Look, we get it. You’re running a business in southern Minnesota, and between managing inventory, dealing with suppliers, and actually serving customers, the last thing you want to think about is your website. You would rather be out on the lake listening to the loons call. Maybe you’ve been getting by with just a Facebook page or an old site your nephew built in 2015. But here’s the thing—you’re leaving money on the table.
The Problem Most Local Businesses Face
I talk to Mankato business owners every week who tell me the same story. They know they need a better online presence, but they don’t know where to start. They hear about these companies like GoDaddy or Wix (please steer clear of these,) and it can all just feel so overwhelming. WordPress keeps coming up in conversations, but it sounds complicated. And honestly? They’re not wrong to be skeptical. The internet is full of confusing jargon and people trying to oversell you stuff you don’t need. Many still think it is just a blogging platform.
What Actually Is WordPress (And Why Should You Care)?
WordPress is basically the engine that runs about 40% of all websites on the internet. Think of it like this: if your website was a car, WordPress would be the engine and transmission. It’s what makes everything work behind the scenes.
The reason so many businesses use it is simple—it’s flexible and reliable, and you’re not locked into some proprietary system that only one company can fix. Once your site is built, you can actually update it yourself without calling a developer every time you want to change your hours or add a new photo.
But here’s where most small businesses in places like Mankato, North Mankato, or St. Peter run into trouble: they try to do it themselves, get overwhelmed, and end up with something that looks homemade. Or they hire the cheapest person they can find and end up with a slow, clunky site that doesn’t show up on Google.
What Makes a Website Actually Work for Your Business
A good website isn’t about flashy animations or trendy designs. It needs to do three things:
Show up when people search for you. If someone in Mankato searches for “plumber near me” or “best coffee shop Mankato” and you don’t show up, you might as well not exist. That’s where real SEO work comes in—the kind that understands southern Minnesota search patterns and local competition.
Load fast on phones. Most of your customers are looking at your site on their phone while they’re sitting in traffic on Victory Drive or waiting in line at HyVee. If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, they’re gone.
Make it dead simple to contact you or buy from you. Every click between someone landing on your site and actually becoming a customer is a chance for them to give up and go to your competitor.
Why DIY Usually Doesn’t Work (Even Though You’re Capable)
You could probably figure out WordPress if you really wanted to. You’re smart; you run a business. But do you have 40 hours to learn it properly? And another 20 hours to understand SEO? And ongoing time to keep it secure and updated?
Here’s the thing: it’s more than just about the front-end setup. Websites, and their servers, are public-facing, meaning that they are open to both good and bad actors. A proper WordPress setup includes security measures that keep your site from getting hacked, your customer data protected, and your business from ending up on Google’s blacklist because some bot turned your site into a spam machine. Most business owners don’t think about security until it’s too late, but it’s honestly one of the biggest reasons to work with someone who knows what they’re doing instead of trying to piece it together yourself.
That’s the trap. The initial setup looks doable on YouTube tutorials, but then you’re six hours in, your site looks weird on mobile, and you haven’t even started contemplating getting it to show up on Google. Meanwhile, your actual business is sitting there needing attention.
How a Local Web Design Company Actually Helps
This is where 10K Web comes in. We set up WordPress sites specifically for small businesses in southern Minnesota. Not corporate giants. Not Silicon Valley startups. Actual local businesses that require a professional site without the enterprise price tag.
Here’s what that actually means: We build you a WordPress site that’s fast, mobile-friendly, and shows up in local searches. We handle all the technical stuff—security, hosting, and making sure nothing breaks when WordPress updates. You get login credentials so you can change text and photos yourself if you like, but you’re not stuck doing it all yourself.
And because we’re focused on the Mankato area, we understand your market. We know your customers are searching for local solutions. We know what your competition looks like online. We’re not using some cookie-cutter template designed for a business in Seattle.
What You Should Actually Look for in a Web Designer
Forget about fancy portfolios with sites you’d never actually need. Here’s what matters:
Can they explain things in plain English without making you feel dumb? Red flag if someone can’t explain what they’re doing in terms you understand.
Do they understand your business and your customers? A good web designer asks questions about your business goals, not just what colors you like.
Will they be around to help after the site launches? Building the site is one thing. Keeping it running and making improvements over time is another.
Do they care about results, not just making something that looks pretty? A beautiful site that doesn’t bring in customers is just an expensive online brochure.
Getting Started Without Overthinking It
You don’t need to figure everything out before you get started. You don’t need perfect photos, finalized copy, or a complete business strategy. Furthermore, you just need to take the first step.
Most Mankato businesses we work with start simple—a professional homepage, a services page, contact information, and maybe a blog. That’s enough to look legitimate and start showing up in searches. You can always add more later!
The website you’ll have in two weeks is infinitely better than the perfect website you’ll never launch because you’re stuck in planning mode. So you can spend more time on the lake or at the Vikings game!
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Your website is working 24/7, even when you’re closed. It’s answering questions, making first impressions, and either winning or losing customers while you sleep. In a town like Mankato where word-of-mouth still matters, your website is often where that word-of-mouth gets verified. Someone hears about you, googles you, and makes a decision in about 30 seconds.
If your site looks outdated or doesn’t exist, you’ve lost them. If it looks professional and loads fast, you’ve got a shot.
Let’s Actually Do This
If you’re a small business in Mankato, North Mankato, St. Peter, or anywhere in southern Minnesota and you’re tired of your website situation (or lack thereof), let’s talk. No pressure, no sales pitch. Just a straight conversation about whether WordPress makes sense for your business and what it would actually take to get you set up properly.
Check out what we do at 10K Web and see if it makes sense for your business. And if you’re still not sure, that’s fine too. At least now you know what WordPress actually is and why half the internet runs on it.
The businesses in Mankato that are growing aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets—they’re the ones that show up when customers are looking. Your website is how you show up. Make it count.
Ready to stop putting this off? Visit 10kweb.co to see how we help Mankato businesses get online the right way, or reach out for a no-nonsense conversation about what your business actually needs!
