Do you need a website if you have Instagram and Telegram
Many companies in Tashkent and the regions win customers through Instagram, Telegram channels and marketplaces such as OLX or Uzum. That works as long as you depend on someone else's rules. An algorithm changes, an account gets blocked, and enquiries drop. A website is the one channel you own.
It matters most where people make considered decisions: renovation, healthcare, education, equipment, B2B services. Buyers compare companies, search on Google or Yandex, and want services, prices, an address and reviews in one place. A site is also the landing point for Meta Ads and Google Ads. Sending paid traffic straight into chat is possible, but without a page that states a clear offer, every lead has to be warmed up by hand.
Start with a goal and the numbers that prove it
Decide which action counts as a result: a form submission, a phone call, a Telegram message or a paid order. Then decide how you will measure it. Without that, you cannot say whether the site paid off or the budget was simply spent.
Agree on metrics in advance: cost per lead, the share of visitors who take the target action, rankings for the queries that matter. Different goals produce different sites. A lead-generation site is short and built around one clear action. An online shop needs a catalogue, a basket and payment. A site meant to win search traffic needs many useful pages that match real queries. Connect analytics before launch, not after the first complaints.
What a site that works is made of
An attractive first screen does not make a site work. The things that usually decide the outcome are simple, and they should be settled before design begins:
- a clear offer on the first screen: what you do, for whom and where
- a separate page for each service or product category
- prices, or at least the logic of how they are calculated
- proof: real work, reviews, address and company details
- visible ways to get in touch: phone, Telegram, a request form
- versions in Russian and Uzbek, and English if you serve foreign clients
- working analytics and a record of where each lead came from
What matters specifically in Uzbekistan
Most visitors arrive on a smartphone, often on an unstable mobile connection. Heavy images and excessive animation push people away faster than a modest design does. Test the site on a phone and on a slow connection, not only on an office computer.
Language is not a formality. People search differently in Russian and Uzbek, so the Uzbek version should be written for an Uzbek-speaking customer rather than machine-translated. If you sell online, decide early which payment methods you need, such as Click, Payme or others, and how orders reach your managers. For many teams the easiest route is a notification in a Telegram bot or a work chat, so requests do not get lost in an inbox.
What drives the cost of a website
The price depends on the type of site, the number of pages, custom design versus a template, integrations (payments, CRM, stock), preparation of copy and photos, translation into a second language, basic SEO setup and how urgent the project is. Support and changes after launch are usually priced separately.
Remember the recurring costs too: domain, hosting and updates. A very low quote often means that copywriting, a mobile version or analytics is not included. Ask for an itemised estimate and compare proposals by scope of work, not by the final sum in soums.
How to choose a developer
The market includes freelancers, small studios and full-service agencies. The difference is rarely just price. It is about responsibility: who writes the copy, who sets up analytics, who answers if the site stops opening.
Ask to see live projects and to hear what is included after launch. The domain and all access should be registered in your name. Be wary of promises of top rankings, work without a contract, and reports that say everything is fine without a single figure.
Practical first steps
Write down the goal, describe your audience, collect examples of sites you like and prepare materials: photos, a price list, reviews. Then approve the structure and only after that move on to design.
At markdev we build websites on a turnkey basis, from structure and design to analytics and the link with advertising. If you want to talk through your project, leave a request and we will go over what kind of site your business needs and how to judge the result.
FAQ
Can I manage with Instagram alone?
A small business with obvious demand sometimes can. But if customers compare companies, look for you in search or you plan to run ads, a website gives you independence from social networks and more trust.
Is a site builder or custom development better?
A builder suits a simple business card site or a quick test of an idea. If you need complex logic, integrations, speed and SEO flexibility, custom development is usually the better fit.
What materials do I need to begin?
A description of your services, a price list or pricing logic, photos, reviews, contacts and company details. Copy and structure can be prepared together with the contractor.
How do I know the site is paying off?
Compare the cost of a lead with the profit from a customer. That requires connected analytics and a record of where each request came from.
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