Is Your Website Doing Its Job – or Turning People Away?

So today I want to walk you through why most websites don’t do what they’re meant to do… and how you can make sure yours actually works for the people who matter most: your customers.

A Quick History of Websites (And Where It All Went Wrong)

Back in the 90s, websites were built by techies, for techies. They were more about showing off technical skills than helping the visitor.

There wasn’t much thought given to the person on the other side of the screen.

Then came the early 2000s, and suddenly it was all about Google.

Businesses became obsessed with SEO.

So we ended up with websites written for search engines, packed with keywords but not much warmth or clarity for actual people.

And now?

We’ve gone to the other extreme.

A lot of business websites are beautiful, wide-screen images, clever animations, quirky menus.

But they’re built to impress, not to help.

Somewhere along the line, we’ve forgotten who websites are really for.

Your Website Shouldn’t Be About You

Here’s the most important message of this blog:

Your website is not about you. It’s about your customer.

When someone visits your site, they’re usually in research mode.

They’re checking you out. They want to know: can this person or business help me?

If they don’t find that answer quickly, they leave. It’s as simple as that.

And here's the kicker: you’ve only got 7 seconds to convince them they’re in the right place.

It used to be 15 seconds, but attention spans have dropped. You’ve got less than the time it takes to boil the kettle to make a first impression.

So what do you do with those 7 seconds?

The 4 Questions Your Website Needs to Answer (Fast)

There are just four key questions your website should answer as soon as someone lands on it:

1. Who is this for?
   Be crystal clear about who you help. People want to see themselves reflected in your site straight away.

2. What do you do?
   You’d be amazed how many websites don’t say this clearly. Don’t make your visitor work it out, they won’t bother.

3. Why should I care?
   This is your chance to show your value. Why should someone choose you over any other option?

4. What should I do next?
   This is your call to action. Do you want them to book a call? Buy a product? Fill in a form? Tell them!

If you can answer those four questions clearly and confidently, you’ll keep people on your site longer. They’ll feel like they’re in the right place. And when people feel understood, they’re far more likely to trust you and buy from you.

A Quick Action for This Week

Take 10 minutes to look at your website as if you were a potential customer. Not as the business owner but as someone visiting for the first time.

Ask yourself:

• Would I know straight away if this is for me?

• Is it obvious what this business does?

• Do I get a sense of why it’s different or valuable?

• Do I know what to do next?

If not, now’s the time to make some changes.

Because your website should be working for you - not confusing or losing potential customers.

If you’d like help reviewing your site Download this free website audit