The Problem With “Easy” Solutions

Digital marketing agencies love subscription-based platforms. They’re simple to set up, look decent enough, and let them sign clients fast. But here’s the catch: these templated sites often lack flexibility. Need a custom feature? You’ll hit a wall. Want to scale? Costs balloon. After a year, you’re paying far more than you would for a tailored site – and you’re still stuck with something generic.

It’s like renting a flat you can’t redecorate. Sure, it works at first. But what happens when your business grows? Or when your competitors outpace you with better functionality?

Why Cheap Tools Cost More in the Long Run

Platforms like Squarespace market themselves as all-in-one solutions. But let’s break that down:

• Hidden costs: Monthly fees add up. A £30/month plan becomes £360/year – and that’s before paid plugins or “premium” features.
• Limited control: You don’t own your site’s code. Need to switch providers? Good luck moving your content seamlessly.
• One-size-fits-none: Templates aren’t built for your customers. Ever tried fitting a square peg in a round hole?

And agencies? Many aren’t web developers. They’re marketers with access to drag-and-drop tools. Once your site’s live, they often vanish – leaving you with a static page and zero strategy.

Here’s How to Do It Differently

You need two things: control and flexibility. That means:

1. A website that grows with your business.
2. Tools that you own – no monthly traps.
3. Support from people who actually understand tech.

This is where companies like ours come in. Based in Thanet but working globally, Barrett Solutions builds websites from scratch. No templates. No lock-ins. Just sites designed to evolve as your business does.

What Makes Us Different?

We’re not here to sell you a quick fix. We solve problems. For example:

• Custom websites: Built for your goals, not a template’s limits.
• Transparent costs: Pay once for development, host with us affordably, and own your site outright.
• Real support: Need a feature added? We’ll do it – no endless email chains.

Recently, a local café wanted an online booking system that synced with their loyalty scheme. Off-the-shelf tools couldn’t do it. We built them a custom site integrated with their POS – for less than they’d spent yearly on Shopify.

But What About SEO and Security?

Good question. Templated sites often skimp on basics:

• SEO: Many platforms have clunky code that slows your site – a death sentence for Google rankings. We build sites lean and optimise them properly.
• Security: Subscription platforms are hacker magnets (they’re big targets). We host sites on secure, private servers with 24/7 monitoring.

And if you need marketing help? We handle SEO Marketing Services too – without pushing you into another subscription.

Your Next Steps

If you’re tired of overpaying for a site that doesn’t deliver:

1. Audit your current setup: Are you really getting value?
2. Talk to a developer: Not a marketer. Ask technical questions.
3. Consider long-term costs: A £2k custom site beats £500/year forever.

We’ve helped everyone from Kent start-ups to international firms ditch restrictive platforms. And we often have clients reaching out to have a “one-stop” shop IT and Tech solutions, alongside website development.

Ready for a website that works for you?

We’re based in Thanet but work worldwide. Email info@barrettsolutions.co.uk or fill in our contact form. No pushy sales calls – just honest advice.

Also, we’ve just moved to a bigger office in Westwood Business Park. Pop in for a coffee if you’re nearby – This new location represents a significant milestone for us, positioning us at the heart of a thriving business hub in Thanet. Our expansion allows us to better serve both our existing clients and future ones, with a more central and accessible location. This development allows us to improve our efforts with Thanet based local businesses after gaining success across the globe.