Your website is one of the most powerful tools your business has. It’s your digital shopfront, your 24/7 salesperson, and often the first place potential customers go to find out more about you. But what happens when that website starts working against you rather than for you?
If you’re not getting the leads, calls or sales you expected, your site might be overdue for a redesign. In this article, we’ll break down five clear signs that your website isn’t doing its job – and what you can do to fix it.
1. Your Website Looks Outdated
Let’s face it – trends move quickly online. A site that looked fresh and modern five years ago may now feel tired or untrustworthy. If your website looks dated or unprofessional, visitors will make the same assumption about your business.
In a world where trust is everything, an outdated design can be a major barrier. You might be the best in town, but if your competitors look sharper online, you could be losing potential customers before they even make contact.
What to do:
- Refresh the design using a clean, modern layout
- Use high-quality images that reflect your brand and services
- Simplify your navigation and remove any clutter
2. Your Site Isn’t Mobile-Friendly
With over 70% of web traffic now coming from mobile devices, having a mobile-optimised website is no longer optional – it’s essential. If your site doesn’t work smoothly on smartphones and tablets, you’re losing visitors fast.
Signs your site isn’t mobile-friendly include:
- Text that’s too small to read
- Buttons that are hard to tap
- Pages that take too long to load
- Layouts that break or look weird on smaller screens
What to do:
- Use a responsive design that adjusts to all screen sizes
- Prioritise speed and usability on mobile
- Test your site across a range of devices
3. You’re Not Showing Up on Google
If your website doesn’t appear on the first page of Google when someone searches for your service locally, you’re missing out on a huge amount of traffic.
Your site needs to be optimised for local SEO so that search engines understand what you do, where you’re based and who you help.
Common SEO problems include:
- Missing location keywords in headings and page titles
- No Google Business Profile linked to your site
- Thin content with no real value for users
- No structured layout or internal linking
What to do:
- Add location-based keywords naturally into your content
- Create and connect a Google Business Profile
- Write helpful, informative content for each service area
- Get listed in local directories and build backlinks
4. It’s Hard for People to Contact You
You’d be amazed how many websites make it difficult for people to get in touch. If someone wants to enquire, book or buy – and they can’t figure out how – they’ll simply leave.
Red flags include:
- Hidden or hard-to-find contact details
- Long or confusing contact forms
- No clickable phone number or map
- Contact pages buried in the menu
What to do:
- Put your phone number and contact button in the top right corner
- Keep your forms short and simple (Name, Email, Message)
- Use calls to action like “Book Now”, “Request a Quote” or “Send a Message”
- Add multiple ways to reach you – including email, phone and social media
5. Your Site Isn’t Generating Leads or Enquiries
If your website is getting traffic but not producing results, there’s likely a problem with the user experience or the structure of your site.
Maybe people are landing on your homepage and leaving quickly. Maybe they’re confused about what you offer or unsure what to do next. These are signs your site needs to work harder to convert visitors into leads.
What to do:
- Use strong headlines and clear messaging on every page
- Add testimonials, case studies or trust signals to build credibility
- Make your call to action clear and repeated throughout the site
- Offer something valuable in exchange for their details (like a free quote or guide)
Conclusion: Don’t Let Your Website Hold You Back
Your website should be working for you – attracting new visitors, building trust, and turning clicks into customers. If any of the five signs above sound familiar, it’s probably time to consider a redesign.
The good news? You don’t need a huge budget or a six-month wait to get a site that performs. With the right approach, a new website can be simple, affordable and done in just a couple of weeks.
At Strategy8, we help small and local businesses across the UK build websites that actually generate results. If you’d like a free website review or want to find out more about our affordable redesign service, get in touch today.
