Confessions of a Digital Agency: What We Really Think When You Say, “I Just Need a Simple Website”
Hint: It’s never simple. And that’s exactly where the magic starts.
Let’s set the scene.
An email lands in our inbox. Or maybe it’s a quick DM. The message is almost always the same:
“Hey! I just need a simple website. Nothing fancy. Should be quick.”
It sounds harmless. Polite, even. But over here at the agency, that phrase triggers a quiet moment of shared understanding between the team. The designer leans back in their chair. The developer raises an eyebrow. The strategist chuckles under their breath. It’s not that we’re judging. Far from it. We’ve just heard it enough times to know what it usually means.
“Simple” never means what you think it does.
Sometimes it means clean and minimalist. Other times it means budget-conscious. Occasionally, it means “I’m not sure what I want, but I’ll know when I see it.” And every now and then, it means “I need the digital version of a miracle, but I’d like it delivered by next Friday.”
Here’s what we really want you to know when you ask for a simple website.
1. Simple is not easy
The word “simple” is deceptive. The simplest experiences online are often the most carefully crafted. Think about the Apple homepage. Or how Google’s search interface hasn’t changed much in years. That kind of simplicity is engineered. Every layout, button, font, and movement has been debated, tested, and refined.
The irony is that making something feel effortless is actually the result of a tremendous amount of effort. It takes planning, collaboration, and precision. Simple is a design goal, not a shortcut.
2. You’re not just hiring someone to “build pages”
When you work with a good digital agency, you’re not paying for a few nice visuals or a couple of standard templates. You’re investing in:
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User experience that guides your visitors toward taking action
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Copy that speaks to your audience in their language
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Technical performance that loads fast and works everywhere
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SEO structure that sets you up to be found online
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Strategy that aligns with your goals, not just your preferences
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Branding that feels cohesive across every device and platform
If that sounds like more than a “simple website,” that’s because it is. It should be. Your website is often the first impression someone has of your business. You want it to do more than exist. You want it to perform.
3. We ask a lot of questions for a reason
Yes, we’ll ask what your brand personality is. Yes, we’ll want to know what kind of socks your ideal customer might wear. No, it’s not because we’re stalling. These questions help us get under the surface.
You might be tempted to skip over the strategy part. But that part is what turns a generic website into one that works. You wouldn’t build a house without blueprints. Why treat your online presence any differently?
4. “I just need something quick” usually leads to something slow
We get it. Deadlines are real. Sometimes you have a launch event, or your old site crashed and burned. We can absolutely work fast when needed, but rushed timelines without clarity almost always backfire.
A better approach? Let’s align on your goals, map out the scope, and make sure you don’t just end up with a quick site, but a right site.
5. If you’re not sure what you want, that’s okay
Some of our best projects start with: “I don’t know where to begin.” That’s totally normal. You’re an expert at running your business. We’re here to translate that into digital language.
Instead of saying, “I just need something simple,” try this:
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“I need a site that feels like us.”
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“We want something clean and modern, but we don’t want to look like everyone else.”
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“We don’t know exactly what we need, but we want to do this properly.”
Those open up the conversation, rather than close it off.
Final Word: Simple isn’t a bad word, but it needs context
We’re not anti-simple. In fact, we love simplicity. But we respect it too much to pretend it’s easy. The most powerful digital experiences are the ones that feel clear, focused, and effortless. They’re also the ones that are built with intention, skill, and collaboration.
So the next time you think, “I just need a simple website,” take a step back. Ask what “simple” really means for your business, your brand, and your users.
We’d love to help you figure it out.
👋 Want to chat through what a deceptively simple, wildly effective website could look like for your business?
Let’s have a conversation that goes deeper than “just a website.”
