The "Is My Website Terrible?" Checklist
A brutally honest guide to fixing the stuff that's actually hurting your business
Let's be honest - most small business websites are pretty terrible. Not because the owners are terrible, but because nobody tells them what actually matters vs. what just looks "professional."
This checklist covers the stuff that actually affects whether people become customers or bounce faster than a rubber ball. No fluff, no design theory, just the things that make your website work for your business instead of against it.
How to use this: Go through each section and check off what applies to your site. If you're checking more than a few "terrible" boxes, it's time for some changes. The good news? Most of these are fixable without starting over.
❌ Speed & Technical Stuff (The Invisible Killers)
☐ My website takes longer than 3 seconds to load
Why this matters: 40% of people abandon a site that takes longer than 3 seconds to load
Quick fix: Compress your images, remove unnecessary plugins
☐ My website looks broken on mobile phones
Why this matters: 60%+ of your visitors are on mobile
Quick fix: Test your site on your phone right now. If it's wonky, fix it immediately
☐ I get security warnings when I visit my own site
Why this matters: Google will literally warn people not to visit your site
Quick fix: Get an SSL certificate (your hosting company can help)
☐ My contact forms don't actually send me emails
Why this matters: You're losing leads and don't even know it
Quick fix: Test every form on your site monthly
❌ First Impression Failures (The 3-Second Test)
☐ People can't tell what I do within 3 seconds of landing on my homepage
Why this matters: Confused visitors don't become customers
Quick fix: Lead with what you do, not who you are
☐ My headline says something generic like "Welcome to our website"
Why this matters: Generic = forgettable = no customers
Quick fix: Say what problem you solve or benefit you provide
☐ I use stock photos of people in suits pointing at laptops
Why this matters: Nothing screams "fake" louder than cheesy stock photos
Quick fix: Use real photos of your business/team or better stock photos
☐ My logo takes up half the homepage
Why this matters: Your logo doesn't bring in customers, your value proposition does
Quick fix: Make your logo smaller, your headline bigger
❌ Navigation Nightmares (The "Where Am I?" Problem)
☐ My main menu has more than 7 items
Why this matters: Choice paralysis is real
Quick fix: Group related pages under dropdown menus
☐ Important pages are buried 3+ clicks deep
Why this matters: People are lazy (and that's okay)
Quick fix: Your most important pages should be 1-2 clicks from anywhere
☐ My "About" page doesn't mention what I actually do
Why this matters: People want to know you can solve their problem
Quick fix: Lead with your expertise, then get personal
☐ I don't have an obvious "Contact" or "Get Started" button
Why this matters: Make it easy for people to give you money
Quick fix: Put contact info in your header and footer
❌ Content Catastrophes (The "Do I Care?" Test)
☐ My website copy sounds like it was written by a robot
Why this matters: People buy from people, not corporations
Quick fix: Write like you're talking to a friend who needs your help
☐ I talk about myself more than I talk about helping customers
Why this matters: Customers care about their problems, not your awards
Quick fix: Use "you" more than "we" in your copy
☐ I don't clearly explain what happens when someone contacts me
Why this matters: Uncertainty kills conversions
Quick fix: "Here's what happens next" section on contact pages
☐ My blog hasn't been updated since 2019
Why this matters: Stale content suggests a stale business
Quick fix: Update something monthly or remove the blog entirely
❌ Trust & Credibility Killers (The "Are These People Legit?" Factor)
☐ I don't have any customer reviews or testimonials
Why this matters: Social proof is everything
Quick fix: Ask your best customers for a quick testimonial
☐ My contact page doesn't include my actual location
Why this matters: Local businesses should look local
Quick fix: Add your city/region even if you work remotely
☐ My "Services" page is vague about what I actually deliver
Why this matters: Specific sells, vague repels
Quick fix: List exactly what clients get when they work with you
☐ I don't have an actual human photo anywhere on my site
Why this matters: People want to know who they're working with
Quick fix: Add a professional (but friendly) photo of yourself
❌ Conversion Disasters (The "Now What?" Problem)
☐ People can't easily figure out how to buy from me or get started
Why this matters: Confused minds don't buy
Quick fix: Clear "Get Started," "Contact Us," or "Buy Now" buttons
☐ I don't capture email addresses anywhere on my site
Why this matters: Most visitors won't buy immediately
Quick fix: Offer something valuable in exchange for email addresses
☐ My pricing is completely hidden
Why this matters: Price-conscious people will look elsewhere
Quick fix: At least provide starting prices or ranges
☐ I don't have clear next steps after someone reads a blog post
Why this matters: Engaged readers are warm leads
Quick fix: End posts with relevant service recommendations
🎯 Your Website Health Score
Count your checkmarks:
0-5 checks: Your website is in pretty good shape! Focus on the items you checked for quick wins.
6-12 checks: Your website needs some TLC, but it's fixable. Prioritize speed, mobile, and clarity fixes first.
13-20 checks: Your website is actively hurting your business. Time for a serious overhaul or professional help.
20+ checks: We need to talk. Seriously. Your website might be scaring away more customers than it's bringing in.
What's Next?
If you checked 5+ boxes: Your website needs some attention. The good news? Most of these fixes don't require a complete redesign.
If you checked 10+ boxes: It might be time to call in reinforcements. Sometimes it's faster and cheaper to get professional help than to DIY your way through months of tweaks.
Need help fixing the problems you found? That's exactly what we do at Purple Wave Creative. We take websites that accidentally repel customers and turn them into customer magnets.
Ready to stop losing customers to a terrible website? Contact Purple Wave Creative - We'll help you fix what's broken and build something that actually brings in business.
This checklist was created by Purple Wave Creative - we mind your marketing so you can mind your business.