Three Ways to Screw Up Your Website
(and How to Not be THAT Guy in Asheville)
Asheville is overflowing with breweries, yoga studios, and folks selling macrame plant holders out of their Subaru. But click through half their websites and you’ll find the same problem. They look artsy and “authentic” but they don’t actually work. A good website isn’t about being the digital equivalent of drum circle vibes. It has to do its job.
Here are three spots where most people bungle it, with fixes so your site isn’t the online version of I-26 construction…
1: No Clear Calls to Action
Too many sites wander around like a jam band that won’t stop “exploring new sounds.” Nobody knows where the song is going, and nobody cares.
The Fix
• Figure out the one thing you want people to do. Buy, call, book, sign up. Pick it.
• Put that button front and center. Put it everywhere.
• Don’t get cute with it. “Learn More” is vague. “Book Your Zipline Tour” is clear.
2. Your Site Loads Slower Than Parking at Pack Square
Nobody is waiting 10 seconds for your homepage to load a moody photo of latte foam. Google isn’t waiting either. They’ll just drop your site down the rankings and move on.
The Fix
• Shrink your photos. Your iPhone does not need to upload 4000 pixels of latte art.
• Use a caching plugin. Ask your host what they offer to speed things up.
• Run your site through PageSpeed Insights. Then actually fix what it tells you to fix instead of shrugging.
3. Content That’s All About You (And Boring as Hell)
Every Asheville business swears they are “passionate” and “dedicated.” Newsflash. So is every guy selling hemp bracelets in the River Arts District. Nobody cares about your passion unless it helps them.
The Fix
• Answer the questions your customers actually ask.
• Write blog posts, FAQs, or a “How We Work” page that is useful instead of self-congratulatory.
• Talk like a human. If you wouldn’t say it to a stranger over a beer, don’t put it on your site.
Weird is wonderful. Your website can be weird too, but it has to be more than a pretty shell. Make it clear. Make it fast. Make it useful. Anything less and you’re just another digital ghost in the mountains.
Want to Fall In Love
with Your Website Again?
Download our fabulous Website Relationship Checkup Checklist. It’s free, it’ll help you love your site (or encourage an amicable split,) and it’ll give you a way to blow your competition out of the water. It’s free – but loving your website is priceless…
