If your website is getting traffic but not enquiries, the problem usually is not traffic.

It is your call to action.

In this episode of Small Team, Big Impact, Grace and Marcus break down why website CTAs so often fail for small businesses, and what founders and marketing managers can do to fix them without redesigning their site or chasing more visitors.

This episode focuses on clarity, intent, and trust. Not optimisation tricks. Not hype. Just practical improvements that help the right people take the next step.

1. Why most website CTAs fail, even on well-designed sites
2. The difference between a visible CTA and a clear one
3. How multiple CTAs create hesitation rather than action
4. Why vague language like “Get Started” often underperforms
5. The role of trust and intent in conversion decisions
6. How to align your CTA with what the visitor is actually ready to do
7. Simple CTA improvements you can make without adding more traffic

1. Asking for too much, too soon
2. Using generic CTA language that says nothing
3. Competing CTAs fighting for attention above the fold
4. CTAs that serve the business, not the visitor
5. CTAs that skip trust-building and jump straight to conversion

1. Review your homepage and identify the single most important action you want a visitor to take
2. Check whether your CTA clearly explains what happens next
3. Reduce competing CTAs at the top of the page
4. Rewrite CTA copy so it reflects value, not just action
5. Make sure the CTA matches the visitor’s level of intent

Small changes to CTA clarity often unlock conversion gains without increasing traffic.

1. Founders frustrated by low website enquiries
2. Marketing managers working with limited budgets
3. Small teams who want better conversions without more complexity
4. Anyone responsible for a website that needs to generate leads, not just look good

If this episode raised a question about your own website, CTA, or conversion flow, send us a question for a future episode.

Listener questions regularly shape upcoming topics.

Small Team, Big...

If a potential customer landed on your website right now, would they know what to do in three seconds — or would they quietly leave?

In this episode of Small Team, Big Impact, Grace and Marcus break down the three-second homepage test — a simple, practical way for founders and marketing managers to assess whether their homepage is clear, trustworthy, and conversion-ready.

You’ll learn how to spot the most common homepage mistakes that cause confusion, reduce trust, and cost you enquiries — and how to fix them quickly, without a full redesign.

This episode is designed for UK SMEs, founders, and small marketing teams who want clearer messaging, better conversions, and fewer wasted opportunities.

• What the three-second homepage test is and why it matters
• The three questions every homepage must answer immediately
• Common homepage mistakes that quietly kill conversions
• How vague headlines and weak calls-to-action create confusion
• Why clarity beats cleverness every time
• How to run the test on your own website — solo or with real users
• Simple homepage fixes you can make in under an hour
• A proven headline formula to improve clarity and trust
• Why removing elements often improves conversions more than adding them

1. What do you do?
2. Who is it for?
3. What should I do next?

If any of these aren’t obvious within three seconds, visitors are likely leaving — even if your service is excellent.

• Run the three-second test on your own homepage
• Ask one person who fits your ideal customer profile to do it for you
• Rewrite your headline using this formula:
• We help [who] achieve [outcome] without [pain]
• Choose one clear call-to-action above the fold
• Remove one unnecessary element to improve clarity

Have a question about your website or a page you’re unsure about?

Send it in — we regularly turn listener questions into future episodes.

Small Team, Big Impact is a podcast by People First Digital, sharing clear, practical marketing guidance for UK SMEs, founders, and marketing managers.

No fluff. No hype. Just what works for small teams.

Show notes and resources: peoplefirstdigital.com

New episodes every Wednesday at 7:30am

3-second homepage test, website conversions, SME website optimisation, homepage clarity, UX writing for SMEs, UK small business marketing, founder marketing advice

Confusing websites don’t just frustrate visitors — they quietly erode trust. And for small teams, trust is your most valuable competitive advantage.

In this episode of Small Team, Big Impact, Grace and Marcus explore the psychology behind clarity, why humans instantly mistrust unclear websites, and how small teams like Fiona’s can fix trust-breaking messaging without a redesign.

You’ll learn:

• Why confusion creates doubt — and doubt leads to lost conversions

• The four trust signals every website must deliver within five seconds

• How clarity reduces anxiety and increases credibility

• Why messaging (not design) is usually the real problem

• Simple changes any SME can make this week to rebuild trust

This episode is perfect for small marketing teams, founders, and anyone who wants a clearer, more trustworthy website without spending thousands.

Show notes and resources: peoplefirstdigital.com

why websites lose trust, confusing websites, clarity in website messaging, web design for SMEs, small business website mistakes, website clarity checklist, improve website conversions UK, trust signals on websites, StoryBrand website messaging, simple website improvements.