Look, I'm going to be real with you - I've audited A TON of small business websites, and you know what I see OVER and OVER again? Amazing businesses being held back by websites that just aren't doing their job!
Let's fix that, shall we?
Why Should You Care About Your Website in 2025?
Quick story: Last month, a client came to me frustrated that they weren't getting any leads from their "gorgeous" website. Turns out, their site took 15 seconds to load on mobile. FIFTEEN. SECONDS.
Know what happens in 15 seconds? Your potential customer is already back on TikTok! 😅
Here Are the 10 Things Your Website ABSOLUTELY Needs in 2025:
1. Lightning-Fast Load Speed ⚡
Let's get technical for a sec (but not too technical, I promise!).
What You Need:
Desktop load time under 3 seconds
Mobile load time under 4 seconds
Optimized images (please stop uploading those 5MB photos!)
Pro Tip: Go to Google PageSpeed Insights RIGHT NOW and test your site. Is it in the red? We need to talk!
2. Mobile-First Design (Because, Duh!)
"But my website looks great on desktop!" Cool story, but 73% of your visitors are probably on their phones right now.
Must-Haves:
Touch-friendly buttons (no tiny click targets!)
Readable text without zooming
No horizontal scrolling (it's not 2010 anymore!)
Easy-to-find contact information
Reality Check: Pull up your site on your phone right now. Would you enjoy using it? Be honest!
3. Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs) That Actually Work 🎯
Your website visitors shouldn't need a treasure map to figure out what to do next!
Every Page Needs:
ONE primary action you want visitors to take
Obvious buttons (please, no "click here" text links!)
Contrasting colors that POP
Action-oriented language
Pro Tip: Your CTA should finish this sentence: "I want to..." (Book Now, Start Learning, Get Started, etc.)
4. Social Proof (Because Nobody Wants to Be First!) 🌟
We're all a bunch of sheep when it comes to decision-making (sorry, but it's true!).
Include:
Customer testimonials (with real photos!)
Case studies (with real results!)
Industry awards
Media mentions
Client logos
Mind-Blowing Stat: Adding testimonials to your landing pages can increase conversions by up to 34%!
5. Clear, Scannable Content (Stop the Wall of Text!)
Nobody's reading your website word-for-word. There, I said it!
Make It Scannable:
Short paragraphs (3-4 lines max)
Bullet points
Headers and subheaders
Bold important text
White space (let your content breathe!)
Pro Tip: Read your content out loud. If you run out of breath, your paragraphs are too long!
6. Easy-to-Find Contact Information
Playing "Where's Waldo?" with your contact info is NOT a fun game for your customers!
Must-Include:
Phone number (if relevant)
Email address
Physical address (if relevant)
Contact form
Social media links
Business hours
Please: Make yourself easy to contact. Pretty please? With sugar on top? 🙏
7. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Basics 🔍
"But SEO is sooooo complicated!" It doesn't have to be! Start with the basics:
Essential SEO Elements:
Descriptive page titles
Meta descriptions
Alt text for images
Clean URL structure
Mobile responsiveness (yes, it affects SEO!)
8. Security Features (Because Trust Matters!)
Nothing kills trust faster than that "Not Secure" warning in Chrome!
Must-Haves:
SSL certificate (that little padlock icon)
Regular backups
Strong passwords
Updated software
Privacy policy (seriously, it's a legal issue)
Reality Check: A Privacy Policy is a non-negotiable if you're gathering any kind of customer data - that includes email sign ups for your newsletter!
9. Analytics Tracking (Because Guessing Is Not a Strategy!)
If you're not tracking it, you can't improve it!
Set Up:
Google Analytics
Meta Pixel
Form tracking
Pro Tip: Set up Google Analytics NOW if you haven't already!
10. Lead Capture System (Don't Let Them Get Away!)
Most visitors won't buy on their first visit. Capture their info so you can stay in touch!
Include:
Pop-up with valuable offer
Newsletter signup
Free download
Consultation booking
Chat widget
Real Numbers: We typically see 3-5% of visitors convert on first visit. But with a good lead capture system? You can get 20-30% into your funnel!
"Okay, But Where Do I Start?!"
I know this list might feel overwhelming. But here's your priority order:
Speed & Mobile Responsiveness (Foundation)
Clear CTAs & Contact Info (Functionality)
Content & Social Proof (Trust)
Everything else (Optimization)
The BIGGEST Website Mistakes I See
Focusing on pretty over practical (Your website should be functional first, then beautiful)
Copying competitor websites (What works for them might not work for YOU!)
Setting and forgetting (Your website should evolve with your business!)
Ready to Turn Your Website Into a Lead-Generating Machine?
If you're:
Frustrated with low conversions
Not sure why people aren't contacting you
Ready to stop losing customers to a poor website
Wanting to stand out online
Let's chat! At Sonder & Media, we create websites that actually work for your business.
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