Check Your Website Before You Spend on Ads

Key Takeaway:
Running ads on a slow or confusing website is like pouring water into a leaky bucket. Before spending on advertising, make sure your website loads fast, looks great on mobile, and makes it easy for people to contact you.

Why This Matters

Ads drive traffic, not sales. If your site isn’t ready, that traffic won’t turn into paying customers. Before you start paying for clicks, take a few minutes to check the essentials. You’ll get better results, lower ad costs, and more leads from the same budget.

This guide is made for non-technical business owners who want clear, actionable advice without technical jargon.

1. Check Your Site Speed

A slow site makes visitors leave before they even see your offer. Every second of delay can reduce conversions by up to 20%.

Why it matters:

• Slow pages hurt your Google ranking.
• Visitors lose patience after 3 seconds.
• Fast sites make people trust your business.

How to test it:

• Go to PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.
• Check both mobile and desktop results.
• Compress large images using tools like TinyPNG.
• Remove unnecessary animations, videos, or plugins.

Goal: Page loads in under 2.5 seconds.

2. Make Sure It Looks Great on Mobile

More than 70% of ad clicks come from smartphones. If your site doesn’t adapt to smaller screens, you’re wasting money.

What to check:

• Buttons are large enough to tap easily.
• Text is readable without zooming.
• Layout adjusts properly when you rotate the screen.
• Key actions like “Book Now” or “Call Us” are visible at the top.

Simple test: Open your site on your phone and scroll. Can a new visitor understand what you do and how to contact you in 10 seconds or less? If not, simplify.

3. Ensure Your Contact Options Are Obvious

Visitors need an easy way to reach you. A missing or hard-to-find contact option kills conversions.

Checklist:

• Phone number and email are visible on every page.
• Contact buttons stand out with clear color contrast.
• Forms are short and functional (test them).
• Add click-to-call or WhatsApp buttons for instant contact.

Tip: Submit your own contact form to confirm it works. You’d be surprised how many sites have broken forms.

4. Review Your Core Message

People decide in seconds whether to stay or leave your site. Your homepage should tell them exactly who you are, what you offer, and why they should trust you.

Ask yourself:

• Does my headline clearly say what I do?
• Is my offer visible without scrolling?
• Are my images real and relevant?
• Do I show reviews or trust signals (testimonials, awards, ratings)?

Rule of thumb: If someone lands on your homepage, they should understand your business within 5 seconds.

5. Optimize for Conversions Before Ads

Traffic is useless without conversions. Make sure your site is built to turn visitors into leads or customers.

Essentials:

• One clear goal per page (e.g., book a call, buy now, request a quote).
• Simple forms and fast checkout processes.
• Clean layout with no distractions.
• Tracking tools like Google Analytics or Meta Pixel installed.

Tip: Direct ads to a specific landing page designed for one action, not your generic homepage.

6. Test Everything Before Spending on Ads

A 10-minute test can save hundreds of dollars.

Do this before launching ads:

• Fill out your own contact form.
• Click every button and menu link.
• Check your site on multiple devices (Android, iPhone, tablet).
• Ask a friend to visit and explain what they see.
• Confirm your “thank you” page or confirmation email works.

If anything breaks, fix it before turning on ads.

7. Keep It Simple

Less clutter means more conversions. Complicated websites confuse visitors.

Simplify by:

• Removing unnecessary text or widgets.
• Using short headlines and clear CTAs.
• Keeping menus small and easy to navigate.

Remember: Clarity converts better than creativity.

Your Website Pre-Ad Checklist

• Loads in under 3 seconds
• Mobile-friendly on all devices
• Clear “Call” or “Contact” buttons
• Forms and links work properly
• Headline explains your offer
• Testimonials or reviews visible
• Tracking (Google Analytics or Pixel) active
• One clear goal per page

Check these before running ads. Your money will go much further.

Final Thoughts

Advertising should amplify your business - not expose its weak spots. If your website isn’t fast, mobile-optimized, and conversion-ready, every click you buy is a wasted opportunity.

Fix the basics first. Once your site is solid, you’ll spend less, convert more, and turn traffic into real clients.