Build it yourself, hire an agency, stay on Facebook, or have it managed
There are four realistic ways for a window or glazing business to handle its website. Each one suits someone. Here are the honest trade-offs, including the ones that count against our plan.
The four options side by side
| What matters | Managed plan | DIY builder | One-off agency | Social only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | A$499 setup | Low | Usually the highest | None |
| Your time | Low: you supply content | High, ongoing | Medium during the build | Ongoing posting |
| A page per product | Included | If you build them | If it is in the brief | Not really possible |
| Quote form for window jobs | Included | If you set one up | If it is in the brief | Messages only |
| Changes after launch | 5 a month included | You make them | Often quoted and billed | You post |
| Hosting and security | Included | In the subscription | Often a separate bill | Not applicable |
| Commitment | 12 months, then monthly | Subscription | Project contract | None |
General descriptions, not claims about any named provider. Prices and terms vary, so read any quote closely.
A managed website plan
Built, hosted and kept current for one monthly fee
Like ours: A$249 a month and A$499 setup, GST may apply, 12-month minimum term, then month to month.
Suits: Businesses that want a proper site working for them but have no time or interest in running one.
For
- Someone else builds, hosts and updates the site, so it does not become a second job
- Up to 5 edits a month, so new products, photos and suburbs actually go up
- Product pages and a quote form planned for window work from day one
- A predictable cost you can budget for, with nothing billed by the hour
Against
- A 12-month commitment before you can leave
- Over several years it costs more than a site you build once and never touch
- You still supply the words, photos, prices and any rating details
- Work beyond the monthly edits, such as a full redesign, is quoted separately
A DIY website builder
Cheap to start, expensive in evenings
You sign up to a website builder, pick a template and build the site yourself.
Suits: Owners who enjoy the work and will genuinely keep the site current themselves.
For
- Low cash cost to get started
- You control every change, any time you like
- Fine for a simple one-page presence while you are starting out
- No agency or freelancer to wait on
Against
- It takes your evenings and weekends, which for most installers are already spoken for
- Templates are generic: product pages, rating details and a proper quote form are all up to you
- Easy to launch and then leave untouched for years
- Paid add-ons for forms, bookings or extra pages can creep up over time
A one-off agency build
A good launch, then a new quote for every change
An agency or freelancer builds the site for a project fee and hands it over.
Suits: Larger businesses with a budget and a person who looks after the site once it is live.
For
- Can be fully custom to your brand
- You own what you paid for, depending on the contract
- Works well when someone in-house will maintain it afterwards
- Copywriting or photography can be added if you pay for them
Against
- Usually the largest upfront payment of the four options
- Hosting, updates and changes are often billed separately after launch
- Every later change can mean a new quote and a wait in the queue
- Quality varies widely; check who owns the domain and the site files
No website: Facebook or Instagram only
Free, and fine for recent jobs, but not built for comparing products
A business page on social media, alongside a Google Business Profile.
Suits: Very new or very small operators testing demand, ideally as a step towards a website.
For
- Free to set up and quick to post to
- Good for showing recent installs as they happen
- Easy for happy customers to share
- Works alongside a Google Business Profile
Against
- You do not control the platform, its rules or who sees your posts
- No sensible way to lay out products, frame and glass options or ratings side by side
- No quote form of your own asking for window counts, sizes and photos
- Many homeowners and most builders expect to find a proper website
The typical window company site, and what a managed build changes
Whichever option you choose, these are the five places a window or glazing website most often lets a buyer down. Use them as a checklist.
| Where it matters | As we usually find it | As we build it |
|---|---|---|
| Products | One "Windows" page covering everything | A page for each window, door and glass type you sell |
| Quote requests | A contact form asking for a message | A form asking for suburb, window count, sizes, frames, goal and photos |
| Energy ratings | "Energy efficient" with nothing behind it | Space for the WERS figures you supply, next to the product |
| Service areas | A line saying "all areas" | A service areas page and short pages for the places you want work |
| After launch | The same photos and prices for years | Up to 5 edits a month and a monthly enquiry report |
Which one fits your business
Start with time, not price. The cheapest site is expensive if it sits unchanged for three years.
You will update the site yourself every month
A DIY builder can work well and costs less. Plan the product pages and quote form before you pick a template.
Someone on staff looks after marketing
A one-off build that they maintain can make sense. Get the domain and the site files in your business name.
You are just starting out
Facebook, Instagram and a Google Business Profile will do for now. Move to a website before you start comparing products for people.
None of the above is true
A managed plan stops the site going stale, which matters for a business that sells new windows.
Social pages still earn their place
Posting recent installs is good practice whichever option you choose. It simply works better when the post points to a site where someone can compare your products and send a proper quote request. We cover that in website or Facebook page for a window company, and the costs in what a website costs a window company.
If the managed plan looks right, pricing sets out every term, including what is not included.
Not sure which option fits? Ask on a call
Tell us how you work now and we will say plainly whether the plan is the right choice or whether one of the other options suits you better.
A$249 a month, A$499 setup, GST may apply, 12-month minimum term.
No obligation on the call. If the plan isn't right for how you work, we say so.