How to Increase Website Traffic: 5 Reasons Your Website Isn’t Getting Visitors (and How to Fix It)
You launched your website. You told your friends. You linked to it on your Instagram bio. You even shared it in a couple of
Facebook groups.
But… nothing.
No traffic. No inquiries. No clients.
Sound familiar?
You’re not alone—and you’re not doing anything wrong. Most small business owners and creatives go through this frustrating “invisible” phase online, especially when they’ve built a DIY website or haven’t had a clear SEO strategy in place.
The good news? The fix is usually easier than you think.
Let’s walk through the top five reasons your website might be sitting quietly on the sidelines—and how to start getting it in front of the right people.
Want to increase your website traffic? These may be the issues you are facing:
1. You’re Not Using the Right Keywords (Or Any at All)
Imagine opening a bookstore with no sign out front, no visible categories, and no labels on the books. That’s what a website looks like without proper keywords.
Keywords are how people find you on search engines. They’re the actual phrases your dream clients type into Google when they’re looking for someone like you.
Here’s what that might look like:
- You write “I help women grow online” → but your audience is searching “SEO expert for artists” or “affordable website designer UK.”
- You describe yourself as a “creative storyteller” → but they’re Googling “copywriter for wellness brands.”
✅ Find the right keywords to start to fixing your SEO
- Use a free or low cost tool like Keywords Everywhere or AnswerThePublic to find what your audience is actually searching.
- Create a list of 5–10 core keywords relevant to your service, location, and audience.
- Sprinkle them naturally into your:
- Page titles
- Headings (H1, H2s)
- Meta descriptions
- Image alt text
- Blog content
This small step alone can dramatically improve how search engines index and display your website in results.
2. Your Website Is Loading Too Slowly – another SEO issue
Your dream client clicks the link in your bio, waits a few seconds, and… bounces.
Research shows you have about 3 seconds before most users abandon a slow-loading site. Google also uses load speed as a ranking factor, so a sluggish site = lower visibility.
Common culprits:
- Uncompressed, oversized images (especially hero banners)
- Outdated or heavy WordPress themes
- Too many plugins or poorly coded ones
- Cheap or overcrowded hosting
How to Fix It:
- Test your site speed at GTmetrix
- Compress images with TinyPNG or read my blog on Image Optimisation HERE
- Remove unused plugins and switch to lightweight, performance-optimised ones
- Consider upgrading your hosting provider (I can recommend a few!)
A fast site = better SEO, better experience, and a higher chance of converting visitors.
3. Your Website Isn’t Mobile-Friendly
In 2024, over 60% of web traffic is mobile—and Google now indexes mobile first.
So if your site looks great on desktop but clunky on phones, you’re losing trust (and traffic) fast.
What “not mobile-friendly” looks like:
- Text is too small or cut off
- Buttons are hard to tap
- Images don’t resize properly
- Menus are impossible to find
- Pop-ups or forms overlap content
How to Fix It:
- View your site on multiple devices (your phone, tablet, even a friend’s)
- Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test
- Simplify your layout and use larger fonts
- Make sure buttons are big enough and well-spaced
- Choose a responsive theme (WordPress users: Kadence, Elementor or Divi are great)
Want bonus points? Add mobile-friendly calls-to-action like “Tap to Call” or “Book a Call” buttons.
4. Your Messaging Isn’t Clear Enough
If someone lands on your homepage and can’t instantly figure out:
- Who you are
- What you offer
- Who you help
- And what they should do next…
…they’re gone. ????
People don’t read websites like books. They scan. If you don’t capture their attention quickly, they’ll click away—even if you’re exactly what they need.
Red flags I often see:
- Vague headlines like “Helping you thrive online”
- No mention of who your services are for
- No clear “book now” or “get started” CTA
- Over-designed pages that hide key info
How to Fix It:
- Add a bold, benefit-focused headline above the fold (e.g. “SEO-Optimised WordPress Websites for Creatives & Small Businesses”)
- Include a subheading that explains how you help
- Add a simple CTA: “Book a free discovery call” or “Get your free audit”
- Make sure your copy is clear, confident, and easy to scan
5. Your Website Isn’t Showing Up on Google at All
This one is huge—and super common. Many small business owners assume their site will automatically show up in search results. But unless you’ve told Google where to find it and optimized your content, it might not show up at all.
Here’s what to check:
- Are your pages indexed by Google? (Search “site:yourdomain.com” to see what’s listed)
- Are you using unique page titles and meta descriptions?
- Have you installed Google Analytics + Google Search Console?
- Do you have backlinks (links to your site from other sites)?
- Are you publishing content (like blog posts) regularly?
How to Fix It:
- Set up a free Google Search Console account
- Submit your sitemap (most SEO plugins generate one for you)
- Install an SEO plugin like Rank Math or Yoast
- Start a simple blog that answers your audience’s top questions
- Ask collaborators or directories to link to your site
SEO takes time—but every small step builds momentum. And a properly indexed site is one step closer to getting found by your dream clients.
Free guide: why your website has gone quiet
The enquiries that used to come in have slowed, and you can’t quite put your finger on why.
My free guide gives you 5 signs your website has gone quiet, a 5-point SEO check you can run yourself with no tools, and one simple way to see whether ChatGPT and Google’s AI recommend you.
After that, I send short weekly website and SEO tips. Unsubscribe whenever you like.
Sign up below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Join 500+ small business owners getting the tips.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR | MELISSA CRITCHLEY
With over 20 years in marketing, I founded Wildcurrant Marketing to help small business owners get more from their websites. I build WordPress and Shopify sites with SEO worked in from day one, so your site brings in the right kind of traffic and does some of the selling for you — no constant tinkering required.
Want support?
Book a free 15-minute discovery call and I’ll point you towards the most sensible next step.
