Is your website helping or holding you back?

You might have a great-looking website, but is it actually pulling its weight? A site that looks good on the surface can still let you down if it is slow, confusing, or not aligned with your goals.

This article will help you spot the signs that your website might not be working as well as it should — and give you simple steps to improve it.

Signs your website might not be working for you

Even if you are getting regular visitors, your site may still be underperforming. These are some of the most common issues we see.

1. People cannot tell what you do

Your homepage should make it clear what you offer, who it is for, and why it matters — all within the first few seconds.

If someone lands on your site and still has questions, that is a sign you need clearer messaging.

2. Navigation is confusing

If your menus are cluttered, poorly labelled or inconsistent, visitors will struggle to move through your site. The same goes for broken links or missing pages.

Good navigation means people find what they need quickly and without frustration.

3. It does not work well on mobile

More than half of web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site is slow to load or hard to use on a phone, you are losing people.

Check your layout, tap targets, font sizes and page load speeds on different screen sizes.

4. You are not getting enquiries or sign-ups

A website should encourage people to take action — whether that is filling in a form, joining your mailing list or making a purchase.

If nothing is happening, your calls to action might be unclear, hidden or not compelling enough.

5. The site is out of date

If your content, plugins or branding are several years old, your website could be giving the wrong impression. It may also be vulnerable to technical problems or security issues.

Websites do not need to change constantly, but they do need occasional care.

What a good website should do for you

A useful website does more than just sit online — it works for you.

Depending on your organisation’s goals, that could mean:

• Generating leads or enquiries
• Educating your audience
• Supporting your services
• Attracting supporters or donations
• Making it easy to take the next step

If your current site is not helping with these things, it might be time for a refresh.

Photo: Kaboompics.com