you want a more in-depth learning experience, and you can find other resources on Google.

Benefit #7 – Integration With Shopify

Shopify has loads of useful tools for running your dropshipping store. It can help you fulfil orders and notify your suppliers when an item needs to be shipped. You can reduce the amount of admin work needed, and manage your online store in seconds. Shopify also has useful sales insights, and it can be integrated with platforms like Facebook Ads. This means you can track your conversion rate, and check if your ad campaigns are returning a profit.

Benefit #9 – Build Ecommerce Experience

Having your own dropshipping store is a great way to build experience with ecommerce. You can learn about managing an online store, and how to make it successful. These business skills can help you in your future ventures, and dropshipping can be a really fun experience.

Benefit #10 – Easy To Find A Niche

With so many products to choose from, it’s easy to find your own niche. For example you might decide to sell Pet Bedding. Having a specific niche increases your chances of success, and it means you can spend your advertising budget more efficiently. You can target people who are interested in a specific type of product using Facebook Ads. Social media marketing makes it easy to target the right people, and you don’t need to spend huge amounts on market research. You can target specific groups like pet owners with the click of a button.

Web Design In The UK

In this blog we are going to take a quick look at the Web Design market in the UK, and the current state of the industry. We will explain how big the industry is, and the potential for its future growth. There are approximately 12.1 million websites based in the UK, and a large number were built by professional web design companies like ourselves.

A little bit about us

Angelo Web Design are a full-service web design agency based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. We create bespoke websites with outstanding designs and strong SEO performance. We work with a diverse range of clients in the UK, primarily from the private sector. Contact us if you want to find out more.

What is the UK Web Design industry worth?

UK web design has an estimated market size of £563 Million with almost 2000 web design companies operating across the nation. The average growth of the industry was estimated to be around 4% between the years of 2015 and 2020. This demonstrates the continued development of the industry, and it’s ability to evolve with changes in technology. Increased internet access has played a part in this growth. With 4G Networks being widely available, people are just a thumb-swipe away from accessing your website. This means web design is more important than ever – a website can engage your customers even when they’re out and about.

Who are the biggest web design company in the UK?

Little data exists on who the biggest company in the UK are. The largest companies in terms of revenue are based in London.

Surprisingly the industry has no companies with a market share above 5%! This means the market is far from a monopoly, and the wealthy is distributed quite evenly. This is a stark contrast to markets such as social media, where Facebook own a 52% market share in the UK, dominating the industry.

I believe having a more equal market is a great thing for web designers in the UK, it means you have more opportunities to shine and you won’t have to compete with giant corporations. It is such a creative industry with a range of different skillsets. There is a big difference between a back-end coder and a front-end designer, and both of them can succeed in the industry. There is no ‘best web designer’ in the country, everyone has their own quirks which make their sites stand out.

What is the impact of coronavirus on the industry?

Revenue has dipped by an estimated 2.5% throughout 2020-2021. This is undoubtedly a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and the huge financial burden it has placed on businesses. Web design has fared well compared to other industries though, and it has shown great resilience. The UK pub market was estimated to have declined by 60% in 2020, there have been heartbreaking losses for many pub owners. I sympathize with all small business owners who have been affected by the pandemic, and I hope for an economic boom once this is behind us!

As businesses are forced to operate online, this has created demand for new websites. I have seen increased demand for food delivery websites, online reservations (click and collect), and many people are wanting ecommerce sites. Entrepreneurs can still sell nationally through a website, harnessing the power of software like WordPress & WooCommerce to run online stores.

What does the future hold for the industry?

Online shopping accounted for 33% of retail sales at its peak in 2020, according to the Office For National Statistics. This is a silver lining for web developers, because it demonstrates how important a website still is – even as the world changes. Websites are vital for reaching a wide target market, and I believe demand for quality web design will continue to grow.

There are almost 1.6 Billion Websites worldwide, and the web shows no sign of stopping. Web Design continues to be one of the fastest growing industries in the UK, with new jobs being created. I have witnessed huge demand for skilled web developers, and companies are willing to spend big on the right talent. I hope 2021 will be a strong year for the industry, and we can enjoy continued success.