Look, Your Website is Probably Too Static
Imagine you walk into a shop in Paddington. You stand at the counter. The staff member just stares at you. No nod, no 'G'day', no movement at all.
It’d be weird, right? You’d probably walk straight back out.
Most small business websites do exactly this. A customer clicks a button, and for half a second, nothing happens. They fill out a form, hit submit, and the screen just sits there.
In the trade, we call the solution to this 'micro-animations'. But let’s just call them 'digital body language'. It’s the little movements—a button changing colour when you hover over it, or a tick appearing when a form is sent—that tell your customer, "Yep, I’m listening."
If you want to turn website visitors into customers, you need to stop treating your site like a digital flyer and start treating it like a conversation.
Why This Actually Makes You Money
I’m not here to talk about 'user experience' like some design student. I’m here to talk about your bank account.
When someone lands on your site, they’re looking for a reason to leave. They’re worried you’re dodgy, too expensive, or just won’t show up. If your site feels 'dead' or broken because buttons don't react, they’ll bounce.
By adding tiny, purposeful movements, you do three things: 1. You hold their attention. People are like magpies; we like things that move. 2. You build trust. A site that responds feels professional and well-maintained. 3. You guide the sale. You can literally use movement to point their eyes toward your phone number.
The 'Less is More' Rule
Before you go and ask a developer to make everything spin and bounce, stop.
Overdoing this is the fastest way to look like a circus act. If your website takes forever to load because of fancy graphics, you’re just losing customers to a slow website.
We’re talking about 'micro' movements. If the customer notices the animation more than the information, you’ve stuffed it up.
1. The 'Click Me' Nudge
When someone puts their mouse over your 'Book Now' button, it should change. Maybe it gets slightly darker, or it lifts up a tiny bit. It’s a subtle way of saying, "Go on, do it."2. The Progress Bar
If you have a long quote form, don't just show ten fields at once. Use a little bar at the top that moves as they fill it out. It keeps them from getting bored and quitting halfway through.3. The 'Success' Signal
There is nothing worse than hitting 'Submit' and wondering if the email actually went through. A little green tick or a 'Message Sent' animation saves you from losing a lead who thinks your site is broken.How Much Does This Cost?
Honestly? If you’re building a new site, this should be included. If you’re adding it to an old site, it shouldn’t cost the earth.
We usually tell our clients to focus on the 'money' areas first. Don't animate your logo. Animate your 'Call Now' button. Animate your contact form. Spend your budget where the sales happen.
If you're worried about why your website isn't getting calls, it might not be your price or your services. It might just be that your site feels like a ghost town.
What Should You Do Next?
Pull up your website on your phone right now. Tap a few buttons. Does it feel responsive? Does it feel alive?
If it feels like you’re tapping a brick wall, you’re losing money.
You don't need a total rebuild. You just need to make it work for the person on the other side of the screen.
If you want us to take a look and tell you straight what’s working and what’s rubbish, give us a shout at Local Marketing Group. We’ll grab a coffee (or a beer) and sort it out.