Okay, let’s just talk straight.
You’ve got a website. People land on it. The traffic’s there. But the phone’s not ringing, your inbox is quiet, and sales? Not moving. Frustrating, right?
We heard this so many times: “We spent all this money on our site – why isn’t it working?” And, honestly? It’s rarely because your product or service is bad. It’s the site. Or more specifically, a bunch of small things on the site that silently push people away.
Let me tell you the nine big ones I see all the time.
1. Your Site Feels… Slow
You know that moment when you click a link, stare at the screen, and then just close the tab? That’s what your visitors are doing if your site takes more than 3 seconds.
We had a client – nice-looking homepage, tons of pretty images – but wow, it loaded like a snail. We cut down the image sizes, ditched unnecessary code, and within a week, their enquiries jumped. No new ads, no extra traffic. Just speed.
2. Mobile Visitors Are Probably Suffering
Quick challenge: grab your phone and try to fill out your own form. Go on, I’ll wait.
Annoying, isn’t it? Tiny buttons, too much zooming. If you’re irritated, your customers are just leaving. These days, half your visitors are on mobile. If your site’s not smooth there, you’re losing half your leads before they even start reading.
3. Your Headline Doesn’t Say Anything
Let’s be honest – does your headline actually explain what you do? Or is it something vague like, “Innovative solutions for modern businesses”? We see that phrase a lot, by the way.)
We once swapped a headline like that to:
“We build websites that bring you more leads – not just traffic.” Clear, simple, no guessing. It worked immediately.
4. Your Navigation Is Confusing
Ever walked into a store where nothing’s labelled? You don’t wander around trying to figure it out – you leave. That’s what happens on sites with messy menus.
Rule of thumb: if someone needs more than two clicks to find what they want, you’re losing them.
5. Your CTAs Are Weak
Let me guess – your main button says “Submit,” right? Yeah… no one wants to click that. What works?
- “Get My Free Quote”
- “Book a Call”
- “Start My Project”
One time we changed a single button on a page – nothing else – and clicks went up by 18%. It’s wild how much words matter.
6. You’re Not Showing Any Proof
Visitors are sceptical. They want to know you’ve done this before, for someone like them.
Add reviews, a quick client quote, a before-and-after story. Even a single line like, “We helped [Client Name] double their enquiries in 30 days,” builds trust faster than a wall of text about “our values.”
7. Your Content Sounds Too Perfect
Here’s something weird – perfect, polished content often feels less human. If your site sounds stiff or “corporate,” it doesn’t connect.
We tell clients to write how they’d speak:
“Here’s the thing. You need a site that gets you leads – otherwise, what’s the point?” See? Conversational, direct, real.
8. Your Forms Are a Chore
Why are you asking for 10 fields of info just for someone to request a call? Every extra field is an exit point.
Cut it down to the basics – name, email, phone. That’s it. I’ve seen businesses double their leads by removing just three fields from a form.
9. Your Site Doesn’t Feel Trustworthy
Would you give your card details to a site that looks a bit… off? No padlock (HTTPS), no clear phone number, no proper design? Probably not.
Add SSL. Put your contact info front and centre. Throw in a trust badge or two. People notice those small signals, even subconsciously.
If It Were Me…
We’d start small. Fix the easy wins first:
- Speed.
- A headline that actually says what you do.
- One good testimonial.
We have seen companies double their enquiries from just those three changes. It’s not magic. It’s just clarity and trust.
Key Takeaways
- If your website’s getting traffic but no conversions, it’s usually not your product – it’s your site.
- Speed matters more than most people realise. Even a second or two of lag can cost you leads.
- Mobile experience isn’t optional anymore. If your site’s clunky on a phone, people will bounce.
- A clear, punchy headline is gold. If people don’t “get” what you do in five seconds, they’re gone.
- Simplify your menus and navigation. Too many choices = confusion = no action.
- CTAs need to feel like an invitation, not a demand. “Submit” won’t cut it.
- Testimonials and real results build instant trust – don’t hide them.
- Talk like a human in your content. Formal, stiff copy makes people tune out.
- Forms should be short and sweet. The fewer fields, the better.
- Trust signals (SSL, contact info, clean design) are non-negotiable – people need to feel safe.
Before you head off, if you’re reviewing your site for security reasons, this short read will help you spot the easy wins. And if you’d rather rewind and sort the foundations first, start with the basics of web design – plain-English, no fluff – or jump straight to WEB-KNACK web design services if you want a hand getting it done.
