Sep 25, 2024

Sep 25, 2024

Sep 25, 2024

Why Your Website Isn’t Meeting Expectations (And What You Need to Do About It)

Your website is more than just a digital storefront—it’s the foundation of your business, especially in 2024. Yet many small businesses, local companies, and start-ups are stuck with outdated, slow, and disjointed websites that fail to meet customer expectations.

Read Time

10 min

Category

Web Design

Web design in 2024 isn’t just about looking good—it’s about functioning better. Your website is your most critical marketing asset, the digital storefront for your brand. Yet, despite this, many businesses are falling short in delivering an exceptional online experience.

The problem? It’s not just about having a website—it’s about keeping up with the evolving demands of web users and the technology that drives digital interactions.


Websites are Stuck in the Past

It’s no secret that customers today expect more from websites. They want faster load times, intuitive navigation, and seamless, personalized experiences. Yet, 92% of marketing leaders admit their websites aren’t delivering on their goals​. The days of static, brochure-style websites are long gone, but many companies are still treating their websites like it’s 2010.

Here’s the issue: technology has moved forward, but many businesses haven’t. Your website might look polished, but it’s outdated in terms of functionality. Customers expect more interaction, more value, and faster experiences.

Marketing teams, however, are held back by outdated tools and processes. In fact, 60% of marketing leaders believe their current tech stack is failing them​. This gap between customer expectations and what companies deliver isn’t just inconvenient—it’s costing you sales.


What Happens When You Don’t Evolve?

So, what happens when your website can’t keep up with the demands of modern users? The consequences are real, and they directly affect your bottom line.

Here’s what’s at stake:

  • Lost Trust and Engagement: If your website is slow, clunky, or doesn’t meet user expectations, people won’t stick around. 38% of visitors will leave your site if they find the layout or content unattractive, and 57% of users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site. In 2024, a bad website isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a dealbreaker.

  • Wasted Marketing Dollars: You might be pouring money into advertising, SEO, and social media to drive traffic to your site, but if users aren’t converting once they land there, all that spend is wasted. Think of your website as a funnel—if there’s a leak, you’re losing opportunities and sales.

  • Falling Behind Competitors: Innovation is happening faster than ever. 93% of marketing leaders agree that keeping up with innovation is critical. But when your site isn’t built to adapt to new technologies, your competitors will outpace you, offering better, faster, and more engaging experiences that draw in your potential customers.

This isn’t just speculation—it’s already happening. Companies using modern tools like no-code and low-code platforms are seeing massive improvements. 50% of marketing teams who have implemented these tools are already witnessing better collaboration and faster workflows​.


How to Fix Your Website for 2024

It’s time to face reality: your website needs an upgrade, not just visually, but functionally. To compete in 2024, you need a website that’s built to meet evolving user expectations, run by a team that can deliver faster, better, and more innovative digital experiences. Here's how you can fix it.


1. Embrace No-Code and Low-Code Solutions

Building and maintaining a website should be fast and flexible. One of the biggest complaints from marketing teams today is their dependency on developers to make even simple updates. This bottleneck slows down marketing efforts, delays campaign launches, and limits creativity.

The solution? No-code and low-code platforms. These tools empower your marketing team to take control, allowing them to make changes, update pages, and launch new campaigns without waiting on development resources. 80% of marketing leaders using no-code tools feel more in control of their workload and bandwidth​.

Not only do these tools speed up the process, but they also reduce errors and allow your team to experiment, iterate, and improve faster.


2. Invest in Speed and Performance

In 2024, speed isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential. Websites need to load quickly across all devices. According to Google, 53% of mobile users will leave a site that takes more than three seconds to load. If your site is lagging, you’re losing customers before they even see your product.

How do you solve this? Start by optimizing your website’s performance. Compress images, minimize JavaScript, and choose a fast, reliable hosting provider. Regularly monitor your site’s speed and make adjustments as needed. A faster website not only improves user experience but also boosts your SEO, helping you rank higher in search results.


3. Prioritize Mobile-First Design

Mobile traffic now accounts for more than half of all web traffic, so designing for desktop first is a mistake. If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re alienating a significant portion of your audience.

But it’s not just about making your site look good on mobile. It’s about functionality. Your mobile site needs to be just as fast, intuitive, and engaging as your desktop version.

Focus on simple navigation, clear call-to-actions, and fast load times for mobile users. Mobile-first design isn’t just about scaling down your desktop site—it’s about creating a user experience tailored to smaller screens, touch interactions, and mobile user behavior.


4. Consistency is Key

Your website is just one piece of your digital presence. To build trust and engagement, your messaging and design need to be consistent across all platforms—from your website to social media to email campaigns.

When users jump from one platform to another, they should recognize your brand immediately. The colors, fonts, and overall design need to flow seamlessly from one medium to the next. This consistency builds trust, and trust drives conversions.


5. Update Your Content Management System (CMS)

A strong CMS is the backbone of a successful website. If your current system is clunky, outdated, or hard to use, it’s time for an upgrade. Look for a CMS that allows for easy content updates, supports modern web design elements, and integrates smoothly with the tools your team is already using.

The right CMS will make it easy for your team to manage the site, add content, and adapt quickly to changes. More importantly, it will give you the flexibility to scale as your business grows.


Ready to Bring Your Website Into 2024?

You can’t afford to fall behind. In 2024, your website isn’t just a digital storefront—it’s the engine that drives your business. Every second it’s slow, outdated, or difficult to navigate is costing you potential customers.

At The Shed Creative, we specialize in zero-code websites built for speed, functionality, and ease of use. We’re experts in platforms like Webflow, Framer, Wix Studio, and Squarespace, which means we can deliver cutting-edge web designs without the lengthy development cycles. Whether you’re running a local business, starting a new venture, or scaling your small business, we know how to create web experiences that are not only beautiful but built to perform.

Here’s why zero-code is the future for small businesses and start-ups:

  • Speed to Market: Platforms like Webflow and Wix Studio allow us to launch your website quickly, so you can start engaging customers sooner. In fact, companies using no-code platforms report 3x faster time-to-market.

  • Affordable: No-code solutions are cost-effective, especially for small businesses that don’t have the budget for extensive custom coding. You’ll get professional design without breaking the bank.

  • Flexibility and Control: Zero-code platforms give you control. Once we build your site, you’ll be able to update content, tweak designs, and add features—all without needing a developer. In fact, 80% of marketers using no-code tools feel more in control of their workload​.

  • Scalability: These platforms are built to grow with you. As your business expands, we can easily scale your website to include new features, integrations, and content without complex backend changes.

Stop waiting. If you’re a local business, start-up, or small company looking to compete in 2024, a fast, flexible, and future-proof website isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Let’s talk about how we can level up your website for 2024. Book a 15-minute intro call here: Schedule a Call

Jaime Nash

Jaime Nash

Founder / Studio Director

With 15+ years in the creative industry, I help small businesses and start-ups tell their stories through impactful design. As founder of The Shed Creative, I’m all about creating memorable, results-driven experiences—simple, strategic, and always human.

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