If you’re a small business owner, there’s a good chance your website is costing you money instead of making it.

A poorly structured, hard-to-navigate website can push potential customers away before they even get to know you. The good news? You don’t need a massive budget or a full redesign to fix it.

Here are seven simple, actionable website design tips to help you convert more visitors and generate more leads, starting today.

1. Structure Your Website Properly: The Most Important Tip

If you take nothing else from this guide, remember this: the structure of your website is critical.

Many small business owners overlook this because they aren’t web designers, and that’s perfectly understandable. But if your website doesn’t guide visitors through a clear journey, you’re losing potential customers.

Ask yourself:

When visitors land on your homepage, can they easily find what you want them to do next?
Do you clearly present key sections like About Us, Services, Testimonials, Contact, and FAQs?
Does the page layout flow logically to lead visitors where you want them to go?

Think about your ideal customer. For example, if you’re a tennis coach targeting beginners, they probably don’t understand industry jargon or know exactly what they need. Your job is to walk them through the process: why they need a tennis coach, why you’re the right coach, and why your method works.

A well-structured website builds trust and keeps visitors engaged. Without it, they’ll leave and you’ll miss out on leads.

2. Make It Easy to Take Action

What is the key action you want users to take on your website? It might be:

Booking a consultation
Filling out a contact form
Scheduling a call
Signing up for a free trial

Whatever the action is, make sure users can do it immediately, preferably without scrolling.

Your homepage should prominently feature a call-to-action (CTA) button in the header or hero section. Don’t hide it at the bottom of the page. Whether it’s “Book a Call,” “Get a Quote,” or “Schedule an Assessment,” the CTA should be impossible to miss.

3. Don’t Make People Scroll (If They Don’t Want To)

Most website visitors decide whether to stay or leave within seconds. They rarely scroll down unless they’re already interested.

That means your most crucial information should appear above the fold, the visible part of the website when the page first loads.

At a glance, visitors should know:

Who you are
What you offer
Why you’re the right choice
How to contact you or take the next step

For example, a well-designed hero section might include your name, your expertise, a short credibility statement, a CTA button, and maybe a few awards or quick proof points.

Don’t assume people will dig for this information, most won’t.

4. Showcase Social Proof

Social proof is one of the most powerful ways to build trust. If you want to increase conversions, you need to highlight your credibility.

Social proof can include:

Awards you’ve won
Publications or media outlets that have featured your business
High-profile clients you’ve worked with
Customer testimonials and reviews

Make sure this proof is visible throughout your site, not just buried on a testimonials page. Consider adding client logos, five-star reviews with headshots, and award badges in prominent places like your homepage and service pages.

The more evidence you show that others trust you, the easier it is for new visitors to do the same.

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5. Blow Your Own Trumpet

Your website is the one place where you should not be humble.

Be confident. Position yourself as the best choice and make it clear why your product or service is the right solution. Visitors should feel like choosing anyone else would be a mistake.

Avoid phrases like “There are lots of great options.” Instead, emphasize why your business is uniquely qualified to help them achieve their goals.

On platforms like YouTube, it’s fine to mention competitors. But on your own website, you should focus solely on why you are the best fit.

6. Use a Professional Website Template

If your current website looks outdated or isn’t converting, you don’t need to start from scratch. Pre-built website templates can save you time, money, and frustration.

A good template will already have:

A strong, proven structure
Built-in areas for social proof
Ready-to-use CTA sections
Mobile responsiveness

Templates are available for platforms like Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, and Webflow. All you need to do is add your branding, content, images, and SEO details.

With a quality template, you can launch a professional-looking, lead-generating website in days, not weeks.

7. Invest in a Professional Web Designer When You Can

If you have the budget, hiring a professional web designer is the best way to maximize your website’s potential. Your time and expertise are best spent on your business, not on learning web design, development, and SEO from scratch.

A professional can:

Build a custom, high-converting website
Write persuasive copy
Optimize your site for search engines
Save you time and long-term costs

When businesses make the leap from DIY websites to professionally designed ones, the difference in results can be dramatic. It’s often the fastest path to generating consistent leads and revenue online.

If you’re ready to invest, hire the best designer you can afford, someone with proven experience and results in your industry.

Final Thoughts

Your website is your digital storefront. If it’s not converting, you’re losing potential revenue every day. The good news is you don’t need a massive overhaul or a huge budget to fix it.

By following the seven tips in this article, you can start turning your website into a lead-generating machine.