5 Website Mistakes That Cost Small Businesses Sales
Is your website hurting your sales? Avoid these 5 common mistakes small businesses make.
Your business website should be your hardest working employee by converting visitors into customers 24/7! But too often, small businesses lose leads due to simple and fixable website mistakes like the 5 listed here.
Here are the top 5 website mistakes we see:
Slow Loading Speeds
If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, you’re losing visitors. Optimize image sizes and code for more speed. The longer your site takes to load, the faster someone is going to leave your page.
In the digital world, speed is everything. Studies show that 47% of users expect a site to load in under three seconds and if it doesn’t, they’ll leave. Even a one second delay can reduce conversions by 7%, meaning your business could be losing customers simply because your website takes too long to load.
How to Fix It:
Test your website’s speed using Google PageSpeed Insights
Optimizing your images, removing unnecessary plugins, and upgrading your hosting plan can dramatically improve your site’s speed.
Missing SEO Basics (Search Engine Optimization)
No meta descriptions? Broken links? Weak keywords? These can tank your visibility. Basic SEO is essential to get found online.
You could have the best website in the world, but if Google can’t find it, neither can your customers. 75% of users never scroll past the first page of search results, which means if your site isn’t optimized for SEO, you’re missing out on significant traffic.
How to Fix It:
SEO takes time to build up, and you can’t understand what will rank until you get it out there. Posting early and often is your best chance of getting ranked.
No Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
What do you want visitors to do? Make sure every page has a strong CTA like “Book a Consultation” or “Get a Free Quote.” If you’re trying to build your email list, don’t forget to add an Email Signup Form. CTAs tell visitors what to do next, such as making a purchase or scheduling a consultation. They play a crucial role in improving your site's conversion rates.
Without them, visitors would leave your site without taking action, resulting in lost opportunities to convert leads. Testing and optimizing your site's CTAs can help maximize your conversion rate, but may also adapt and change like user behavior changes. Make sure that you're engaging in A/B Testing to determine which CTA works best for your audience.
How to Fix It:
Make sure there’s an Email Signup Form throughout your website, such as on your Homepage, Blog, and even the footer of every page so your visitors don’t miss it. Add a button like the one below that links to your Appointment Booking Page or Contact Page. If your homepage doesn’t clearly tell visitors what action to take, whether it’s booking a consultation, downloading a freebie, or making a purchase, you’re missing out on potential business.
Not Mobile Friendly
More than 70% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. That means if your website isn’t easy to navigate on a phone or tablet, you’re losing potential clients.
How to Fix It:
Review your website on your phone and go through it like a customer would if they wanted to browse your website for the first time. Confirm all buttons link to the correct page, content is easy to read, and images load correctly.
Outdated Design
A site that looks 10 years old makes your business look behind the times. A modern, clean design builds trust. Poor design practices cause sites to fail. Yahoo! is a prime example. The site was once Google's biggest competitor, but with the bland design, the bounce rate was high, and people flocked to Google.
How to Fix It:
If your business has grown, but your website still looks like it did when you first started, it’s time for an update. A website that looks outdated can make potential clients question your credibility. Take a step back and assess your site with fresh eyes. Does it still reflect your brand? Is the messaging aligned with where your business is today? If your website visitors feel like your site isn’t professional or doesn’t reflect your current expertise, they may hesitate to work with you. Sometimes, small changes like updating fonts, colors, or images can make a huge difference. Other times, a complete redesign may be necessary to bring your website up to date with your brand’s growth.
Ready to stop losing customers and start growing your business?
