Website Issues: Seven Signs Your Website Is Working Against You!

Running your own business normally means spinning a lot of plates, and your website is usually one of those plates that gets quietly pushed to the back or even dropped. You built it to tick a box or keep up with competitors, but now it just… sits there. The problem? Website Issues! A neglected or outdated website can cost you customers, damage your credibility, and hold back your marketing efforts. It takes more than software and plugin updates, too!

Just like your garden, or your garage, your website needs the occasional tidy-up and tlc maintenance to stay in good shape. In this blog, we’ll walk you through seven common and clear signs your website might be working against you, and what you can do to fix it.

1. You Haven’t Updated It in Over a Year

The Issue:
Many small business websites are launched and then forgotten. You might have added your services, a few photos, and your contact details, but if you haven’t made any changes or performed software updates in 12 months or more you will definitely start to have website issues, it’s likely that some of the content and the security or features are now out of date.

Why It Matters:
Outdated websites look neglected. A visitor might wonder if you’re still open, or whether you’re still offering the same services. On top of that, search engines like Google prefer websites that are regularly updated. A site that hasn’t changed in a year will gradually slip down the rankings.

What to Do:

• Check for seasonal content, are you still advertising last year’s summer event or Christmas opening hours?
• Update your homepage text to reflect any recent changes in your business
• Consider adding a news or blog section so you can post occasional updates and show signs of life
• Ensure any software or plugin updates are done

2. It’s Slow to Load on Phones or Tablets

The Issue:
Your website might look fine on your desktop, but how does it perform on mobile? If your pages are sluggish, images take forever to load, or the layout is awkward on smaller screens, visitors won’t hang around.

Why It Matters:
As of April 2025, people using mobile devices contribute to 63.15% of all website traffic. Rural and local customers often search on the go, perhaps in the car, in a café, or at an event. If your website doesn’t load within a few seconds, potential customers may give up and look elsewhere.

What to Do:

• Use free tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to test your load speed
• Optimise your images by resizing or compressing them—large files are one of the biggest causes of slow sites
• Make sure your website is mobile-friendly. most modern website builders offer a mobile preview option but actually check it yourself on your own devices

3. Your Contact Info Is Hard to Find (or Out of Date)

The Issue:
Visitors come to your website for information, but most importantly, they need a way to contact you. If your phone number, email address or business location has changed and your website still shows the old details, you’re creating confusion and missing enquiries.

Why It Matters:
Trust is everything in small and rural businesses. If a customer sees conflicting information or can’t find a simple way to get in touch, they may question your reliability or professionalism. Worse still, they might give up and try a competitor instead. Having consistent information across your website, directories and elsewhere also aids your SEO.

What to Do:

• Test your contact form to make sure it still works and sends messages to the right inbox
• Check that all your contact information—on the homepage, footer, and contact page—is current
• Add your phone number and email address to the top or bottom of every page for easy access

4. You’re Not Sure What It’s For Anymore

The Issue:
Your business has probably evolved since your website was first created. Maybe you’ve changed your services, added new products, or shifted your target market, but your website still reflects the old version of your business.

Why It Matters:
A confused website creates confused visitors. If people can’t immediately tell what you do, who you help, or how to work with you, they’ll leave. Your website needs to make a great first impression and clearly explain how you can solve your customer’s problem.

What to Do:

• Revisit your homepage wording, does it still reflect what you do and who you serve?
• Add a clear headline or message near the top, such as: “Affordable fencing and landscaping in Wiltshire – free quotes available”
• Strip back the clutter and focus on making each page serve a clear purpose

5. You’re Getting Traffic But No Enquiries = Website Issues

The Issue:
Maybe you’ve been promoting your website on social media or even ranking well on Google, but nobody seems to be getting in touch. If visitors are coming but not converting, something’s missing and it normally means you have website issues.

Why It Matters:
A good website doesn’t just attract visitors, it encourages them to take action. Whether that’s calling you, booking a service, or filling out a form, you need to guide people clearly and confidently to the next step.

What to Do:

• Add strong, clear calls to action on each page (e.g. “Call us today”, “Book a free quote”, “Send us a message”)
• Highlight trust signals, such as client testimonials, before-and-after galleries, or membership logos
• Make sure your contact options are easy to find and easy to use, don’t make people hunt for them

6. It’s Clunky or Hard to Navigate

The Issue:
If your menus are confusing, your links are broken, or your site feels like a maze, it’s probably costing you customers. People don’t want to work hard to find information, especially not on a mobile screen. Over time navigation can also be added to and that can make it more complicated than it needs to be.

Why It Matters:
Visitors to your website are short on time and short on patience. A difficult website experience makes people question your business. If you can’t make your website user-friendly, will your service be just as hard to deal with?

What to Do:

• Streamline your menu so it only shows the most important pages
• Avoid jargon, use plain labels like “About”, “Services”, “Prices”, and “Contact”
• Test all the links and make sure they go where they’re supposed to

7. You Built It Yourself (and You’re Not Sure It’s Good Enough)

The Issue:
DIY websites are a great place to start, and many business owners understandably want to keep costs low. But if you built your website yourself and it’s starting to feel a bit homemade or clunky, it might be time for a professional refresh.

Why It Matters:
Your website is often the first impression a customer gets of your business. A messy, amateur-looking site can undermine the quality of your work, even if your service is brilliant in real life. Your online presence needs to inspire confidence.

What to Do:

• Ask someone who hasn’t seen it before to give honest feedback. Do they understand what you do? Would they trust you based on the site alone?
• Consider a website review or refresh from a local marketing expert who understands small business needs
• If a full redesign isn’t possible, start with small changes, update the text, add new photos, and tidy up the layout

How Often Should You Give Your Website a Spring Clean & Eliminate Website Issues?

As a rule of thumb, aim to review and update your website every 3–6 months. That might sound like a big job, but it doesn’t have to be. Regular check-ins help you keep things fresh and avoid bigger problems building up over time.

Consider it a summer and winter job at minimum. This will ensure any seasonal offers are removed. Create a recurring reminder or seasonal habit to spend a little time refreshing your content, testing your links, and making sure your website still accurately reflects your business.

Final Thought on Website Issues: A Little Effort Goes a Long Way

Your website doesn’t need to be perfect, but it does need to be current, clear, and easy to use. A little time spent on a website spring clean can make a big difference, helping you attract more local customers, convert more enquiries, and feel more confident in how your business shows up online.

Need help? At Escape the Village, we specialise in supporting small and rural businesses with no-fuss, affordable marketing solutions. Whether you need a quick audit, a simple refresh, or a whole new site, we’re here to help you get the most out of your online presence. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat or consider signing up for our newsletter to receive regular free marketing advice, industry tips and updates on hot topics that matter!.