Websites

7 signs your small-business website is costing you calls

Most small-business websites don't fail loudly. They just quietly send people to a competitor. Here are the seven problems I see most often when I review websites for businesses in Tennessee and across the country.

1. It's hard to use on a phone

Most of your visitors are on a phone. If the text is tiny, the buttons are cramped or people have to pinch and zoom, they leave.

2. There's no tap-to-call button

If someone has to copy your phone number and switch apps, you've lost some of them. Put a call button at the top of every page.

3. The top of the page doesn't say what you do

"Welcome to our website" tells visitors nothing. Say what you do and where you do it in one plain sentence, like "Heating and cooling repair in Knoxville."

4. It loads slowly

Large photos and extra plugins slow everything down. If your home page takes more than a few seconds on cellular data, people won't wait.

5. Prices, hours or services are out of date

Old information makes people wonder whether you're still open. Check your hours, services and photos every season.

6. There are too many choices

"Call us, email us, fill out a form, chat with us, follow us" is confusing. Pick one main action and make it obvious.

7. No reviews anywhere

Visitors want proof. Add a few real reviews from Google near the top of your home page and on your service pages.

Where to start

Pick the one problem that would bother your customers most and fix that first. If you'd like a second set of eyes, I'll review your website with you in a free 15-minute Checkup and show you the top three fixes.

Book your free Checkup or call 865-243-0962.