It is almost always one of two things: people are not finding the site, or they find it and leave before calling. The second is more common and quicker to fix - a slow page on a phone, a number that is hard to tap, or nothing that proves you do good work. Go through the checks below on your own phone; most take a minute.
- 01
It is slow on a phone
Check: Run it through a mobile speed test, or open it on your own phone on mobile data, not Wi-Fi. If it takes more than a few seconds to show anything useful, many people leave before it does.
Fix: Usually the platform: heavy themes, page builders and plugins. Smaller photos help a little; a lighter site helps a lot.
Test your site free - 02
Your phone number is hard to find or tap
Check: On your phone, can you see the number without scrolling, and does tapping it start a call?
Fix: A tap-to-call number at the top of every page, and a call button that stays in reach as people scroll.
- 03
Nobody can tell where you work
Check: Would a stranger know, within five seconds, which towns you cover?
Fix: Say your areas in plain words near the top, and give your main towns their own pages so Google can match you to them.
- 04
It does not show your actual work
Check: Are the photos yours, of finished jobs? Stock photos of smiling builders tell people nothing.
Fix: Real photos from your own jobs - before and after pairs are the most convincing of all.
- 05
There is no proof anyone else trusted you
Check: Can a visitor see reviews, or a link to them, without hunting?
Fix: Show a few genuine reviews and link to your Google reviews. Then keep asking for new ones.
How to get more reviews - 06
The enquiry form is broken, or too long
Check: Send yourself an enquiry right now. Did it arrive? How many boxes did you have to fill in?
Fix: Name, phone, a line about the job - and a test enquiry every month. A broken form costs jobs silently.
- 07
It looks out of date
Check: Is the copyright year old? Is the design from another decade? People read an old site as a firm that might not be around.
Fix: Even a fresh, simple site beats an old elaborate one. Keep the year, photos and services current.
- 08
Google cannot find it for what people search
Check: Search for your main service and your town on Google, logged out. Are you anywhere on the first page or in the map?
Fix: A page for each main service, your areas named clearly, and a complete Google Business Profile.
Google Business Profile guide - 09
Enquiries arrive, but replies are slow
Check: How long do enquiries wait before you answer? Many customers hire whoever gets back to them first.
Fix: Get every enquiry on your phone the moment it arrives, and reply the same day - even if it is only to book a visit.
Want a second pair of eyes?
Run the free speed test first - it checks the most common cause in under a minute. If you would like me to look at the rest, get in touch and I'll tell you honestly whether your site needs fixing or replacing.