Your website is often the first time a customer interacts with your business. If it's slow, confusing or hard to use, they might not stick around. It’s a bit like walking into a messy shop. If people can’t find what they need or it takes too long to get served, they’ll likely leave and not return. First impressions matter online just as much as they do in person.
Spotting the signs that your website might be turning people away is the first step to improvement. It’s not always obvious, either. You might have updated your site a couple of years ago, but things move on quickly. What worked then could be turning customers off now. Here are some common website problems that could be costing you business and how to avoid them.
Slow Loading Speeds
Nobody enjoys waiting, especially on the internet. If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, you’re already at risk of losing customers. Whether they’re on mobile or desktop, people expect pages to show up fast. If your homepage is sluggish or images drag on, users might leave before they even see what you offer.
Common causes of slow load times include:
- Large images that haven’t been compressed
- Too many or outdated plug-ins
- Unnecessary scripts and redirects
- Low-quality hosting with bandwidth issues
- Overloaded pages with visual effects
We once worked with a café in Brisbane that had stunning images across their homepage, but they hadn’t reduced the file sizes. The site took too long to load on phones. After resizing those images, the average time spent on their site went up, and more users made it to their menu page. A small tweak led to better engagement.
If you're unsure what’s causing your site to lag, a full performance audit can help. A fast website sets the tone for a better user experience and helps keep potential customers interested.
Poor Navigation
If visitors can’t find what they’re looking for quickly, they’ll probably move on. A messy or confusing menu layout, hidden links or pages that go in circles make things harder. Good navigation should feel natural and easy. If users have to stop and figure it out, you’re already losing them.
To improve your site’s navigation:
- Keep menu labels clear and simple
- Make sure menus appear in the same spot on every page
- Group similar content together under logical headings
- Limit how many main menu items you include
- Position your search bar where it’s easy to see
Think of your navigation like signposts. Users should always know where they are and how to get to the next page. If people call or message asking basic questions like where to book or how to contact you, that’s a sign your navigation isn’t working.
Fixing this not only makes things easier for your users but builds trust. The smoother it feels to browse, the more likely someone is to stick around and take the next step.
Outdated Design
An old website can give the wrong impression. It might make your business seem behind the times or inactive, even if you’re not. Styles change, and users can quickly spot a site that hasn’t been touched in years. That can be enough to cause doubt.
Poor design choices from years past might now be harming your site’s usability. These can include:
- Small, hard-to-read fonts
- Busy layouts without proper spacing
- Flash animations or old plug-ins
- Clashing colours or dated graphics
- No SSL security (that’s the padlock symbol)
We’ve worked with Brisbane businesses whose sites were built five to ten years ago and hadn’t changed since. For one local service provider, we did a full website refresh. That meant modern design, streamlined layout and updated content. After the changes, visitors stayed on the site longer and enquiries increased.
Refreshing your design doesn’t mean changing everything. But it should show that your business is current and paying attention to how people browse today.
Non-Responsive Design Pushes Mobile Users Away
More people view websites on mobile than ever before, so if your site doesn’t display properly on smaller screens, it’s costing you. A responsive website adapts to fit different screen sizes and makes it easy to interact. If someone has to zoom in or squint just to click a button, chances are they won’t bother.
Warning signs of non-responsive design include:
- Text that’s too small or hard to read
- Buttons too close together or too small to tap
- Menus that aren’t mobile-friendly
- Layouts that overlap or break on phones and tablets
To fix this, your layout needs to be flexible. That might mean stacking content vertically instead of having side columns or hiding complex navigation behind a drop-down menu on phones. Check your site on Androids, iPhones and tablets in different orientations. Test your buttons, forms and pages.
If it feels clunky to you, it will to your visitors too. A clean, responsive design signals professionalism and makes sure people can reach you from wherever they are.
Lack Of Clear Call-To-Actions (CTAs)
Even if your site looks good and loads quickly, it’s easy to lose people if they don’t know what to do next. A call-to-action is the bit that nudges users toward an outcome, like making a booking or sending an enquiry. Without these, visitors may just scroll and leave without engaging.
Effective CTAs can encourage users to:
- Schedule an appointment
- Submit a contact form
- Subscribe to a mailing list
- Visit your services page
- Call your business directly
They should stand out but not feel pushy. Phrases like “Book Now,” “View Services” or “Start Your Quote” work well when they’re placed where they’re easy to spot. Try positioning them at the top of the homepage, under key sections or next to featured content.
Too many CTAs can have the opposite effect. You don’t want visitors to feel overwhelmed or distracted. One clear action per page, repeated where needed, usually does the trick. Review each page of your site and decide what you want users to do, then guide them toward that step.
Build A Site That Keeps Visitors Coming Back
A great website doesn’t need flashy effects or loads of extras. All it really needs is to make things simple for your users. Fast speeds, smooth navigation, modern design, mobile usability and helpful CTAs all come together to create a good experience.
Even if your audience is focused around Brisbane, they still expect a certain level of quality when they land on your site. Your website might be the first thing they see, so it needs to make the right impact.
You don’t have to start from scratch to make a difference. Just being open to improving a few key areas can go a long way. Small changes today could lead to better engagement, more enquiries and stronger trust in your business.
Ready to take your website to the next level? If you're seeing any of these warning signs in your website, it might be time to consult the experts. For those looking for a trusted web designer in Brisbane, reach out to Diverge Media. We can help transform your site into a more engaging and user-friendly experience that keeps visitors coming back. Explore how we can make your digital presence as strong as your business.
