You’ve probably heard the phrase: “Your website is your digital shopfront.” But if that shopfront is dusty, confusing, or hard to find, people are going to walk right past it.
For most small and local businesses, a website is more than just a nice-to-have. It’s the central hub of your entire online presence. It should be building trust, generating enquiries, and converting visitors into paying customers – not just sitting there looking pretty (or worse, outdated).
In this article, we’re going to break down the most common ways your website could be costing you leads without you even realising it – and what to do to fix it.
1. Your Website Isn’t Mobile-Friendly
Let’s start with the big one: mobile.
Over 70% of local searches happen on mobile devices. If your website isn’t responsive or looks awkward on a phone, you’re immediately losing trust and attention. Visitors won’t pinch-and-zoom their way through broken layouts or hard-to-tap buttons – they’ll bounce and head straight to a competitor.
Fix it fast:
- Use a mobile-first design approach
- Make sure text is easy to read on small screens
- Keep buttons and forms thumb-friendly
- Test your site across multiple devices
2. It Loads Too Slowly
In a world of instant everything, people have zero patience for slow-loading websites. In fact, if your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, you could be losing up to 40% of your visitors.
Site speed doesn’t just affect user experience; it impacts your Google rankings too.
Fix it fast:
- Compress images and remove any oversized files
- Use fast, reliable hosting (avoid bargain-bin providers)
- Clean up unnecessary plugins or scripts
- Enable caching and use a content delivery network (CDN)
3. There’s No Clear Call to Action
What do you want your visitors to do?
If your website doesn’t make that obvious within the first few seconds, you’re making them guess – and guesswork leads to drop-offs.
Every page should have a clear, visible call to action (CTA). Whether that’s “Call Now,” “Book a Free Quote,” or “Get a Price,” your site should guide visitors to take the next step.
Fix it fast:
- Place CTAs above the fold (no scrolling needed)
- Use action-driven language (e.g., “Get Your Free Estimate Today”)
- Repeat your CTA throughout the page for longer content
4. It’s Not Optimised for Local SEO
If you’re a local business, you want local customers to find you – but they won’t if your site isn’t optimised.
Google needs clear signals that tell it what you do, where you’re based, and who you serve.
Fix it fast:
- Add your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) to every page
- Create a Google Business Profile and link it to your website
- Include location keywords in your page titles and headings
- Use customer reviews and testimonials to build credibility
5. It Looks Outdated or Untrustworthy
Design trends move fast. If your website hasn’t had a refresh in 5+ years, it could be sending the wrong message. Visitors may think your business is behind the times, or worse, not even trading anymore.
Modern customers make quick decisions based on how your site looks. If it feels clunky, cluttered, or homemade, you’re likely losing business to competitors with cleaner, more professional-looking sites.
Fix it fast:
- Simplify your layout
- Use professional photos
- Include up-to-date contact info and customer testimonials
- Make sure branding is consistent across all pages
6. The Contact Process Is a Hassle
You’ve hooked someone’s interest. They want to book or ask a question. But when they go to contact you… they hit a wall.
Long forms, missing phone numbers, no clear way to get in touch – all of these are lead killers.
Fix it fast:
- Keep your contact form short (Name, Email, Message)
- Add a clickable phone number and email
- Use live chat or Facebook Messenger for instant contact
- Make your contact page easy to find in the menu and footer
7. No Social Proof or Credibility
People trust people. If your website has no reviews, no testimonials, no real-world examples of your work – it makes it harder for potential customers to feel confident reaching out.
Social proof is especially important for local businesses because trust is everything.
Fix it fast:
- Add 3-5 customer reviews to your homepage and service pages
- Include names, photos, and locations if possible
- Show before & after examples of your work
- Link to your Google Reviews or Facebook page
Final Thought: A Website That Sits Still Is a Website That Slips Behind
If your site isn’t helping your business grow, it’s probably holding it back.
The good news? These problems aren’t hard to fix once you know what to look for. And in most cases, a well-designed, mobile-friendly website with a few key improvements can turn things around fast.
At Strategy8, we help small businesses across the UK revamp their websites so they actually start bringing in leads – not just sitting there collecting dust.
If you’d like a no-pressure chat about where your site could be improved, feel free to get in touch. You might be just one redesign away from a busier, more profitable business.
