Is Your Website Working Against You?
Your website is often the first interaction potential customers have with your business. But what if that first impression is driving them away?
Many business owners assume their website is "good enough" because it looks fine on their computer. But hidden issues could be costing you sales every single day.
Here are the 7 warning signs that your website needs attention.
1. Slow Load Times
The Problem:
- 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take over 3 seconds to load
- Every second of delay reduces conversions by 7%
- Google penalizes slow sites in search rankings
How to Check:
Visit Google PageSpeed Insights and enter your URL. If your score is below 50, you have a serious problem.
The Fix:
- Optimize images (often the biggest culprit)
- Upgrade hosting
- Enable caching
- Remove unused plugins and scripts
2. Not Mobile-Friendly
The Problem:
Over 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site doesn't work well on phones, you're invisible to the majority of potential customers.
How to Check:
- Visit your site on your phone (not just your desktop)
- Try to complete common actions (find contact info, submit a form)
- Use Google's [Mobile-Friendly Test](https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly)
Warning Signs:
- Text too small to read
- Buttons too small to tap
- Horizontal scrolling required
- Content cut off or overlapping
3. No Clear Call-to-Action
The Problem:
Visitors land on your site... then what? If it's not immediately obvious what they should do next, they'll leave.
How to Check:
Ask someone unfamiliar with your business to visit your homepage. Within 10 seconds, can they tell:
- What you do?
- Who you serve?
- What action to take?
The Fix:
- Place clear CTAs above the fold
- Use action-oriented language ("Get a Free Quote" not "Learn More")
- Make buttons stand out visually
- Limit choices to reduce decision fatigue
4. Outdated Design
The Problem:
75% of consumers judge a company's credibility based on website design. An outdated site signals an outdated business.
Signs Your Design Is Dated:
- Built before 2018
- Flash elements (these don't even work anymore)
- Tiny text designed for desktops only
- Stock photos that look like the 2000s
- Cluttered layouts with too much information
Modern Design Characteristics:
- Clean, spacious layouts
- Large, readable typography
- High-quality, authentic imagery
- Subtle animations and micro-interactions
- Dark mode support
5. Missing Trust Signals
The Problem:
People don't buy from businesses they don't trust. If your website lacks credibility indicators, visitors won't convert.
Essential Trust Signals:
- Customer reviews and testimonials
- Security badges and SSL certificate (HTTPS)
- Clear contact information (physical address, phone number)
- Professional email addresses (not gmail.com)
- Industry certifications and awards
- Real photos of your team and location
Quick Win:
Add 3-5 customer testimonials to your homepage. Real quotes from real customers are more powerful than any marketing copy.
6. Broken or Confusing Navigation
The Problem:
If visitors can't find what they're looking for quickly, they'll find it on a competitor's site instead.
Navigation Mistakes:
- Too many menu items (aim for 5-7 max)
- Unclear labels (don't make visitors guess)
- Important pages buried in submenus
- No search functionality
- Broken links leading to 404 errors
The Fix:
- Simplify your main menu
- Use clear, descriptive labels
- Add a search bar for content-heavy sites
- Regularly check for broken links
- Include breadcrumbs for deep pages
7. No Analytics or Tracking
The Problem:
If you're not measuring performance, you have no idea what's working or what's broken. You could be losing customers without ever knowing.
What You Should Track:
- How many people visit your site
- Where they come from
- What pages they view
- How long they stay
- What actions they take
- Where they drop off
Minimum Setup:
- Install Google Analytics 4 (free)
- Set up goal tracking for key actions
- Review data monthly at minimum
The Bottom Line
Your website is a business asset. When it's working well, it generates leads and sales around the clock. When it's not, it's actively costing you money.
Quick Self-Assessment:
| Issue | Your Site |
|-------|-----------|
| Loads in under 3 seconds? | ☐ Yes ☐ No |
| Works well on mobile? | ☐ Yes ☐ No |
| Has clear calls-to-action? | ☐ Yes ☐ No |
| Looks modern and professional? | ☐ Yes ☐ No |
| Includes trust signals? | ☐ Yes ☐ No |
| Has clear, simple navigation? | ☐ Yes ☐ No |
| Has analytics installed? | ☐ Yes ☐ No |
If you answered "No" to two or more questions, your website is likely costing you customers.
Ready for a website that works for your business? Contact us for a free website audit.