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Why Your Small Business Website Isn’t Getting Traffic (And How to Fix It)

Shaun Sadlier • 3 April 2025

You’ve poured your heart into your small business—maybe you’re a plumber in Bristol, a café owner in Leeds, or a retailer in Manchester. You’ve even got a website up and running, but there’s a problem: no one’s visiting it. You check your analytics (if you even know where to look), and the numbers are dismal. It’s frustrating, isn’t it? I’ve been there myself, staring at a screen wondering why my hard work isn’t paying off.

At Leads Nurtured, we’ve helped countless small businesses turn their websites from ghost towns into bustling hubs of activity. In this blog, I’ll walk you through the most common reasons your small business website isn’t getting traffic—and, more importantly, how to fix it. From poor SEO to outdated design, we’ll cover it all, with practical solutions you can start using today. Let’s get your website the attention it deserves.

The Pain of a Website That Doesn’t Work

I’ll never forget working with Mike, a plumber in Bristol. He’d built a website for his business a few years back, hoping it would bring in new customers. But when we met, he was at his wit’s end. “I’ve got this website, but no one’s calling,” he told me over a cuppa. “I might as well not have one at all.” Mike’s story isn’t unique—many small business owners feel the same way. You’ve invested time and money into your site, but if it’s not getting traffic, it’s not doing its job.

The good news? There are clear reasons why this happens, and they’re fixable. At Leads Nurtured, we helped Mike turn things around with a fresh website and some simple SEO tweaks, and within a few months, his phone was ringing off the hook. Let’s dive into the reasons your website might be struggling—and how you can fix it.

Reason 1: Your Website Isn’t Optimised for SEO

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the process of making your website more visible on search engines like Google. If your site isn’t optimised, it’s like having a shop in the middle of nowhere with no signs pointing to it. One of the biggest SEO challenges is link building—41% of SEO experts say it’s the toughest part of their job (HubSpot, 2013). Without links from other websites pointing to yours, Google doesn’t see your site as trustworthy, and it won’t rank well.

How to Fix It:

Start with On-Page SEO: Make sure your website includes keywords your customers are searching for, like “Bristol plumber” or “Leeds café.” Add these to your homepage, service pages, and blog posts.
Create Regular Content: Blogging is a fantastic way to boost SEO. Each blog post is a new page for Google to index, and it can attract links naturally. All our packages at Leads Nurtured include blog creation—1 blog/month with Pulse (£150/month), 2 with Surge, and 5 with Nova. We helped Mike by writing a blog on “How to Spot a Leaky Pipe Before It’s Too Late,” which brought in new visitors searching for plumbing tips.
Build Links: Reach out to local directories (like Yell or Yelp) or partner with other local businesses to get links to your site. This signals to Google that your business is legit.

Reason 2: Your Website Design Is Outdated

Let’s be honest: if your website looks like it’s from the early 2000s, customers will click away faster than you can say “dial-up.” An outdated design isn’t just about aesthetics—it affects how Google ranks your site, too. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly or takes ages to load, Google will push it down the search results. Over 50% of web traffic comes from mobile devices (Statista, 2024), so if your site isn’t responsive, you’re losing half your potential visitors.

How to Fix It:

Refresh Your Design: A modern, clean design can make all the difference. With our Pulse package, we’ll build you a Duda website with up to 10 pages, optimised for mobile and local SEO. After 12 months, the website is yours to keep—no strings attached.
Improve Load Speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to check your site’s speed. Compress images, enable browser caching, and remove unnecessary plugins to make it faster.
Make It Mobile-Friendly: Test your site on your phone. Can you navigate easily? If not, it’s time for an update. We include mobile optimisation in all our packages, ensuring your site looks great on any device.

Reason 3: Your Website Lacks Fresh Content

Google loves fresh content—it’s a sign your website is active and relevant. If your site hasn’t been updated in years, or if it’s just a static “brochure” with your contact details, you’re not giving Google (or your customers) a reason to visit. Regular content, like blog posts, can attract new visitors and keep them coming back.

How to Fix It:

Start Blogging: Write about topics your customers care about. A café could blog about “The Best Spring Coffee Recipes,” while a plumber might write “5 Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes in Winter.” We helped Mike the plumber by adding a monthly blog to his site, which brought in new visitors searching for plumbing advice.
Update Existing Pages: Refresh your homepage or service pages with new photos, testimonials, or seasonal offers. Our Nova package (£500/month) includes two hours of monthly content updates, so we can keep your site fresh for you.
Add a Blog Section: If your site doesn’t have a blog, it’s time to add one. Our Pulse package includes 1 blog/month, helping you attract more traffic and rank higher on Google.

Reason 4: Your Website Isn’t Secure

Security is a big deal for both Google and your customers. If your website doesn’t have an SSL certificate (you’ll know because the URL starts with “http” instead of “https”), Google will flag it as “not secure,” and visitors might see a warning before they even reach your site. This can tank your traffic and scare away potential customers.

How to Fix It:

Get an SSL Certificate: An SSL certificate encrypts data between your website and your visitors, making it secure. All Leads Nurtured packages include a free SSL certificate, so you don’t have to worry about this.
Display Trust Signals: Add badges like “Secure Checkout” or “SSL Protected” to your site to reassure visitors. This builds trust and encourages them to stay.
Keep Software Updated: If your site runs on a platform like WordPress, make sure plugins and themes are up to date to prevent security issues. Our web maintenance (included in all packages) handles this for you.

Reason 5: You’re Not Promoting Your Website

Even the best website won’t get traffic if no one knows it exists. Many small business owners make the mistake of launching a site and then… doing nothing. You need to promote your website actively to drive traffic and get noticed.

How to Fix It:

Use Social Media: Share your website link on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Post about new blogs, promotions, or events to drive clicks. We can help amplify your social efforts with our Surge package (£300/month), which includes Google My Business management.
Leverage Email Marketing: Send a newsletter to your customers with a link to your site. For example, “Check out our new spring menu on our website!” Our Nova package includes AI tools to automate email marketing.
Add Your URL Everywhere: Put your website link on your business cards, email signature, and even your shop window. Every little bit helps.

Reason 6: Your Website Isn’t Localised

If you’re a local business, your website needs to reflect that. Customers searching for “hairdresser near me” or “plumber in Bristol” want to see businesses in their area. If your site doesn’t include local signals, Google won’t show it in local search results.

How to Fix It:

Add Your Location: Include your city or area in your homepage title, meta description, and content (e.g., “Bristol’s Best Plumber”).
Create Local Content: Write blogs about local events or news, like “Top 5 Things to Do in Leeds This Spring.” We can help with this through our blog creation services.
Optimise for Local SEO: Our Pulse package includes local SEO for one area, ensuring your site ranks for searches like “near me.” We did this for Mike, helping him rank for “Bristol plumber” and bringing in more local calls.

A Checklist for Website Updates

Ready to turn your website around? Here’s a quick checklist to get started:

Optimise for SEO: Add relevant keywords to your pages and start blogging regularly.
Refresh Your Design: Update your site with a modern, mobile-friendly design.
Improve Load Speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to make your site faster.
Add an SSL Certificate: Ensure your site is secure with “https” (included in all Leads Nurtured packages).
Create Fresh Content: Add new blogs or update existing pages with seasonal offers.
Promote Your Site: Share your website on social media, in emails, and on your business cards.
Localise Your Site: Include your location in your content and optimise for local SEO.

How Leads Nurtured Helped Mike the Plumber

Let’s go back to Mike, the Bristol plumber. When we started working with him, his website was outdated, not mobile-friendly, and nowhere to be found on Google. We used our Pulse package to build him a new Duda website, optimised for local SEO with keywords like “Bristol plumber.”

We added a blog section and wrote a monthly post to attract new visitors. We also ensured his site was secure with an SSL certificate and promoted it on his Google My Business profile (a service in our Surge package). Within three months, Mike’s traffic had tripled, and he was getting more calls than ever. He told me, “I actually had time to take my lad to footie practice last week—thanks to you lot taking the stress off!” That’s the kind of impact we want for every small business we work with.

Why Choose Leads Nurtured to Boost Your Website Traffic?

At Leads Nurtured, we’re not just about building websites—we’re about building your business. Our Pulse package (£150/month) is the perfect starting point: a mobile-friendly Duda website with up to 10 pages, local SEO, a free SSL certificate, and 1 blog/month to boost your traffic. After 12 months, the website is yours to keep. Ready to get more visitors to your site? Let’s have a natter—no pressure, just a friendly chat about how we can help.

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Why a Free SEO Audit Is the First Step to Growing Your Small Business Online

by Shaun Sadlier • 4 April 2025

If you’re a small business owner, perhaps a hairdresser in Edinburgh, a carpenter in Glasgow, or a pet groomer in Aberdeen, you’ve probably heard the term “SEO” mentioned a lot. But what does it actually mean for your business, and why should you care? I’ve been in your position, wondering how to attract more customers to my website without spending a fortune. At Leads Nurtured , we’ve helped countless small businesses grow their online presence, and the first step we always recommend is a free SEO audit. Why? Because it’s the best way to uncover what’s holding your website back, and how to fix it. In this blog, I’ll explain why a free SEO audit is the first step to growing your small business online, and how you can get started with ours today using this link: Free SEO Audit Form . Let’s get your website working harder for you. What Is an SEO Audit, and Why Does It Matter? SEO, or search engine optimisation, is the process of improving your website so it ranks higher on search engines like Google. When someone searches for “hairdresser in Edinburgh” or “carpenter in Glasgow,” you want your business to appear on the first page - because 75% of users never scroll past the first page of search results (HubSpot, 2023). An SEO audit is like a health check for your website. It examines everything from your site’s structure to its content, pinpointing what’s working, what’s not, and what you can do to improve your rankings. I’ll always remember meeting Fiona, a pet groomer in Aberdeen. She had a website, but it wasn’t bringing in any clients. “I don’t know what I’m doing wrong,” she admitted over a coffee. We ran a free SEO audit for her and discovered that her site wasn’t optimised for local searches, had outdated content, and was missing key keywords. With those insights, we fixed the issues, and within three months, Fiona’s bookings had tripled. That’s the power of an SEO audit - it gives you a clear starting point to grow your business online. Why a Free SEO Audit Is Essential for Small Businesses You might be thinking, “I can’t afford to spend a lot on SEO.” I completely understand - running a small business is challenging, and every pound matters. That’s why a free SEO audit is so valuable. It provides a detailed look at your website’s performance without costing you a penny. Here’s why it’s the first step to growing your small business online. 1. It Uncovers Hidden Issues Holding You Back Your website might look fantastic, but there could be hidden problems preventing it from ranking on Google. For example: Slow Load Times : If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, 53% of mobile users will leave (Google, 2023). Broken Links : These annoy visitors and harm your SEO. Missing Keywords : If your site doesn’t include terms like “Edinburgh hairdresser,” Google won’t know to show it in local searches. A free SEO audit identifies these issues so you can address them. When we audited Fiona’s site, we found her homepage took 7 seconds to load - far too slow. We optimised it, and her bounce rate dropped significantly. 2. It Shows You What’s Working (and What’s Not) An SEO audit doesn’t just highlight problems, it also shows what’s working well. Maybe you’re ranking for a few keywords but could rank for more with a small tweak. Or perhaps your blog posts are driving traffic, but your service pages aren’t. Knowing what’s working helps you focus your efforts. For James, a carpenter in Glasgow, our audit revealed that his blog on “Custom Furniture Ideas for Small Spaces” was driving most of his traffic. We used that insight to create more targeted content, which doubled his inquiries in three months. 3. It Helps You Understand Your Customers Better An SEO audit includes keyword research, which reveals what your customers are searching for. Are they looking for “emergency hairdresser in Edinburgh” or “bespoke carpenter in Glasgow”? Understanding these search terms helps you tailor your website to meet their needs. When we audited an Edinburgh hairdresser’s site, we found that customers were searching for “bridal hair stylist in Edinburgh.” We optimised their site for that term, and they saw a 25% increase in bookings from brides-to-be. 4. It Saves You Time and Money in the Long Run SEO can feel daunting, especially if you’re unsure where to begin. A free SEO audit gives you a roadmap, so you’re not wasting time or money on ineffective strategies. Instead of guessing, you’ll know exactly what to focus on. For Fiona, the audit showed us that her site wasn’t mobile-friendly - a simple fix that made a huge difference in her traffic. 5. It Levels the Playing Field Big businesses might have large budgets for SEO, but a free audit gives small businesses like yours a fair shot. It helps you identify easy wins that can boost your rankings without a big investment. At Leads Nurtured , we’re passionate about helping small businesses compete online, and our free SEO audit is the perfect starting point. What Does a Free SEO Audit from Leads Nurtured Include? At Leads Nurtured , we offer a free SEO audit to help small businesses like yours get started on the right track. Here’s what you’ll get when you fill out our Free SEO Audit Form : Technical Analysis : We’ll check your site’s speed, mobile-friendliness, and structure to ensure it’s set up for success. Keyword Insights : We’ll identify the keywords your customers are searching for and see how your site ranks for them. Content Review : We’ll look at your site’s content to see if it’s engaging visitors and optimised for SEO. Backlink Check : We’ll examine the links pointing to your site, as they play a big role in your rankings. Local SEO Assessment : We’ll see how well your site is optimised for local searches like “near me.” Actionable Recommendations : You’ll get a report with clear, practical steps to improve your site’s performance. It’s quick, easy, and completely free - just fill out the form, and we’ll take care of the rest. How Leads Nurtured Turns Your Audit Into Results A free SEO audit is a great starting point, but what happens next? At Leads Nurtured , we don’t just hand you a report and leave you to figure it out - we’re here to help you take action. Our packages - Pulse (£150/month), Surge (£300/month), and Nova (£500/month) - are designed to address the issues uncovered in your audit and turn your website into a customer magnet. Here’s how we do it. 1. Fix Technical Issues with a Modern Website If your audit reveals technical issues like slow load times or a lack of mobile-friendliness, our Pulse package includes a Duda website with up to 10 pages, optimised for speed and mobile use. We also include a free SSL certificate for security. After 12 months, the website is yours to keep. 2. Boost Rankings with Local SEO If your site isn’t ranking for local searches, our Pulse package includes local SEO for one area, ensuring you show up for searches like “hairdresser near me.” For James, we optimised his site for “Glasgow carpenter,” which doubled his inquiries. 3. Drive Traffic with Content Marketing If your audit shows a lack of content, all our packages include blog creation—1 blog/month with Pulse, 2 with Surge, and 5 with Nova. These blogs target keywords from your audit, helping you rank higher and attract more visitors. We did this for Fiona, writing a blog on “Top 5 Dog Grooming Tips for Aberdeen Pet Owners,” which brought in new clients. 4. Promote Your Site with Google My Business If your audit suggests better promotion, our Surge package includes Google My Business management. We’ll optimise your profile, post updates, and encourage reviews to drive traffic. For an Aberdeen pet groomer, this led to a 30% increase in bookings. 5. Build Trust with Review Management If your audit highlights a lack of trust signals, our Nova package includes review management to help you collect and showcase positive reviews. This builds credibility and encourages visitors to take action, as it did for James’s carpentry business. Real Results: How an SEO Audit Helped James’s Carpentry Business Let’s go back to James, the carpenter in Glasgow. When we ran his free SEO audit, we found his site wasn’t optimised for local searches, had a slow load time, and lacked fresh content. Using the insights from the audit, we optimised his site for “Glasgow carpenter,” wrote monthly blogs, and promoted his site on Google My Business. Within three months, James’s inquiries had doubled, and he was taking on more custom projects than ever. He told us, “I didn’t realise how much I was missing out on until the audit showed me—now my website is bringing in real clients!” That’s the kind of result we want for every small business we work with. Take the First Step: Get Your Free SEO Audit Today Ready to find out what’s holding your website back? Our free SEO audit is the perfect starting point. It’s quick, easy, and completely free - just fill out this form, and we’ll send you a detailed report with actionable recommendations: Free SEO Audit Form . Once you have your audit, we can help you take the next steps with our affordable packages - Pulse (£150/month), Surge (£300/month), or Nova (£500/month). Let’s make your website work harder for you.

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Unleash Your Austin Startup’s Online Groove with Pulse

by Shaun Sadlier • 25 March 2025

Austin’s got that electric hum—SXSW stages buzzing with tech dreams, food trucks sizzling on South Congress, and startups strumming their own beat. This city thrives on bold moves, but for newbies, hitting the digital stage can feel like a wallet-draining encore. Freelancers slap you with $600-$1,200 upfront tabs, and a part-timer strumming at $13/hour (20 hours = $260) barely tunes the strings. Enter Leads Nurtured’s Pulse plan: $200/month for a pro website and marketing riff that keeps your Austin startup rocking without emptying the tip jar. Let’s crank up the volume on how Pulse jams for ATX dreamers. Austin’s Startup Symphony: Playing Digital Costs Like a Pro They call Austin the “Live Music Capital,” but it’s also a startup jam session—over 6,000 new acts took the stage in 2023 (Austin Chamber). To shine here, you’ve got to cut through the noise online, yet the price tags hit like a sour chord. A basic site? $800 upfront. Hosting? Another $15/month. SEO tools? $50+ to even start. A part-timer at $260/month might pluck a few notes, but they’re no maestro. Pulse remixes that mess, delivering a full setlist for $200/month—cheaper than a Sixth Street bar crawl. It’s your backstage pass to digital stardom, no cover charge required. Pulse: Your Austin Startup’s Roadie Kit Pulse isn’t just a website—it’s your crew, your gear, your soundcheck, all rolled into $200/month (3-month gig commitment). Here’s the lineup: 10 Pages of Duda Design : A slick, mobile-tuned site that riffs fast—perfect for Austin’s taco-munching, phone-scrolling crowd. Local SEO for One Area : Hit the charts with “Austin coworking” or “Zilker pet stores.” Domain, Hosting, and Free SSL : Locked-in, secure vibes—no sneaky fees crashing the party. Content Writing & Optimization : Lyrics that hook, crafted for Google’s ATX playlist. Web Maintenance & SEO Audit : We tweak the knobs, so you don’t miss a beat. Sitemap Creation & Google Submission : Quick spotlight for Austin searchers. SEO Progress Report : Monthly encore stats on your local groove. A part-timer’s $260/month? That’s a solo act with no amp. Pulse is your full band, rocking the house for less. Local SEO: Austin’s Backbeat to Winning Crowds In a city where 70% of folks scout locally before spending (BrightLocal, 2023), nailing searches like “best BBQ East Austin” or “Austin vinyl shops” is your ticket to the crowd. Pulse’s local SEO cranks the dial to your turf—Downtown, North Loop, or South First—without dropping $500+ on ad flyers that fade fast. It’s organic swagger that sticks, giving startups the mic in Austin’s packed digital venue. An Austin Tune: Pulse Hits the High Notes Picture a food truck parked off South First, grease sizzling, dreams grilling. They hopped on Pulse, snagging a 10-page site—menu, vibe, and a blog belting “top food trucks Austin.” We tuned their strings, pushed their sitemap to Google, and in a month, they were headlining page one. Crowds rolled in, wallets out—all for $200/month. A freelancer tried to charge $700 for a one-hit wonder with no SEO juice. Pulse spun them a chart-topper, proving it’s about the rhythm, not the ransom. How Pulse Keeps Austin Startups in the Mix No DIY Static : Learning Wix mid-setlist? That’s a month-long soundcheck. Pulse drops the beat in days. Cheap Chops, Big Sound : Austin designers jam at $40/hour—$800 for 20 hours. Pulse lays down design, SEO, and content for $200/month. Hands-Free Jamming : Server skips or plugin flops? We’re your roadies, so you keep rocking the hustle. Front-Row Ready : Local SEO outshines $400 ad runs, keeping you in the spotlight long-term. For founders juggling rent and Rainey Street pitches, Pulse is the riff that keeps the lights on. Austin’s Startup Stage: Why You Need Pulse Yesterday Austin’s startup tempo is wild—$5.5 billion in VC cash hit the scene in 2024 (PitchBook). That’s more players crowding the stage every day. A killer online gig isn’t optional—it’s the encore that seals the deal. Pulse hands you a site that struts like a $2,000 build, but you’re only dropping $200/month. Whether you’re coding in East Austin or slinging tacos on South Congress, this is your cue. Strike a Chord with Pulse in Austin Don’t let digital bills mute your Austin startup’s vibe. Pulse pumps affordable lead generation and visibility into your setlist. Ready to turn up the volume? Swing by leadsnurtured.com , sign up, and get online today—your ATX anthem starts now.