Why Your Website is Bleeding Money (And How to Fix It)
I see it every single week here in Brisbane. A local business owner—maybe a landscaper in Carindale or a lawyer in the CBD—spends thousands of dollars on a fancy new website. It looks beautiful. It has high-resolution photos and sleek animations.
But a month later, they’re scratching their heads. The phone isn’t ringing any more than it was before. They’re paying for Google ads, people are clicking, but nobody is booking.
If this sounds like you, I have some blunt news: your website isn't a business tool; it's a digital paperweight.
In the marketing world, people use fancy terms like "landing page optimization." To you, that should just mean "making sure the person who clicked your link actually gives you money." Most of what you’ve been told about web design is rubbish. You don't need a prettier site; you need a site that works.
Let’s bust some myths and look at what actually gets results.
Myth #1: Your Website Needs to Look "Modern" and "Flashy"
This is the biggest trap business owners fall into. You hire a designer who wants to win an award, not help you sell more hot water systems. They put in big moving videos, parallax scrolling, and hidden menus that look "clean."
The Reality: Customers don't care if your site is trendy. They care if you can solve their problem.
When someone searches for "emergency plumber Brisbane," they are usually stressed. They have water leaking into their kitchen. They don't want to see a 30-second cinematic drone shot of the Story Bridge. They want to see a phone number and a button that says "We’ll be there in an hour."
If you focus too much on the bells and whistles, you end up with a slow website that frustrates people. If a page takes more than three seconds to load on a phone, that customer is gone. They’ve clicked the back button and called your competitor.
What to do instead: Focus on clarity over cleverness. Ensure your site loads instantly and tells the visitor exactly what you do within two seconds of them landing on the page.
Myth #2: More Information is Always Better
I’ve seen "About Us" pages that read like a three-volume biography. I’ve seen service pages that list every single nut and bolt used in a construction project.
The Reality: People don't read websites; they scan them.
Your customers are busy. They are likely looking at your site on their phone while doing three other things. If you give them a wall of text, they will close the tab. You aren't writing a textbook; you are making a sales pitch.
Think about it like this: if you were standing in front of a potential customer, would you read them a 2,000-word essay? No. You’d tell them how you can help, why you’re the best choice, and how much it costs.
What to do instead: Use bullet points. Use big, bold headings. Use images that actually show your work, not stock photos of people in suits shaking hands. Most importantly, turn visitors into customers by giving them the specific information they need to make a decision, and nothing else.
Myth #3: You Need a "Contact Us" Page
Wait, what? Of course you need a way to be contacted. But the myth is that a single "Contact Us" link in the menu is enough.
The Reality: If a customer has to go looking for a way to hire you, you’ve already lost.
Every single page on your website should be a "landing page." This means every page should have one clear goal: getting the visitor to take action. Whether that’s calling you, filling out a quote form, or booking an appointment.
I worked with a mechanic in Geebung who had a great website, but his phone number was only on the contact page. We moved his phone number to the very top of every page in a big, clickable button. His enquiries doubled overnight. He didn't need a new website; he just needed to stop hiding his contact details.
What to do instead: Put your phone number in the top right corner. Put a "Get a Quote" button in the middle of the page. Put another one at the bottom. Make it impossible for them to miss.
The Three Questions Your Website Must Answer
When someone lands on your site, they are subconsciously asking three questions. If you don't answer these in the first 5 seconds, they leave.
1. What do you do? (e.g., "We Fix Leaking Roofs in Brisbane") 2. How does it make my life better? (e.g., "Stop the damage and get peace of mind with a 10-year warranty") 3. How do I get it? (e.g., "Call us now for a free inspection")
If your website says "Welcome to Smith & Sons - Excellence in Quality since 1984," you are failing question one. Nobody cares when you started; they care that you fix roofs. Be direct.
The "Mobile First" Reality Check
In Brisbane, over 60% of local service searches happen on a mobile phone. For tradies, it’s often closer to 80%.
If you haven't looked at your website on an iPhone or an Android lately, do it right now.
Is the text too small to read? Are the buttons too close together for a thumb to click? Does that "fancy" pop-up box cover the whole screen and make it impossible to close?
If your website works on phones, you’re already ahead of half your competitors. I’ve seen businesses spend $10,000 on a desktop site that looks like a mess on a phone. That is burning money.
Why Your Ads Aren't Working
Many business owners tell me, "I tried Google Ads (or Facebook Ads) and they’re a scam. I spent $500 and got nothing."
Usually, the ads weren't the problem. The problem was where the ads sent the people.
If you run an ad for "Kitchen Renovations" and you send people to your homepage where you talk about kitchens, bathrooms, decks, and pergolas, the visitor gets confused. They wanted kitchens.
To get results, you need a dedicated page that only talks about the thing they searched for. This is what we call a high-performing landing page. It removes the distractions. No menu, no links to your blog, no "About Us"—just the solution to their problem and a way to buy it.
How Much Does This Cost?
This is the part where most agencies get vague. I won't.
Fixing a bad website or creating a high-performing landing page doesn't have to cost as much as a new ute.
Small Tweaks: Moving buttons, changing headings, and speeding up the site can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500. This often has the biggest ROI because you’re fixing what you already have. Custom Landing Pages: If you’re running ads, a dedicated, high-converting page might cost $1,000 to $3,000. If that page turns 5% of visitors into customers instead of 1%, it pays for itself in weeks. Full Rebuilds: Sometimes the foundation is so rotten you do need a new one. But before you do that, make sure you actually need a new website and aren't just being sold something you don't need.
The Timeline: When Will You See More Calls?
The best part about focusing on results rather than "design" is that the impact is almost instant.
If we change a headline today to be more clear, or we make your phone number easier to find, you can see more phone calls tomorrow. It’s not like SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), which can take months to kick in. This is about making the most of the people who are already visiting your site.
Your Action Plan
If you want to stop wasting money and start getting more enquiries, do these four things this week:
1. Test your speed: Open your site on your phone using 4G (not office Wi-Fi). If it takes more than a few seconds to load, you're losing money. 2. The Header Test: Look at the very top of your homepage. Is there a clear phone number and a clear description of what you do? If not, change it. 3. Check your forms: Fill out your own contact form. Is it too long? Does it ask for 10 pieces of information you don't actually need? Shorten it. Every extra field reduces the number of people who finish it. 4. Kill the jargon: Read your text. If it sounds like a corporate brochure, rewrite it like you’re talking to a mate at a BBQ.
Stop Guessing and Start Growing
Marketing shouldn't be a mystery. It’s about psychology and math. If you send 100 people to a page and 1 person calls, you have a 1% success rate. If we tweak that page so 3 people call, you’ve tripled your business without spending an extra cent on advertising.
That is the power of a website that is built for results, not for looks.
At Local Marketing Group, we don't care about winning design awards. We care about how many leads you got this month. We’ve helped Brisbane businesses—from tradies to professional services—stop the leaks in their websites and start growing.
If you’re tired of your website being a silent expense, let’s talk. We’ll look at what you’ve got and tell you exactly what’s standing between you and more customers.
Ready to get more phone calls? Contact Local Marketing Group today.