Is Your WordPress Site Letting You Down?
Picture this. A potential customer in Cannington searches for a local service on their phone.
They tap through to your website, but it takes too long to load. Confused by cluttered text or unclear buttons, they give up.
Meanwhile, your competitor’s site loads instantly, showcases exactly what they offer, and makes it easy to get in touch.
Sound familiar?
The truth is, your WordPress website doesn’t always need a total rebuild to make a real difference.
Sometimes, it’s the simple fixes that move the needle.
This checklist is for Perth business owners who want to improve their WordPress site – making it faster, clearer and more effective.
We’ll walk you through the common culprits that drag down WordPress sites – and exactly what to do about them.
And if you’re thinking, “This is all great but I don’t have time for this!” – no worries, we are the leading specialists in WordPress web design Perth and we’re here to help.
1. Speed Check: Improve Your WordPress Site’s Loading Time
Even a one-second delay in load time can lead to a significant drop in conversions.
Think about it: in a fast-paced city like Perth, people expect websites to respond as quickly as their coffee orders.
Whether you’re a tradie, a consultant or a local retailer, your website needs to load fast to hold attention.
Speed matters. Especially when someone’s out and about, quickly searching for your contact page while juggling a busy day.
Why it matters:
- Slow sites frustrate users and increase bounce rate
- Google uses page speed as a ranking factor
- Local users expect instant results, especially on mobile
How to test it:
- Use GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights
- Look for a load time under 3 seconds
- Focus on mobile results first
Quick fixes:
- Compress images using tools like TinyPNG
- Install a caching plugin like WP Rocket or W3 Total Cache
- Avoid bloated themes with too many built-in features
Improving your site speed is one of the easiest ways to upgrade your WordPress website.
2. Mobile First: Improve Mobile Usability for Your WordPress Website
A mobile-friendly website isn’t a nice-to-have anymore – it’s essential.
Consider how many people tap through to your site while commuting on the train from Joondalup or waiting for a coffee in Subiaco.
If your site isn’t fast, readable and tappable, you’re losing leads without even knowing it.
More than half of your site’s traffic is likely coming from mobile users.
If your site looks squashed, scroll-heavy or impossible to navigate on a phone, that’s a problem.
Check your site:
- Use your own phone and browse every page
- Open Chrome DevTools (Right-click > Inspect > Toggle device toolbar)
- Try different screen sizes (iPhone SE to Galaxy S22 Ultra)
Common issues:
- Tiny buttons or text
- Menus that don’t open properly
- Popups that block the whole screen
- No click-to-call on phone numbers
Fix it:
- Use a responsive theme (like Divi, Astra or GeneratePress)
- Add a sticky header with contact details
- Shorten mobile forms and CTAs
Improving mobile responsiveness helps your WordPress website perform better for every Perth customer.
3. Clarity & Purpose: Is It Obvious What You Do and Who It’s For?
Your website should be like your business card – clear, confident and unmistakable.
If someone lands on your site and has to guess what you offer, you’ve already lost them.
We see it all the time – beautiful designs that say absolutely nothing.
A user should land on your homepage and know exactly what you offer within five seconds.
Look at your above-the-fold section:
- Is there a clear headline?
- Does it explain who you are and what you do?
- Is your location visible? (e.g. “Perth’s Trusted Building Inspectors”)
Fix it:
- Rewrite your H1 to include your service + Perth
- Include a 1-line explainer of who you help
- Add a prominent call-to-action (CTA) above the fold
People don’t scroll unless you give them a reason to.
Improving clarity boosts conversions.
4. Navigation & User Flow: Can Visitors Find What They Need?
If your users are playing hide-and-seek with your contact page, something’s gone wrong.
A streamlined layout helps your visitors get where they want to go – fast.
This keeps them engaged and nudges them toward that all-important enquiry or sale.
Your website isn’t a maze – it’s a path. And that path needs to lead to action.
Simplify your main menu:
- Stick to 5–7 items max
- Use clear labels (“Services”, “About”, “Contact”)
- Avoid dropdowns with too many layers
Improve internal linking:
- Link related blog posts and service pages together
- Add CTAs at the end of each page
Footer best practices:
- Include your phone number, email and location
- Add a mini menu for quick access
- Include your business hours
A streamlined structure is one of the easiest ways to improve your WordPress website.
5. Trust Builders: Are You Giving Visitors a Reason to Believe in You?
Let’s face it – no one likes handing over their details to a website that feels shady or half-baked.
Trust isn’t just built through words – it’s in the details.
A polished, professional site with visible testimonials and local credibility goes a long way in convincing visitors to take the next step.
Trust isn’t optional – especially online.
If your site doesn’t look credible, users won’t hang around long enough to contact you.
Add social proof:
- Customer testimonials with names or locations
- Google reviews embedded directly into your site
- Case studies or before-and-after results
Showcase legitimacy:
- Display certifications or awards
- Add logos of trusted clients or partners
- Mention any industry associations or Perth-specific groups
Be real:
- Use actual photos, not generic stock images
- Include team bios or a friendly about page
Trust builds conversions. Every time.
6. SEO Basics: Are You Helping Google Understand Your Site?
Getting found online starts with giving Google the right signals.
SEO might sound technical, but many of the most important changes are simple and structured.
When your site is easy for Google to read, it’s easier for people to find you too – especially in a competitive local market like Perth.
Search engines rely on structure. If your site is a mess behind the scenes, you’re harder to find.
Must-do SEO fixes:
- Use unique page titles with keywords (“Bathroom Renovations Perth”)
- Write meta descriptions that invite clicks
- Use one H1 per page and clear subheadings (H2s)
- Add alt text to all images (great for accessibility too)
- Create clean, readable URLs (no gibberish or IDs)
Good SEO helps you improve your WordPress website visibility across Perth.
7. Content Gaps: Are You Answering the Questions People Are Googling?
If you’re not answering your customers’ questions, someone else will.
Strong content doesn’t just fill space – it drives traffic, builds trust and turns browsers into buyers.
Your content should work 24/7 to qualify leads, showcase your expertise and keep you top of mind.
A beautiful design only goes so far.
If your content doesn’t answer what your customers are searching for, you’re missing out.
Add depth:
- Expand service pages to include who it’s for, benefits, FAQs and how it works
- Write location pages if you serve multiple areas (“Electrician in Fremantle”)
- Add a blog that answers real questions your audience asks
Pro tip:
- Use a tool like AlsoAsked or Google’s “People Also Ask” to spark ideas
Content is where conversions happen. Give visitors what they came for.
8. Security & Updates: Is Your WordPress Site Being Looked After?
Your website is like a shopfront – would you leave it unlocked overnight?
Outdated plugins and neglected updates are the digital equivalent.
Even small vulnerabilities can lead to major issues, so maintenance isn’t optional – it’s business-critical.
A hacked or broken site isn’t just embarrassing – it can cost you customers and Google rankings.
Security essentials:
- Keep WordPress core, themes and plugins updated
- Use a reliable security plugin (like Wordfence or iThemes)
- Set up daily or weekly backups (UpdraftPlus is a favourite)
Extra tips:
- Use SSL (your site should say https://)
- Choose a trusted local host with good support
Think of security like insurance – you hope you won’t need it, but when you do…
9. Design Consistency: Does It Feel Polished and On-Brand?
First impressions count – especially online.
If your fonts, colours and layout are all over the place, you risk looking amateur.
Clean, cohesive design tells visitors you’re the real deal and gives them confidence to take action.
A mismatched design makes you look amateur. Users notice.
Keep it cohesive:
- Stick to 2–3 fonts across your entire site
- Use a limited colour palette aligned with your branding
- Make sure spacing and layout are consistent
Avoid:
- Low-res images or stretched logos
- Pages that look completely different from one another
- Inconsistent tone of voice or style
Clean design builds confidence. And confidence drives conversions.
Conclusion: Small Fixes, Big Impact
You don’t need a $10K rebuild to turn your website into a high-performing business asset.
Start with what matters:
- Speed
- Mobile usability
- Clear messaging
- Strong navigation
- Trust cues
- SEO structure
- Better content
- Site security
- Cohesive design
Each one makes a noticeable difference.
Together? They turn your WordPress website into a high-performing asset that works harder for your business.
If you’re ready to improve your WordPress website and boost your results, discover how our WordPress web design Perth services can help achieve your goals.
Let’s build something amazing for your Perth business.
Author Bio
Blair Thorne is the owner of The Web Shop, specialising in WordPress website design and marketing based in Perth, Western Australia.
Read more about our WordPress web design Perth services.