March 15, 2024
•Design
•1 min read
If you've ever thought, "I have a website, but it doesn't really do much," this is for you.
A good-looking site is nice. But if it loads slowly, doesn't work on mobile, or confuses people—it's not helping your business. Below are 10 simple things that make a big difference. No tech skills needed. Just straight-forward stuff that works.
If your site takes ages to load, people won't wait. They'll just leave.
What helps:
Quick tip: open your site on your phone with 4G—not Wi-Fi. Is it slow? That's what your customers feel.
Most people will visit your site on their phone. If it's hard to read or navigate, they'll give up.
What to check:
If it feels awkward to use on your own phone, it needs fixing.
You don't need to show people everything. You just need to show them what matters.
What to include:
If someone lands on your site and doesn't know where to go next, that's a problem. Fix it by stripping things back.
When things jump around or pop up everywhere, it feels messy and rushed.
What to avoid:
People want calm, clear pages. Not chaos.
Look at your website links. Do they make sense?
Good:
yourbusiness.co.uk/contact
Bad:
yourbusiness.co.uk/page.php?id=123
Simple, clear links look more professional and are easier for people to share.
If someone sees "Not Secure" next to your site name, they won't trust it.
What you need:
This isn't expensive. Most web hosts include it for free. Just ask whoever built your site to double-check it.
Your website isn't just a brochure. It's a conversation. Keep it clear and human.
Tips:
If a stranger lands on your homepage, could they tell what you do in five seconds? If not, rewrite it.
Massive photos look nice, but they can slow your site to a crawl.
What to do:
Ask your web designer to "optimise" images. It takes them two minutes.
It's tempting to keep adding features—chat boxes, booking tools, fancy animations. But more stuff = more problems.
Keep it clean:
Think of your site like a shopfront. If it's cluttered, no one walks in.
Websites go out of date. Stuff breaks. Information changes. Make it a habit to check in.
Once a month:
If you wouldn't hand someone your business card with the wrong phone number, don't leave your website outdated either.
Your website is your online reputation. You don't need to be a tech expert to keep it working—you just need to care enough to check it, fix the basics, and keep things simple.
Want a comprehensive guide to optimizing your website? Download our free Website Performance Checklist - a 30-point guide covering speed, SEO, user experience, and conversions.
For more advanced strategies on making your website work for your business, check out our guide on local SEO for London businesses or learn how to create effective lead magnets that turn visitors into customers.
Take your website to the next level with these essential guides:
📋 Free Website Performance Checklist
Download our comprehensive 30-point checklist to systematically optimize your website.
📍 Local SEO Success for London's Small Businesses
Make sure your properly functioning website gets found by local customers.
🔍 Top SEO Myths Hurting Your Website
Avoid common SEO mistakes that could be undermining your website's performance.
🧲 Lead Magnets for Small Business London
Turn your optimized website into a lead generation machine.
💼 Marketing Tips for Service-Based Businesses
Use your improved website as part of a complete marketing strategy.
🎨 How to Select Brand Colors for British Business Owners
Create a cohesive brand identity that makes your website more memorable.