Your website might be your biggest obstacle to growth and you don't even know it. These 7 common mistakes are silently costing you customers every day.
Here's a sobering statistic: 75% of consumers judge a business's credibility based on its website design. And 88% of people won't return to a website after a bad experience. If your website isn't actively winning customers, it's actively losing them.
Mistake #1: It Loads Too Slowly
Google research shows that 53% of mobile users abandon a website that takes longer than 3 seconds to load. Check your speed at pagespeed.web.dev. If you're below 70/100, you have a problem. Common fixes include compressing images, using a faster hosting provider, and removing unnecessary plugins.
Mistake #2: It Doesn't Work on Mobile
Over 60% of web traffic is mobile. If your site isn't responsive — meaning it adapts to fit any screen size — you're turning away the majority of your visitors. Test it yourself by opening your website on your phone and navigating as if you were a new customer trying to contact you.
Google penalizes websites that aren't mobile-friendly in search rankings. A non-mobile site hurts both your user experience AND your SEO simultaneously.
Mistake #3: Your Call-to-Action Is Buried or Absent
Every page of your website should answer one question for the visitor: 'What should I do next?' If there's no clear call-to-action — a phone number, a 'Book Now' button, a contact form — people will leave without doing anything.
- Put your phone number in the top right corner of every page
- Add a prominent 'Book a Consultation' or 'Get a Quote' button above the fold
- Make your contact form easy to find — don't make people hunt for it
- Ensure contact info is in the footer of every page
Mistake #4: You Have No Social Proof
People trust other people, not businesses. If your website doesn't show testimonials, reviews, or case studies, visitors have no reason to trust you over the competition.
- Add 3–5 customer testimonials with photos and full names (if permitted)
- Embed your Google or Yelp reviews directly on the page
- Show before/after photos or project galleries
- Include any media mentions, awards, or certifications
Mistake #5: The Design Looks Outdated
People make design judgments in 50 milliseconds. An outdated design signals that your business is behind the times, even if your actual work is excellent. You don't need to spend a fortune — modern templates and clean design go a long way.
Not sure if your site looks outdated? Ask a friend or family member who has never seen it to spend 10 seconds on it, then close it. Ask what kind of business it is and whether they'd trust it. Their honest reaction is invaluable data.
The Fix: A Website That Works for You
A great small business website doesn't need to be complex. It needs to be fast, mobile-friendly, have a clear call-to-action, show social proof, and look professional. Get those five things right and your website becomes your best salesperson — working 24/7 without a salary.