Why Your Website Isn’t Generating Leads (7 Fixes)

Posted on by Annie
website not generating leads fixes

Why Your Website Isn’t Generating Leads (and 7 Fixes)

If your website is not generating leads, it’s usually not “because the internet hates you” — it’s because a few key pieces aren’t working together: messaging, calls to action, trust, speed, or targeting.

I’m Anne at Afford Web Design, a WordPress specialist based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. I help small businesses improve websites so they turn visits into enquiries — without jargon and without unnecessary rebuilds.

Book a Free Website Review
or explore small business web design in Suffolk

1. No ongoing care

Sites that are launched then forgotten drift. Out-of-date content, broken links, slow pages and expired plugins quietly reduce trust. If your website is not generating leads, this is often the simplest place to start.

Fix it

  • Schedule a monthly 30-minute review: top pages, forms, speed and broken links.
  • Update one thing each month (headline, testimonial, case study, image size).
  • Put essential WordPress updates on a care plan: updates, backups, uptime monitoring and security.

If you want this handled for you, see my WordPress maintenance plans.

2. Your website talks about you, not their problem

Visitors arrive with a job to be done. If your hero section focuses on “we are…” instead of “you’ll get…”, people bounce.
A common reason a website is not generating leads is unclear positioning right at the top.

Fix it

  • Rewrite your hero message to promise an outcome: “Get X result without Y headache.”
  • Add 3 clear benefits above the fold, then one strong primary CTA.
  • Use real customer language from emails and reviews.

Need help rewriting and placing this properly? That’s perfect for website updates and improvements.

3. Features everywhere, benefits nowhere

“We build WordPress sites” is a feature. “Launch a fast site that wins enquiries” is a benefit. If your website is not generating leads, it may be because visitors can’t quickly see what they gain.

Fix it

  • Use the “which means that…” test to turn features into outcomes.
  • Pair each benefit with a proof point (review, case study, example).
  • Add simple “from” pricing or a starter package to encourage enquiries.

If your site needs a clearer structure and messaging, explore website redesign options.

4. Weak brand signals and proof

Unclear logo, no location, no proof, no personality — all of these create doubt. Doubt kills clicks. For small businesses in Suffolk, local trust matters: people want to know who they’re dealing with.

Fix it

  • Make your logo, services and location visible (consistent name, phone and email across your site).
  • Place 2–3 testimonials near CTAs and add a short “Who we help” block.
  • Include a mini case study panel or link to your portfolio.

Add proof and polish by linking to your portfolio and highlighting results on key pages.

5. Low trust before the first click

If your profiles and posts feel inconsistent, visitors arrive cold — and your website has to work harder. A website not generating leads often needs a warmer, more consistent presence across channels.

Fix it

  • Share helpful tips and real examples on social, then link to the right page on your website.
  • Use consistent tone and visuals (same message, same style).
  • Add review snippets or a case study panel to key pages.

If local visibility is part of the problem, take a look at local SEO in Suffolk.

5. Low trust before the first click

If your profiles and posts feel inconsistent, visitors arrive cold — and your website has to work harder. A website not generating leads often needs a warmer, more consistent presence across channels.

Fix it

  • Share helpful tips and real examples on social, then link to the right page on your website.
  • Use consistent tone and visuals (same message, same style).
  • Add review snippets or a case study panel to key pages.

If local visibility is part of the problem, take a look at local SEO in Suffolk.

7. The wrong traffic (or no traffic)

Traffic that isn’t relevant won’t convert. It’s better to have 100 ideal visitors than 1,000 random ones. If your website is not generating leads, it may be because the traffic doesn’t match your services or location.

Fix it

  • Create “service + location” pages (e.g. web design in Suffolk).
  • Add case studies by sector and link them from service pages.
  • Fix on-page basics: one H1, descriptive titles/meta, internal links.

Start here: improve local SEO in Suffolk.

If your website is not generating leads, book a free review and get a plain-English action list of what to do.

Next steps: quick wins you can do this week

  • Rewrite your homepage hero message to promise an outcome with one clear CTA.
  • Add two fresh testimonials and one mini case study block.
  • Compress large images (WebP) and test your forms on mobile.
  • Create one “service + location” page and link it from your homepage.

Book a Free Website Review or see website redesign options

Frequently Asked Questions

Not always. Many conversion issues can be improved through better messaging, CTAs, speed and layout tweaks. If your site structure is fighting you, a redesign may be the most cost-effective route.

Start with your hero message, calls to action, trust signals and mobile usability. Those typically have the biggest impact.

Yes. You can book a free website review and I’ll send you a plain-English action list with the best next step.