Websites & e-commerce 3 min read
Seven website problems that quietly cost you enquiries
Visitors rarely tell you your website is confusing. They just leave. Seven common problems, how to spot them, and how to fix each one.
By Digitice Admin
People almost never email you to say your website is confusing. They look for an answer, do not find it, and leave. You see the cost as fewer enquiries, but you never hear why.
Here are seven problems we see again and again, and how to fix them.
1. Visitors cannot tell what you do
The first screen should say what you do, who it is for and what to do next. If it talks about your "vision" instead, visitors have to guess. Most will not try.
2. The form asks for too much
Every extra box in a form is a reason to stop. Ask only for what you need to reply well. If you need something unusual, say why. Show mistakes next to the box, not after the person presses send.
3. The next step is not clear
Every important page should end with one clear action: book a call, ask for a quote, start a trial. If a page just stops, the visitor has to decide what to do. Many decide to leave.
4. The site is slow, especially on phones
Speed is part of the experience. Big images, too many add-ons and cheap hosting all slow a site down. People on phones with a weak signal feel this most. Measure the real speed and fix the biggest causes first.
5. The menu is built around you, not your customers
Many menus copy the company's own departments. Customers do not think that way. They think about their problem. Ask a few people where they would click to find something, and watch what they do.
6. Important facts are hidden
Before buyers contact you, they want to know what you offer, roughly what it costs, how long it takes and how you work. Hiding this does not create more enquiries. It usually creates fewer, and worse ones.
7. There is nothing to make people trust you
Real case studies, photos of real people, clear contact details and honest policies all help a visitor feel safe. Stock photos and big claims with no proof do the opposite.
How to find your own problems
You do not need a big budget:
- Website data: find the pages where many people leave, and the forms few people finish
- Customer questions: list the questions people ask again and again. Each one is a gap on your site
- Simple tests: watch five people try one task on your site without help. Note where they stop or look confused
Fix the biggest problems, then test again. Small changes, done often, beat one big redesign.
When a new website makes sense
Sometimes the fixes keep growing. The site is slow, hard to edit, or no longer matches what you sell. Then a rebuild is cheaper in the long run. Our bespoke websites are planned around the questions your buyers ask, built to load fast, and run on a system your team can edit without a developer.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my website has problems?
Look for pages where many people leave, forms people start but do not finish, and questions customers ask again and again. Then watch five people try to use your site.
How many people do I need to test my website?
Five or six people usually show you most of the big problems. Fix them, then test again.
Do I need a full redesign to fix these problems?
Not always. Many problems can be fixed one at a time. A rebuild makes sense when the site is slow, hard to edit or no longer explains what you do.