Your website is often the first impression people have of your business. Yet far too many small businesses unknowingly turn away customers with simple but costly website mistakes. Whether you built your site yourself or hired a developer years ago, it might be time for a closer look. Here are seven of the most common website mistakes small businesses make—and how to fix them before they impact your bottom line.
1. Your Site Isn’t Mobile-Friendly
Over 60% of website traffic now comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t optimized for smartphones and tablets, you’re not just giving visitors a poor experience—you’re losing them entirely. Pinch-to-zoom, misaligned content, and hard-to-click buttons signal to users (and Google) that your site isn’t up to modern standards.
How to Fix It:
Use a responsive WordPress theme and test your site with Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test. If your current setup can’t accommodate mobile, it’s time for a redesign.
2. Your Website Loads Too Slowly
Users expect websites to load in under 3 seconds. A slow-loading site drives people away, increases bounce rates, and hurts your search engine rankings. Common culprits include oversized images, bloated themes, and poor-quality hosting.
How to Fix It:
Compress images, eliminate unnecessary plugins, and upgrade to a reliable Managed WordPress Hosting provider (like Ask the Egghead) that delivers top-tier performance and uptime.
3. There’s No Clear Call to Action (CTA)
What do you want visitors to do when they land on your site? Whether it’s filling out a contact form, scheduling a consultation, or making a purchase, too many sites leave users guessing. No CTA means no conversions.
How to Fix It:
Add clear, compelling CTAs throughout your site—especially on the homepage, product pages, and blog posts. Use action-driven language like “Get Your Free Quote” or “Schedule a Call.”
4. Your Content Is Outdated or Unhelpful
Websites with stale content or vague messaging confuse visitors and hurt your credibility. If your “About” page hasn’t been touched in five years or your last blog post was from 2020, it’s time for a content refresh.
How to Fix It:
Update key pages with fresh information, relevant keywords, and clear value propositions. Regularly publishing helpful content not only improves engagement but also boosts SEO.
5. No SEO Strategy
Without proper search engine optimization (SEO), your website won’t be found—no matter how pretty it looks. Many small business sites skip basic SEO practices, like keyword research, metadata, and internal linking.
How to Fix It:
Use SEO tools like Yoast or Rank Math for WordPress, and focus on optimizing title tags, headings, and alt text. Include relevant keywords naturally in your content, and create internal links to key pages.
6. Poor Navigation and Site Structure
If visitors can’t find what they’re looking for quickly, they’ll leave. A cluttered menu, confusing categories, or broken links frustrate users and make your site seem unprofessional.
How to Fix It:
Create a simple navigation menu with clear categories. Use breadcrumbs, a search bar, and a logical page hierarchy. Make sure every page is accessible within a few clicks from the homepage.
7. No Trust Signals or Social Proof
People want to know they can trust your business before they buy. If your site lacks testimonials, reviews, certifications, or case studies, you may be losing credibility (and customers).
How to Fix It:
Display client testimonials, Google reviews, logos of companies you’ve worked with, or badges from industry associations. Adding these elements builds trust and reduces hesitation.
Final Thoughts
Your website should work for your business—not against it. If you’re making any of these mistakes, the good news is they’re fixable. Modern tools, strategic content, and high-performance hosting can make a world of difference.
At Ask the Egghead Inc., we specialize in building high-converting, mobile-friendly WordPress websites that actually drive business results. If you’re ready to transform your site, get in touch with us today.
