5 min read
Why your website isn't bringing in clients: five signs
Slow loading, a fuzzy message, no clear next step: the five flaws that drive visitors away from a small business website, and how to fix each of them yourself.
A website can look nice and bring in nothing. Here are the five symptoms we see most often when a small business owner tells us: “we have a website, but it’s useless”.
1. Does your website take more than three seconds to load?
On mobile, every second of waiting sends some visitors away before they have even seen your name. Heavy images, a bloated theme, plugins piled on plugins: slowness almost always has a simple cause — and Google takes it into account in rankings.
To do: test your home page on PageSpeed Insights, from your phone, on 4G. If the mobile score is red, that is priority number one.
2. Can visitors tell what you do in five seconds?
A visitor should be able to answer three questions without scrolling: what is it?, is it for me?, what should I do now? A poetic slogan is no substitute for a clear sentence — ideally with your trade and your area: “Plumbing and heating engineer in Tours and nearby”.
3. Do visitors know what to do next?
Call, book, request a quote: choose one main action and make it visible everywhere. A button lost at the bottom of a “Contact” page is not enough.
4. Does your website talk about you, or about your clients?
“Founded in 1998, our company…” Your visitors are looking for a solution to their problem. Talk about the result they will get, then explain how you get there.
5. Where is the proof?
Client reviews, past projects, concrete figures, partner logos: without proof, your promise remains a promise. Two or three sincere testimonials beat a long speech. For inspiration, see how we present our own work.
If you recognise yourself in two or more of these points, your website deserves a closer look. It is exactly what we check first during an audit: ask for yours.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my website is too slow?
Test your home page on PageSpeed Insights (free, by Google) and look at the mobile score. Orange or red means you are losing visitors before they even see the page.
Why doesn't my website show up on Google?
The usual suspects: a new site never submitted to Search Console, pages without titles or descriptions, thin content, and no Google Business Profile for local searches. Our SEO service tackles each of these.
Do I need a complete redesign?
Not always. If the site is fast and well built, fixing the message, the calls to action and the proof is often enough. A redesign is worth it when the technical foundation holds everything else back.