If you’re a business owner, your website is often the first impression people have of your brand. Whether you’re selling products, offering services, or simply sharing information, your site should be working for you — not against you.
I’m Tony Dennell, the lead web designer at Leeds Web Designer, and I’ve seen far too many good businesses held back by bad websites. A slow-loading homepage, clunky navigation, or outdated look can quietly push your potential customers straight into the arms of your competitors.
Here are five of the most common signs your website might be costing you customers, and what you can do to turn things around.
- Your Website Is Slow to Load
Let’s start with the most obvious (and dangerous) problem: speed.
We live in a world of instant gratification. If your website takes more than 2-3 seconds to load, you’re losing visitors. In fact, Google research shows that 53% of mobile users will abandon a site if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load. That’s over half your potential customers, gone before your content even appears.
What Causes Slow Load Times?
- Oversized or unoptimised images
- Cheap, overcrowded web hosting
- Too many plugins or scripts
- Outdated code or bloated themes
How to Fix It:
- Compress your images using tools like TinyPNG or ShortPixel
- Switch to a fast, reliable web host (I recommend UK-based hosts with great server speeds)
- Use caching plugins and a content delivery network (CDN)
- Ask a developer to audit and clean up your site’s code
At Leeds Web Designer, we always optimise our client websites to load fast across all devices. It’s one of the easiest wins in web design, and it can make a massive difference.
- Your Site Isn’t Mobile-Friendly
Have you ever tried to visit a website on your phone, only to find the text too small, buttons unclickable, or the layout all over the place? Annoying, right? Now imagine if your own site is giving visitors that experience.
With over 60% of website traffic now coming from mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly site isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s a must. Google even ranks mobile-friendly sites higher in search results.
Signs Your Website Isn’t Mobile-Optimised:
- Pinching and zooming required to read content
- Menus that don’t work properly on smaller screens
- Images or text spilling off the screen
- Long forms that are painful to complete on a phone
How to Fix It:
- Use responsive web design that adapts to any screen size
- Test your site using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool
- Streamline your navigation and make buttons finger-friendly
- Design mobile-first: think phone, then tablet, then desktop
Every site I build at Leeds Web Designer is responsive as standard. Because when your site works well on mobile, you keep people engaged and boost your chance of converting visitors into customers.
- Your Website Looks Outdated
Design trends evolve, and what looked sleek five years ago might now scream “stuck in the past.” A tired-looking website can make your business feel out of touch, even if your products or services are excellent.
Your website is a reflection of your brand. If it doesn’t look the part, people may question your professionalism or assume you’re no longer active.
Red Flags That Your Site Looks Dated:
- Small, cluttered text and poor typography
- Clip-art-style graphics or overused stock photos
- Boxy layouts with no breathing space
- Flash-based elements (yes, some are still out there!)
How to Fix It:
- Refresh your design with a modern, minimalist layout
- Use high-quality imagery that reflects your brand personality
- Choose a clean, legible font and consistent colour palette
- Work with a designer to align the website with your brand
One of the most common projects we handle at Leeds Web Designer is the website redesign. We help businesses modernise their look while keeping things true to who they are.
- Visitors Can’t Find What They’re Looking For
If people land on your site and feel confused, they won’t stick around. Simple as that.
Good navigation is like a well-organised shop. You want visitors to find what they’re after quickly and easily. If your menus are messy, links are broken, or key information is buried under layers of waffle, you’re missing out.
Common Navigation Issues:
- Menus with too many options or unclear labels
- No search function
- Important content (like contact details) hard to locate
- Broken links or missing pages
How to Fix It:
- Simplify your menus and organise them logically
- Add a prominent contact button or enquiry form
- Use clear, descriptive page titles
- Check for and fix any broken links using tools like Screaming Frog
When we build websites, we prioritise user experience. Your site should feel easy, intuitive, and even enjoyable to navigate.
- Weak or Missing Calls to Action (CTAs)
Here’s a quick test: what do you want people to do when they visit your website?
If your answer is vague, or if your site doesn’t clearly guide people toward that action, you’re likely missing out on conversions.
Why CTAs Matter: Your call to action is what turns a visitor into a lead, a sale, a booking, or an enquiry. Without one, people just browse and bounce.
Examples of Effective CTAs:
- “Book a Free Consultation”
- “Call Now for a Quote”
- “Download Our Price Guide”
- “Browse Our Services”
How to Fix It:
- Use strong, action-oriented language
- Make buttons stand out visually
- Place CTAs prominently on every key page
- Make sure forms are easy to complete on all devices
At Leeds Web Designer, we don’t just make websites look pretty — we build them to convert. A strong CTA is the difference between a visitor and a customer.
Bonus Tip: You’re Not Tracking Performance
Even if your website looks great, how do you know if it’s doing its job?
If you’re not using analytics, you’re flying blind.
Google Analytics and tools like Hotjar can tell you what pages are popular, where people drop off, and what traffic sources bring in the most leads.
Quick Wins:
- Set up Google Analytics and Google Search Console
- Track your most important goals (like contact form submissions or phone calls)
- Review performance monthly to spot opportunities for improvement
If you’re not sure where to start, I offer a free website audit where I walk you through exactly what’s working and what isn’t.
Final Thoughts
If you suspect your website isn’t pulling its weight, you’re probably right. But the good news is, these issues are fixable.
By addressing these five key signs — speed, mobile-friendliness, outdated design, poor navigation, and weak CTAs — you can transform your website from a digital brochure into a powerful sales and marketing tool.
As the lead designer at Leeds Web Designer, I work with small businesses every day to create websites that not only look great but perform.
If you’d like a second opinion on your current site, feel free to get in touch. I’m always happy to offer advice or walk you through your options.
Need help improving your website?
Get in touch with me, Tony Dennell, for a free, no-obligation chat about your website goals.
