6 Ways Your Website Makes You Like You're Out of business

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You’re open. You’re ready to serve. But your website? It looks like it hasn’t been touched since the Obama administration. And that’s a problem.

To a potential customer, your website is often the very first sign that your business is alive and kicking. But if it looks outdated, broken, or abandoned… well, they may assume you are too.

Here are a few signs your website might be telling visitors you’re out of business… even when you’re not:

1. A Lonely “Latest News” Section

If the last update was about your 2019 holiday hours, it’s not doing you any favors. An empty or outdated blog, “news,” or “updates” page makes it look like the lights are off and nobody’s home. If it’s not current, it starts to feel like no one’s behind the wheel.

2. Dated Copyright Date

It’s subtle—but visitors notice. A footer that still says ©2014 makes it seem like your website hasn’t been touched in years. And if your website looks neglected, people will assume your business is too.

3. Broken Stuff

Missing photos, busted links, weird formatting—it doesn’t take much to send a potential customer running. If a website doesn’t function properly, the natural assumption is that the business doesn’t either.

4. Employees Who No Longer Work There

Outdated staff profiles. Services you stopped offering years ago. Maybe even an event from last decade still proudly featured on the homepage. It’s like walking into a store and seeing a “Be Right Back” sign that’s yellowed with age.

5. Not Built for Phones

Most people check out your business on their phone first. If your website doesn’t load well on mobile, or if it looks like it was built back when a Blackberry was considered high tech, you’re losing business before the first click.

6. No Clear Way to Reach You

If someone wants to hire you, but has to dig through outdated pages to find your phone number or hours—or worse, finds nothing at all—that’s a dealbreaker. People don’t chase down businesses anymore. They just move on.

Your business is open, but your website didn't get the memo

Here’s the punchline: You’re open. You’re working. You’re ready for customers. But your website might be making people think otherwise.

If your site is sending the wrong message, don’t worry; we can fix it. In fact, Rock Ridge Media builds high-converting, ready-to-go websites for small businesses for free (you just cover hosting). It’s fast, it’s professional, and most importantly… it won’t make you look like you’ve gone out of business.

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