Is Your Website Secretly Sabotaging Your Business? 5 Red Flags You Can't Ignore
Your website is your digital storefront, your 24/7 salesperson, and often the first impression potential clients have of your business. But let's be real—most of us set up our websites and then... forget about them. Like that gym membership we swore we'd use regularly.
After working with countless service-based businesses on their websites, I've seen it all. The "I built this myself three years ago and haven't touched it since" situation. The "my cousin's roommate's friend who 'knows computers' designed this" scenario. The "I paid good money for this in 2018" justification.
Here's the hard truth: your DIY or outdated website is probably costing you clients right now. Today, I'm breaking down the five most common red flags I see when clients come to me for website redesigns—and exactly what to do about each one.
Sign #1: Your Navigation Looks Like a Restaurant Menu in Times Square
You know those massive restaurant menus with 17 pages of options? That's what your website navigation might look like to visitors.
And guess what happens when people have too many choices? They make none.
I see it constantly: About dropdowns with Company, Team, Values, Mission, History, etc. Services with 12 different options. Resources with blogs, podcasts, videos, downloads, templates...
My eyes are glazing over just typing this.
The truth is, people don't have the attention spans they used to, and there's way too much competition out there. The longer it takes someone to find what they need, the quicker they'll bounce to a competitor who makes it easy.
Solution: Ruthlessly Simplify Your Menu
What to do:
Consolidate pages: That About dropdown with five options? Make it ONE comprehensive About page with clear sections and internal links.
Follow the 80/20 rule: Which 20% of your services bring in 80% of your revenue? Give THOSE prominent placement, and consider making low-performers into add-on services instead of main offerings.
Limit main navigation items: Seriously, five or six MAX.
Cut the dropdown pollution: If you must use dropdowns, keep them clean with 3-5 items max.
Be descriptive but concise: "Services" is boring. "Website Design Services" is clear.
I recently had a client with 14 main navigation items (I'm not kidding). We pared it down to 5, and their time-on-site jumped by 34% the very next month. People could actually find things without getting lost in option paralysis.
Sign #2: Your Site Loads Slower Than My Grandmother Sending a Text Message
We've all been there—clicking a link and watching the page crawl to life like it's being assembled by snails. In today's world, people expect instant gratification, and research shows you have about 3 seconds before someone bounces.
Slow load times don't just annoy visitors—they actively hurt your search rankings. Google has explicitly stated that site speed is a ranking factor. So that beautiful but massive hero image might actually be killing your business.
Solution: Speed Things Up (Without Sacrificing Style)
What to do:
Compress those images: You can maintain 95% of the quality while cutting file sizes by 70%. Use tools like TinyJPG or CompressPNG (they're free!).
Audit your plugins and scripts: Every external script you load is like adding another passenger to an already crowded car. Do you really need that fancy animation library? That third social media widget?
Run a speed test: Use Google PageSpeed Insights to get specific recommendations for YOUR site.
The fastest-loading sites I build for clients typically convert 2-3x better than their old snail-pace websites.
This isn't just about impatient users—it's about looking professional and trustworthy.
Sign #3: Your Copy Reads Like a College Textbook (That No One Voluntarily Opens)
Picture this: someone lands on your homepage and is immediately greeted by a wall of text explaining your company's entire history since conception, all your service methodologies, and your grandfather's secret pasta recipe.
And it's all in a single, massive paragraph.
Here's the truth about website copy in this century: people don't read—they scan. I often scroll down a page at lightning speed before deciding if something's worth my time. If I can't skim it in seconds, I'm out.
Solution: Make Your Content Scannable & Human
What to do:
Start with WIIFM (What's In It For Me?): The first section should immediately tell visitors who you are, what you do, and WHY IT MATTERS TO THEM. If this isn't crystal clear, people bounce faster than a rubber ball.
Use white space like it's free: (It is!) Give your content room to breathe.
Break it up: Headers, subheaders, bullet points, small paragraphs (2-3 sentences max).
Cut the corporate robot voice: Even people in corporate finance have a life outside spreadsheets. Let your brand voice shine—it gives visitors a preview of what working with you is like.
Eliminate repetition: Say it once, say it well, move on.
Inject some personality: This doesn't mean being unprofessional—it means being human.
Brand voice isn't just a logo—it's the feeling people get from interacting with your business. And it starts on your website. Some of my most successful clients have distinctive voices that make their copy a joy to read, even in "boring" industries.
Sign #4: Your Site Has More Security Warnings Than a Sketchy Downtown ATM
Nothing says "don't trust me with your information" quite like a big red "NOT SECURE" warning in a visitor's browser. Yet I'm constantly amazed by how many service businesses miss this absolute basics.
When Chrome shows that warning, it's like having a person at your store entrance telling customers, "This place might steal your credit card info!" Would you walk in? Neither will your site visitors.
Solution: Lock Down Your Site Security
What to do:
Get that SSL certificate: This is non-negotiable. Many hosting companies (*ahem* Squarespace), offer them for free now, so there's zero excuse.
Update internal links: Make sure all your internal links use HTTPS instead of HTTP.
Check external links: If you're linking to non-secure sites, consider finding alternatives or removing those links.
This is literally the easiest fix on this list, and it has an immediate impact on visitor trust. It's the digital equivalent of making sure your store's front door actually locks.
Sign #5: Your Conversion Rates Are Lower Than the Temperature in Canada in January
Beautiful website? Great. Getting traffic? Awesome. But if that traffic isn't turning into leads, clients, or sales... you've basically built a digital art gallery that costs you money instead of making it.
Low conversion rates mean visitors aren't taking action—they're just window shopping.
And in the service business world, window shoppers don't pay the bills.
Solution: Create a Strategic User Journey & Clear CTAs
What to do:
Map your ideal homepage flow: Here's my proven formula that works for service businesses:
Section 1. Strong intro hook (what you do, for whom, why they should care)
Section 2. Trust-builders (client logos if you have recognizable names)
Section 3. 1-2 sentences diving deeper into your intro statement
Section 4. Services overview (or About section if you're a personal brand)
Section 5. About you/your team (or Services if you put About in Section #4)
Section 6. Value-building resources (testimonials, blog highlights, free resources)
Section 7. Final CTA that clearly directs next steps
Make your CTAs descriptive: "Learn More" tells me nothing. "View Web Design Services" tells me exactly what to expect when I click.
Create visual hierarchy: Your primary action should stand out visually from secondary options.
Reduce friction points: Every form field, click, decision point is a chance for someone to drop off. Simplify!
A/B test everything: Don't assume, know what works.
Bonus Sign #6: You're DIYing When You Should Be Hiring
If you're reading this article and nodding along thinking "yep, my site has at least three of these problems," here's the honest truth: you probably need professional help.
I'm not saying this to sell my services (okay, maybe a little), but after 10+ years of fixing websites that business owners have been "meaning to update," I can tell you that you're likely too close to your own business to see the forest for the trees.
When you're inside your business every day, it's nearly impossible to view your website with fresh eyes. What seems clear to you might be utterly confusing to a first-time visitor.
Solution: Invest in Expert Help
What to do:
Hire a strategically-minded designer: Not just someone who makes things pretty, but someone who understands user experience AND business goals. (Hi, that's me!)
Be prepared to invest: A strategic website that drives business goals isn't cheap, but it pays for itself many times over.
Focus on ROI, not cost: The right website isn't an expense—it's an investment that should generate measurable returns.
Think about it this way: if your website brought in just ONE additional client per month, what would that be worth to your business over a year? For most service providers, we're talking tens (even hundreds) of thousands in additional revenue.
Stop Settling for "Good Enough"
Your website should be your hardest-working team member—not the one sleeping on the job. If you've identified with any of these signs, it's time to take action.
Whether you tackle these issues yourself or bring in a pro (again, hi! 👋), addressing these red flags could be the difference between a website that's just taking up digital space and one that's actively growing your business while you sleep.
Ready to transform your website from digital brochure to lead-generating machine?
Let's talk about how we can make that happen.
