Is your website feeling a little rusty, outdated, or just not working the way you want it to? If you’re like many solopreneurs, you might be tempted to tear it all down and start fresh with a brand-new site. But before you drop a chunk of change on a complete rebuild, consider this: sometimes all your website needs are a few simple website fixes—a little “spray paint” to make it look and perform like new.
This idea hit me when I was staring down my old mailbox. It was rough, rusty, and leaking whenever it rained. I considered buying a fancy new one online, but then I remembered I had a can of black spray paint in the basement. A little cleaning, patching, and painting later, my mailbox looked as good as new—and I saved over a hundred dollars.
That mailbox makeover got me thinking about websites. How often do we rush to replace perfectly functional tools and content when a few small tweaks could breathe new life into them? If your website is feeling a little “rusty,” here are five easy fixes you can try before considering a full overhaul.
Table of Contents
- 1. Swap Out Your Photos
- 2. Update Your Headline to Speak Directly to Customers
- 3. Speed Up Your Site Load Time
- 4. Tighten Up Your Call to Action (CTA)
- 5. Improve Integrations for Better Efficiency
- Wrapping It Up: Sometimes a Little Spray Paint Goes a Long Way
1. Swap Out Your Photos
When’s the last time you updated your website photos? If your headshot is from a decade ago or a cropped snap from a family event, it might be time for a refresh. But don’t stress about hiring a professional photographer right away. You can start simple:
- Ask a friend to take a well-lit photo using your phone in front of a clean backdrop.
- If you want to get fancy, stage a shoot that shows you working or interacting with clients.
- In a pinch, use relevant stock photos or responsibly generated AI images to brighten things up.
Fresh photos help your site feel current and welcoming without breaking the bank.
2. Update Your Headline to Speak Directly to Customers
Many websites open with vague headlines like “Welcome to my website” or “Helping businesses succeed with technology.” These don’t tell visitors what you actually do or how you help them. Instead, try this:
- Focus on your customer’s problem.
- Clearly state how you solve it.
For example, instead of “Tech solutions for small businesses,” try something like:
“We manage your IT so you can stop worrying about crashes, updates, and cyber threats.”
It doesn’t need to be clever—just clear and customer-focused.
3. Speed Up Your Site Load Time
Slow websites frustrate visitors and can even hurt your search engine rankings. To see how your site stacks up, use a free tool like Google’s PageSpeed Insights. It will grade your site and suggest improvements.
Common fixes include:
- Compressing large image files to reduce load times.
- Resizing photos to appropriate dimensions instead of uploading full-resolution images.
- Removing outdated or unnecessary plugins if you’re using WordPress.
These small changes can make a big difference in how quickly your site loads and how visitors experience it.
4. Tighten Up Your Call to Action (CTA)
Is it obvious what you want visitors to do next? A vague “Learn More” button doesn’t always cut it. Make your CTA specific and compelling:
- “Book a free consultation”
- “Download the pricing guide”
- “Get your custom website audit”
Also, don’t be afraid to use a bright, high-contrast color for your CTA button to make it pop and easy to find.
5. Improve Integrations for Better Efficiency
If your website’s contact form just sends you an email, and then you manually follow up or track leads in a spreadsheet, you’re missing out on some serious time-saving opportunities. Consider integrating:
- Scheduling tools like Calendly to automate booking calls.
- Affordable or free Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to keep track of leads and customers.
- Form integrations that automatically sync contact info into your CRM or email marketing software.
This step might be a bit more involved than “spray painting,” but the payoff in saved time and smoother workflows can be huge.
Wrapping It Up: Sometimes a Little Spray Paint Goes a Long Way
Before you invest in a brand-new website, try these simple website fixes to refresh what you already have. A few thoughtful updates can make your site look fresher, work better, and connect more effectively with your audience—without the chaos or cost of starting from scratch.
If you’re not sure what needs fixing or don’t want to tinker yourself, I offer affordable website and tech stack audits to help you pinpoint what’s working, what’s holding you back, and what small tweaks can make a big difference. Check out the link below to learn more.
And if you want to dive deeper, watch this video to discover how to fix the four most common website mistakes I see people making. It might just be the “spray paint” your site has been needing.
Request a website audit: https://buildmybusinesswebsite.com/tune-up/
For more tips and support, visit the Self-Employment Sidekick YouTube channel.
This article was created from the video 5 Easy Fixes to Make Your Website Work Better with the help of AI.
