Why you still need a site when you have Instagram and Telegram
Many owners in Uzbekistan built their sales on an Instagram account and a Telegram channel, and it works. But those channels belong to the platforms. Feed algorithms, moderation rules and account blocks are outside your control. A website is the one place where you decide what the customer sees and how you collect their contact details.
A site also answers the searches people type into Google and Yandex, such as a dentist in a particular district or wholesale office furniture. A social profile rarely shows up there. And when a buyer compares you with a competitor, a proper website is often the proof that the company is real.
Where to start: goals before pages
The first step is to agree on a goal and on how you will know it has been reached. For some companies that means form requests and phone calls, for others paid orders through Click or Payme, for others rankings on a handful of important queries. Without a stated goal, any result can be called a success and any failure can be blamed on the market.
The second step is to describe the customer and the route they take. Is the visitor a wholesale buyer who wants a price list and delivery terms, or a parent choosing a product on a phone on the way home? A large share of traffic in Uzbekistan comes from mobile devices, so sites are designed for a smartphone screen and a patchy mobile connection first, and for the desktop second.
What the work should include
A good contractor shows you the full list of stages, not a single line saying turnkey site. It usually covers the following.
- Research on the task, competitors and audience, followed by a page structure.
- Prototype and design that allow for Russian and Uzbek texts being noticeably different in length.
- Front-end and back-end development, including phone layouts and fast loading.
- Payments through Click and Payme, request forms, and integration with a Telegram bot or CRM.
- Basic SEO setup: headings, page addresses, sitemap and speed.
- Analytics and goal tracking, so every request is counted from day one.
- Handover of access rights, instructions and support after launch.
What shapes the price
The price depends less on the number of pages and more on the amount of logic and content. A one-screen landing page with a form and a catalogue with hundreds of items, filters, user accounts and online payment are very different projects. The final figure is shaped by the type of site, custom design versus a template, the number of languages, integrations with accounting systems and payment services, copywriting and photo preparation.
Some costs are easy to forget: domain, hosting, security certificate, promotion and ongoing support. Ask for an itemised estimate and be clear about what you will own: source code, admin panel access, a domain registered in your name. A suspiciously low quote often means part of the work is simply not included.
Choosing a contractor in Tashkent
The market is uneven: freelancers, small studios and full-cycle agencies all operate here. A freelancer can be enough for a simple business-card site if you are ready to manage the process yourself. An agency is easier when the site has to work together with advertising, analytics and search promotion, because one team answers for the outcome.
Look less at how pretty the portfolio is and more at how the contractor talks about your task. Do they ask about your customers and products? Do they explain how results will be measured? Can they show live sites and put you in touch with past clients? Promises such as first place on Google or sales growing many times over are a warning sign, since nobody can honestly guarantee that in advance.
After launch
Launch is not the finish line. Connect analytics so you can see where visitors come from, which pages they leave and which forms they fill in. Compare the cost of a request across sources: search, Instagram targeting, search ads. Without that data you cannot tell whether the site pays back or the budget is simply being spent.
Every few months, review the copy, prices and catalogue, and check speed and form delivery. A site that is never updated quickly loses trust and rankings.
If you are planning a project, markdev builds websites on a turnkey basis, sets up analytics and reporting from the start, and does not make inflated promises. Send us a request and we will go through your situation and suggest a suitable format.
FAQ
Can I run a business with only Instagram and Telegram?
You can start that way, but a website reduces dependence on platforms, makes you visible in search and builds trust with new customers. Usually the channels work together: social media attracts attention, the site takes requests and payments.
What should I prepare before development starts?
A description of your products or services, a logo and brand colours, photos, examples of sites you like, and a clear goal. If you lack materials, they can be prepared together with the contractor.
Can Click and Payme be connected to a website?
Yes, both services offer integration for online shops and services. You sign an agreement with the payment provider and set up data exchange with the site. Confirm the current terms directly with the provider.
How is a business-card site different from an online shop?
A business-card site presents the company and collects requests, while a shop includes a catalogue, cart, payment and order tracking. That makes a shop more complex, slower to build and heavier on integrations.
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