7 Red Flag Warnings Your Website Copy Is Sabotaging Your Business (Spoiler Alert: Build Trust)
Be honest, is your website delivering appreciative repeat customers who value your work, oodles of recurring revenue and a steady stream of new clients you want to work with?
Not just any old clients, no, clients who you will love to work with, bringing you joy and profit in equal measures.
Ok, is all that a big ask? No, I promise it’s not.
Words are powerful, and your website copy?
It has the power to captivate, persuade, and build trust, magically transforming casual visitors into loyal clients… Every powerful, carefully chosen word acts as a bridge from where they are now to the life they want.
You’ve heard it so many times. I’m sure you're bored of hearing that your website isn't just a digital storefront, your online home, or your digital employee who works 24/7 without sick pay or holiday pay.
I apologise for repeating that.
But here’s the thing. For life coaches and wellness professionals, it's where life-changing connections begin - or are lost, slipping away like a cat burglar, silently fading into the shadows before you realise they’ve been and gone.
The 7 Signs Your Website Copy Isn't Working
🚩 Sign #1: High Bounce Rate: Bounce and Bounce like a 1970s Space Hopper (I had one)
What It Looks Like:
Visitors land on your homepage
Spend 3 seconds
Hit the back button faster than you can say "holistic wellness."
Like a conversation that ends before it begins, visitors land on your homepage and leave within seconds. Not because you can't help them - but because they can't see themselves in your story.
The Mistake: "We facilitate optimal wellness through evidence-based protocols" The Magic: "Finally feel like yourself again, with energy that lasts beyond bedtime stories."
The Fix: Using your clients' exact words to describe their journey
Another Mistake: Your homepage reads like your CV and lists your impressive qualifications, but it doesn't speak to their hearts or struggles or evoke emotions. More Magic: "Tired of feeling exhausted by 3 p.m.? Discover how to reclaim your energy without giving up everything you love." Another Fix: Lead with their struggle, then bridge to your solution.
🚩 Sign #2: Low Engagement
Ahh, now this I find soul-destroying.
Your brilliant insights sit there, waiting to transform lives. But just like a heartfelt letter never sent, they're not reaching the people who need to see them. No one's clicking, sharing, or signing up. Those valuable blog posts and tips aren't reaching out and getting read, providing hope, and creating the connection they could because they're missing compelling prompts that make readers think, "Yes, this is exactly what I need."
The Mistake: Professional jargon that makes people’s eyes glaze over with boredom, creating distance. The Magic: Words that feel like a warm conversation over tea. The Fix: Build trust through words and phrases genuinely used in conversations and whizz around your reader’s mind, causing anxiety and stress.
When your website sounds corporate, but your approach is warmly holistic, potential clients feel the mismatch and run a mile needing empathy and understanding.
The Mistake: Sounding like a textbook instead of a trusted guide. The Magic: Letting your unique voice shine through every word. The Fix: Voice-to-value research that captures your genuine style
Transformation Example: Before: "Comprehensive metabolic optimisation through integrative protocols" After: "Finally feel energetic enough to play with your kids and chase the dog without collapsing on the sofa."
🚩 Sign #3: The Shop Window Dressed to Impress but No One’s Buying: The Trust Barrier
Traffic without buy-in (conversion) - visitors come and take a peek but don't take that crucial next step.
I’m sure you’ve tried to puzzle out why time and time again. Why does this happen? Well, how ‘inviting’ is your invitation to engage?
The Mistake: "Learn More" buttons that lead nowhere. The Magic: " Discover Your Path to Lasting Energy - Book Your Free Chat" The Fix: Be inviting and engaging - make it a valuable and attractive option for your reader to connect.
Without this clear, appealing invite, you’re readers just going to keep on looking in your window and making their way elsewhere, leaving you with
Zero form submissions for months
Low email list growth
No booking requests or discovery call inquiries
Minimal social media followers or engagement from website visitors
These conversion challenges frequently point to a deeper underlying issue - lack of trust.
No client testimonials
Lack of credentials or social proof
Missing before-and-after stories
No clear client transformation stories
🚩 Sign #4: Technical Performance Red Flags
But here's the thing (again) - this isn't just about metrics and technical performance. Behind every bounce rate and missed inquiry is a human story of connection interrupted. When your website struggles with:
Slow loading speeds
Poor mobile responsiveness
Broken links or error pages
Outdated design that looks unprofessional
No SSL certificate or security indicators
...you're not just losing traffic - you're losing real people seeking real solutions, each with their hopes and challenges, who might have become part of your community.
🚩 Sign #5: The Clarity Confusion
When visitors say they're unsure what you do, it's often because we're speaking from our expertise rather than their experience.
How does this show up?
Frequent questions about services that are already explained on the site
Clients saying, "I didn't know you offered that"
Confused feedback about your core offerings
Potential clients seem unsure about how you can help them
The root of this problem lies in leading with credentials instead of understanding.
The solution? Showing transformation through real stories and building trust through clear, relatable examples.
These Psychological Barrier Indicators signal a deeper communication gap:
No clear solution to client pain points
Overwhelming or confusing service descriptions
Lack of emotional connection in copy
No clear path to working with you
Warning: When potential clients ask, "What exactly do you do?" you've got a problem. But there's a way for
Clarity:
Lead with transformation, not credentials
Show, don't tell
Use client success stories as your megaphone
Remember: Your expertise matters most when it speaks directly to your clients' lived experience.
🚩 Sign #6: Audience Misalignment Signs
Your website might be attracting visitors, but are they the right ones? This misalignment becomes evident when:
Analytics show traffic from irrelevant geographic locations
Visitors are not matching your ideal client demographic
High traffic but zero engagement from the target audience
This pattern suggests your message might be casting too wide a net, reaching many but resonating with few who matter most to your practice.
🚩 Sign #7: SEO Invisibility
Your brilliant work remains unseen because your words don't match how potential clients seek help. It's rather like speaking a different language in a room full of people looking for exactly what you offer - they simply can't hear you.
When we rely too heavily on professional terminology, we miss the heart of search intent. The real magic happens when we blend natural language with authentic storytelling, creating content that not only ranks well but truly resonates.
Think of SEO not as a technical puzzle to solve but as a bridge to connect with those who need you most. When we align your genuine voice with how people naturally search for help, that's when the real transformation begins.
Ready to Transform Your Website Words? Let's Turn Visitors into Valued Clients
Imagine having a website that works tirelessly to build meaningful connections - one that turns your expertise into inspiration, your knowledge into trust and your visitors into devoted clients.
Book your free Website Trust-Building Session today, and let's create those connections that count.
BOOK A COPY CHAT TODAY, AND LET'S MAKE YOUR WORDS WORK HARDER FOR YOU!
