How to Know If Your Website Is Working (Without Hiring a Developer)
Most websites aren’t broken—they’re just not doing enough.
They load, they look decent, and the info is (mostly) there… but behind the scenes? They’re not pulling their weight. For small businesses, especially in tight-knit communities like Newark or Granville, that means missed opportunities, dropped leads, and a whole lot of “I saw your sign, but couldn’t find you online.”
Here’s how to check if your site is working—without hiring a developer, buying new software, or Googling what “UX” means again.
1. Load Time (Because People Aren’t Waiting Around)
According to Google, 53% of mobile users abandon a site that takes longer than 3 seconds to load. Three seconds!
Slow sites aren’t just annoying—they actually hurt your search rankings. Use a free tool like PageSpeed Insights to see what’s slowing things down. Bonus: it tells you exactly what to fix.
2. Mobile-Friendliness (Because That’s Where Most People Are)
In Central Ohio and beyond, mobile browsing is the norm. Over 60% of users access the web via smartphones (Statista), and if your site doesn’t work on a phone—zooming, tapping, crashing—people will bounce fast.
Click through your site on your phone like a customer would: Can you find your hours? Book a service? Read the text without squinting?
Google also has a Mobile-Friendly Test tool that’s free and super simple.
3. Navigation That Actually Makes Sense
If a site feels confusing or clunky, people leave. Quickly.
Menus should be clear, simple, and in the right order (hint: “Contact” should never be buried). Make sure someone unfamiliar with your business can find what they need in three clicks or less.
Pro tip: Ask a friend or customer to walk through the site while you watch. You’ll learn fast where they hesitate or get lost.
4. Visibility in Search (aka: Can People Find You?)
Even a great site won’t help if no one can find it.
This is where basic SEO comes in. Keywords, meta titles, alt text, site speed—they all matter. A bakery in Pataskala should be showing up when someone searches “custom birthday cakes near me.”
Tools like Ubersuggest or even the Squarespace SEO panel can help you check for missing keywords or outdated content. For an in-depth look, Moz and SEMrush are gold-standard industry resources trusted by marketing professionals everywhere.
5. Content That Stays Fresh (Even If It’s Just the Homepage)
Fresh content signals that your business is active and trustworthy. Google likes it, and so do real people. Even if you’re not blogging every week, update photos, tweak your service descriptions, or highlight seasonal offers.
And if there’s a blog? Even better. Local topics—like a behind-the-scenes look at your storefront or a nod to the Licking County Chamber’s latest event—can help boost both trust and SEO.
A good website doesn’t need to win design awards. It just needs to load fast, work on a phone, guide people easily, and show up when they’re searching. That’s what makes it work—not just exist.
If your site could use a second set of eyes (or just some strategic polish), we’d be happy to take a look. Marketing & Main is right here in the heart of the Arcade—and just as obsessed with clarity, speed, and strategy as your customers are. Let’s chat about it.