A website that looks decent is not the same as a website that works. I've seen businesses spend thousands on a site that generates exactly zero leads because the fundamentals were wrong. Here are the five problems I see most often with Okanagan small business websites.
1. It loads too slowly
If your website takes more than three seconds to load on a phone, you've already lost most of your visitors. Google's data shows that more than half of users leave a site that takes longer than three seconds to load. Slow sites also rank lower in search results. A fast website isn't a luxury — it's a requirement. Bloated page builders, oversized images, and cheap hosting are the usual culprits.
2. There's no clear call to action
Someone lands on your homepage. They can see you're a plumber in Kelowna. But what do they do next? If there isn't a big, obvious button that says 'Call now' or 'Get a quote' within the first few seconds of landing on your page, most people won't figure it out on their own. They'll leave. Every page on your site needs one clear next step for the visitor.
3. It's not built for mobile
More than 70% of local business searches happen on a phone. If your website looks broken on mobile — text too small to read, buttons that don't work, forms that are impossible to fill in — you're turning away the majority of your potential customers. Mobile-first is not a trend. It's how people actually use the internet.
4. Google can't find it
A website with no SEO is like a storefront with no sign on a street with no traffic. You might have the best business in Kelowna, but if it doesn't show up when someone searches for what you offer, it doesn't matter. Every page needs proper page titles, descriptions, locally relevant content, and a structure that Google can read and understand.
5. It doesn't build trust
Before someone calls you or fills in a form, they're asking themselves: is this business legitimate? Photos of real people and real work, genuine reviews, a physical location, a professional email address — these all build trust. Stock photos, generic copy, and a Gmail address do the opposite. People can tell the difference, and it affects whether they reach out.
If any of these sound familiar, they're all fixable. A website that actually works for your business isn't about how it looks — it's about whether it's doing its job. If you're not sure how yours stacks up, send me a message and I'll take an honest look.
