5 Website Mistakes That Are Costing Small Businesses Customers (And How to Fix Them for Under £50)
Your website is losing customers, and you don't even know it.
Every day, potential customers visit your small business website, can't find what they're looking for, and click away to your competitors. The frustrating part? Most of these problems are simple fixes that cost virtually nothing to resolve.
After reviewing hundreds of small business websites, we've identified five critical mistakes that appear again and again. The good news? None of them require expensive redesigns or technical expertise to fix.
Mistake #1: Your Phone Number Is Playing Hide and Seek
The Problem: Your phone number is buried in tiny text at the bottom of your website, or worse, only appears on your contact page.
Why It Matters: When someone needs a plumber at 7am on a Sunday morning, they don't want to hunt for contact information. They want to call you immediately, or they'll call the next business on their list.
The Cost: Every customer who can't find your phone number quickly is a lost sale. For service businesses, this could be 20-30% of your potential revenue.
The Fix:
Put your phone number in the top of every page
Make it large enough to tap easily on mobile phones
Format it as a clickable link so mobile users can tap to call
Include it in your website header so it appears on every page
Pro Tip: Use a format like "Call Now: 01234 567890" rather than just displaying the number. The words "Call Now" create urgency and make the action clear.
Mistake #2: Your Website Thinks It's Still 2015 (And Looks Like It)
The Problem: Your website takes 8 seconds to load on mobile devices, doesn't resize properly on phones, or uses design elements that scream "amateur."
Why It Matters: 53% of mobile users abandon websites that take longer than 3 seconds to load. If your site is slow or looks unprofessional on phones, you're losing more than half your potential customers.
The Cost: Slow, outdated websites can reduce conversions by up to 70%. For a business that should be getting 10 inquiries per week, you might only be getting 3.
The Fix: Use online tools to check the speed of your website - If it’s slow loading look to reduce image sizes.
Quick Tests:
Google "mobile-friendly test" and check your website
Visit your site on your phone – can you easily navigate and read everything?
Time how long your site takes to load on mobile data
Plaster Solution:
Compress your images (use online tools like TinyPNG)
Remove unnecessary plugins or widgets
Simplify your navigation menu
Mistake #3: You're Trying to Be Everything to Everyone (And Convincing No One)
The Problem: Your homepage says you offer "quality services" and "great customer care" but doesn't explain what you actually do or why someone should choose you over competitors.
Why It Matters: Customers make decisions in seconds. If they can't immediately understand what you do and why you're better than alternatives, they'll leave to find clearer options.
The Cost: Vague messaging can reduce conversion rates by 40-60%. Your website might be getting traffic, but visitors aren't becoming customers.
The Fix:
Replace Generic Language:
"Quality services" → "Emergency plumbing repairs completed within 2 hours"
"Great customer care" → "24/7 phone support with no call-out charges"
"Competitive prices" → "Fixed-price quotes with no hidden extras"
The 10-Second Test: Show your homepage to someone unfamiliar with your business. Can they explain what you do and why they should choose you within 10 seconds? If not, your messaging needs work.
Simple Homepage Formula:
Clear headline explaining what you do
Subheading explaining your main benefit
Three bullet points of key services/advantages
Prominent contact information
Customer testimonials or reviews
Mistake #4: Your Contact Form Is Where Enquiries Go to Die
The Problem: Your contact form asks for 12 pieces of information, doesn't work properly, or sends enquiries to an email address you never check.
Why It Matters: Every extra field in your contact form reduces completions by 10-15%. A form asking for name, email, phone, company, job title, budget, timeline, and detailed requirements will get 70% fewer submissions than one asking for just name, email, and message.
The Cost: Complicated or broken contact forms can reduce inquiries by 80%. You might be getting website traffic but missing most conversion opportunities.
The Fix:
Simplify Your Form:
Ask for only: Name, phone number, and brief message
Make phone number optional (some people prefer email)
Use simple language: "How can we help?" instead of "Please provide detailed information about your requirements"
Test Your Form Monthly:
Submit a test inquiry from your own website
Check it arrives in your inbox within 5 minutes
Ensure automated confirmation emails work
Set Up Proper Notifications: Most cheap website design services include form setup, but many business owners never test them properly. Set up notifications to your phone so you respond to enquiries immediately.
Mistake #5: You're Invisible to Local Customers (The Google My Business Connection)
The Problem: Your website isn't connected to your Google My Business profile, doesn't mention your location clearly, or lacks local SEO basics.
Why It Matters: 46% of all Google searches are looking for local information. If your small business website doesn't signal clearly where you're located and what areas you serve, you're invisible to nearby customers.
The Cost: Poor local SEO can reduce local discovery by 60-80%. Customers in your area are finding your competitors instead of you.
The Fix:
Website Location Signals:
Include your town/city name in page titles
Add a clear "Areas We Serve" section
Display your full business address prominently
Link to your Google My Business profile
Google My Business Connection:
Ensure your website URL is correct in your GMB profile
Keep business information consistent across both platforms
Add your website link to all GMB posts and updates
Local Content Creation:
Write about local projects or customers (with permission)
Mention local landmarks or areas in your content
Create location-specific service pages if you serve multiple areas
Quick Win: Add a simple footer to every page that includes: "Proudly serving [Your Town] and surrounding areas including [Local Area 1], [Local Area 2], and [Local Area 3]."
The Compound Effect: When Multiple Mistakes Combine
Here's the scary part: most small business websites suffer from multiple mistakes simultaneously. A site with a hidden phone number, slow loading times, vague messaging, a broken contact form, and poor local SEO might only convert 1-2% of visitors into customers.
Fix all five issues, and conversion rates can jump to 8-12% – a 4-6x improvement with minimal investment.
The 30-Day Challenge: Fix One Issue Per Week
Don't try to fix everything at once. Pick one mistake and focus on it completely:
Week 1: Make your phone number prominent and clickable Week 2: Test and improve your website speed and mobile performance Week 3: Rewrite your homepage messaging to be specific and compelling Week 4: Simplify and test your contact forms
When DIY Fixes Aren't Enough
Sometimes these issues indicate deeper problems that require professional help. If you're spending more time fighting with your website than running your business, it might be time to invest in modern affordable website design.
Professional cheap website design services address all five issues as standard:
Mobile-optimised, fast-loading design
Clear, conversion-focused messaging
Properly configured contact forms
Local SEO best practices
Prominent contact information
Measuring Your Success
Track these metrics to see if your fixes are working:
Website loading speed (aim for under 3 seconds on mobile)
Contact form submissions per 100 visitors
Phone calls generated by your website
Time visitors spend on your site
Local search visibility for your business name
The Bottom Line
Most small business website problems aren't technical – they're strategic. Customers want to find information quickly, understand what you offer clearly, and contact you easily.
Fix these five common mistakes, and you'll stop losing customers to avoidable website issues. Better yet, you'll start converting more visitors into paying customers without spending thousands on a complete redesign.
Your website should be your best salesperson, not your biggest barrier to new business.