If you are a local business owner in Vancouver, whether you run a restaurant, a construction company, a plumbing business, or a real estate agency, you probably know that having a website matters. But there is a big difference between a website that simply exists and one that actually brings you new customers. Here is what separates the two.
Updated February 2026.
When someone visits your website, they need to immediately understand what you offer. If you are a plumber, your homepage should instantly say something like 'Emergency Plumbing Services in Vancouver.' If you run a cafe, it might say 'Best Coffee and Breakfast in Kitsilano.'
Clear messaging builds trust and lets customers quickly decide if you are the right fit. If they have to dig to figure out what you do, most of them will not bother.
Over 60 percent of people looking for local businesses in Vancouver do so on their smartphones. If your website is slow, hard to navigate, or difficult to read on a phone, those customers will leave immediately.
A mobile-friendly website loads fast, has large tappable buttons, and makes it easy for visitors to call or book a service without pinching and zooming.
When people search for 'best restaurant in downtown Vancouver' or 'Vancouver plumber', they click on one of the top results. If your website is not properly set up for local search, your business will not be there.
Good local business websites clearly mention Vancouver and the specific neighbourhoods they serve. They have separate pages for each service they offer. This gives Google the signals it needs to show your business to customers who are actively searching for what you do.
Imagine choosing a restaurant with no reviews. You probably would not. Visitors to your website feel the same way. Positive reviews and testimonials from real customers give people confidence in choosing you over a competitor.
For contractors, before and after project photos serve the same purpose. For realtors, past listings and client quotes. Whatever form it takes, social proof is a conversion requirement, not a nice to have.
Your website reflects your business. It does not have to be flashy, but it needs to look clean, modern, and intentional. Poor design makes people question the quality of your services before they have even read a word.
The most common culprits are confusing layouts, slow load speeds, and visuals that look like they were last updated years ago. Any of these, alone, are enough to send a potential customer back to Google.
If your website takes more than two seconds to load on mobile, you are losing a significant portion of visitors before they ever see your content. Google also uses page speed as a ranking factor, so a slow site hurts your visibility and your conversion rate at the same time.
Security matters too. A site without HTTPS or with outdated software signals to customers and to Google that your business cannot be trusted with their information.
Google favours websites that provide fresh, relevant content. Regularly adding useful information not only helps your rankings but keeps visitors engaged and gives them a reason to come back.
A real estate agent might add local market updates or buying tips. A restaurant owner might share seasonal menus. A contractor might post project case studies. The format depends on your business, but the habit of publishing consistently compounds over time into real search visibility.
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More from the blog
Not having a website is already costing your Vancouver business more than you think. Here is what that actually looks like in lost leads, trust, and revenue.
Many Vancouver business websites look fine but never show up in search results. Here are the most common reasons why and exactly what to do about each one.
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