Small Business Website Audit: 8 Common Fixes

If your website isn’t bringing in enquiries, run this quick audit. Below are the eight issues I fix most often—plus simple steps you can take today.

Updated: 25 October 2025 • WordPress & small business specialist

1. Brand signals: name, logo & trust
2. Location & contact clarity
3. Calls-to-action that actually get clicks
4. Placeholder & thin content
5. Empty or outdated blog
6. Unlinked or hidden social proof
7. Legal & compliance gaps
8. Speed, mobile & basic SEO

1. Brand signals: name, logo & trust

Your business name and what you do should be visible above the fold. An illegible logo, missing tagline, or buried credentials costs trust and clicks.

Fix it

• Add your business name + primary service to the hero (e.g., “Web Design in Suffolk for Small Businesses”).
• Use an SVG logo sized for mobile and desktop; check contrast on light/dark backgrounds.
• Add 2–3 trust markers: review stars, years in business, associations, or client logos.

2. Location & contact clarity

Local buyers bounce if they can’t see where you are or how to reach you.

Fix it

• Place city/region in the hero and footer (NAP consistency).
• Add a clear contact block: phone (tap-to-call), email, short form, and a small map.
• Use location terms where natural (e.g., “Bury St Edmunds web designer in Suffolk”).

3. Calls-to-action that actually get clicks

Vague buttons (such as ‘Learn more’) underperform. Make the next step unmissable with clear calls to action.

Fix it

• Use active CTAs matched to intent: “Request a Quote”, “Book a Free Website Review”, “See Packages”.
• Repeat a primary CTA at the top, mid-page, and end.
• Make buttons look like buttons (shape, contrast, hover/focus states).

4. Placeholder or thin content

“Lorem ipsum” or vague copy erodes credibility and kills rankings.

Fix it

• Replace placeholders with plain-English benefits and outcomes.
• Map one service per page with a clear H1, intro, bullets, FAQs, and a CTA.
• Add internal links between related services and case studies.

5. Empty or outdated blog

A silent blog is fine—unless it’s visibly out of date. Then it hurts trust.

Fix it

• If you won’t post regularly, hide dates or convert the blog into evergreen resources.
• Publish 3–5 useful posts that support your services (e.g., “Website redesign checklist”).
• Link each article to a relevant service and add a soft CTA at the end.

6. Unlinked or hidden social proof

Icons that don’t link correctly, or no proof of credibility on the website, waste a trust opportunity.

Fix it

• Link icons to active profiles; test each link.
• Embed 2–3 recent reviews or testimonials near CTAs.
• Add case studies with outcomes (even simple ones: “enquiries up”, “site speed halved”).

7. Legal & compliance gaps

Missing cookie consent, privacy basics, or accessibility considerations can bite.

Fix it

• Show a compliant cookie banner; link to a clear privacy policy and terms.
• Provide contact address/company info where required.
• Accessibility basics: readable font sizes, colour contrast, focus states, alt text.

8. Speed, mobile & basic SEO

Slow pages and weak on-page SEO are the #1 enquiry killers I see.

Fix it

• Compress images (use WEBP), lazy-load below-the-fold media, limit heavy scripts.
• One clear H1 per page; descriptive titles/meta; short, readable URLs.
• Internal links between services, portfolios and contact; add local terms naturally.

Need an Expert Website Audit?

I’ll review your site and send quick wins plus a prioritised fix list. If you want, I can implement the changes for you.

Book a Free Website Review
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Small Business Website Audit — FAQs

Related: Website Redesign • Small Business Web Design • WordPress Maintenance