If you’re a small business owner, your website shouldn’t be an afterthought! It should be working for you. It’s often the first impression people get of your business, and whether you’re a dog groomer, a township, or a tax pro, first impressions matter.
I’ve seen the same five mistakes pop up over and over again. The good news? They’re all fixable.
1. Outdated Info
Your hours, services, and contact info should be accurate at all times. According to a BrightLocal survey, 77% of consumers lose trust in a business with inconsistent or incorrect contact details. Set a reminder to check your site once a month! It takes five minutes and keeps you from looking careless. I recommend setting reminders in your calendar when it is time to remove information or make changes.
2. No Clear Call to Action
What do you want people to do when they land on your site? Book an appointment? Fill out a form? Call you? Make it obvious. A study by Small Business Trends found that 70% of small business websites lack a clear call to action on their homepage. Add buttons, link your services, and keep it simple.
3. Too Much Text
You don’t need to say everything all at once. People skim—especially on mobile. Use headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs. According to Nielsen Norman Group, website visitors only read about 20% of the text on a page. Say less, but say it clearly.
4. Mobile Unfriendly
More than 60% of website traffic now comes from mobile devices (Statista, 2024). If your site doesn’t adjust well to smaller screens, you’re likely losing visitors. Test your site on your phone and if people have to pinch and zoom, it’s time for an update.
5. No Personality
This one’s big. Your website should reflect who you are. People want to work with someone real, not a faceless business with a stock image homepage. Share a photo. Use your voice. A little personality goes a long way in building trust.
If any of this sounds familiar and you’re not sure where to start, I’m happy to take a look and give honest, actionable feedback. Sometimes just a few small changes can make a big impact.
—Delray