Your Web Visitor’s Just Not That into You: 7 Lead Generation Mishaps

You may have heard a statistic that SEO is a top marketing channel for generating leads, second only to word of mouth. But have you found that your website is not a lead generating machine you thought it would be?

• Recognize who you want
• You rank for the wrong keywords
• There is no CTA 
• No follow-up marketing
• Your site doesn’t address visitor’s needs
• Your website is outdated
• Your content is just bad 
• FAQ: How can I ensure a successful SEO services agency-client relationship?

Why are other businesses finding such success when it comes to lead generation with their websites and you’re not? Sorry to be the one to break the bad news, but it could be that your web visitors just aren’t that into you.

7 Reasons Your Website May Be Losing Leads

There could be many reasons why your web visitors are choosing not to engage with you. It’s your job to get to the bottom of why they might not be buying, hiring or even contacting you. It also takes avoiding the common mishaps that people make, which turn off web visitors before they convert into leads. Let’s take a look at these frequent mistakes.

1. Your website persona doesn’t match your visitor persona.

Many people don’t realize that their website persona is a complete mismatch to their visitor persona. Put it this way, your website is Albert Einstein. Your web visitor is Justin Bieber. The personas are completely off.

When the voice of your website doesn’t speak to the audience who buys from you, web visitors don’t turn into qualified leads. They are not drawn to the design, don’t relate to the content and are not feeling a connection with the website.

You can fix this problem by understanding who it is that you want to attract to your website. Whether you are selling a product or offering a service, you need to pinpoint the characteristics of your target market.

• What are their ages?
• What is the education level?
• Where do they live?
• What are they interested in?
• What worries them?
• What excites them?

You need to get specific in recognizing who it is you want. Then you can create text, images and videos that attract these people. You can incorporate an appealing design and structure.

If you are not sure who is visiting your website, you might want to consider hiring a market research company. Keep in mind that you might have multiple personas coming to your site.  Start learning more about personas with this article Web Personas: Creating Jane.

2. You’re ranking for keywords no one searches for.

Yay! You rank number one for five of your keywords. That’s great, as long as people are searching for those terms. We have seen many times where websites are ranking strong for certain keywords or phrases, but nobody uses them — for search or in speaking about the kinds of products and services you offer. The great news is that there is a solution for this issue too. You can actually trigger the query.

Once you own the rankings for a keyword, start generating interest in it. You might consider creating a press release, writing an article, speaking at events, using social media and even good old fashion offline marketing to trigger the query. You will need to talk about that word or phrase and prompt people to go to the search engines and do a query. Most marketers don’t think this way, but we know it works and will generate leads for you.

3. There’s no call to action.

You can’t assume web visitors know what to do when they’re on your website. For example, is it very clear that after arriving on the page and reviewing the content that they should fill out your contact form? Or are they supposed to order your product? What about pick up the phone and call you — is that what they should do? Not everyone knows what the next action is supposed to be, so tell them. Make it very apparent what step they should take.

You might also want to consider having some type of offer in place to encourage web visitors to take action. It could be a promotional sale or free item for ordering or contacting you. For more on calls to action, check out How to Create a Thank You Page Call to Action.

4. You have no back end system (a.k.a. follow-up marketing) in place.

It’s amazing how much people are willing to spend on web development and SEO, but then let money just fall through their fingers. That is exactly what happens when there is no back end system in place to capture leads. When visitors get to your website, they might not be ready to buy from you or hire your company. If they leave your site without you ever capturing their information, you have just thrown dollars away.

You should have some way of gathering visitor data. For example, you might want to offer a free newsletter or coupons sent via email. Maybe you have a report you can offer at no cost. Put a form on your website for these types of offers. At a minimum, ask for the person’s name and email address. Store this information in a database and follow up. There are a lot of great programs out there that will help you automate follow-up marketing campaigns by sending out timed emails and other promotional offers. Even though a web visitor might not have turned into an immediate customer, it doesn’t mean he or she won’t down the road.

5. Your site fails to address the visitors’ needs.

Think communication 101; it’s about the other person, not you. I have taught marketing and communication courses at a university in California. One of the first things I teach my students is the concept of the “you” attitude. At a basic level, when I am communicating, I need to keep you at the center of the message because, as the receiver of the communication, you will be wondering, “how does this impact me?” We all do it, whether you realize it or not.

When people arrive on your website, they want to know how you can help them. Do you have a product that solves a problem for them? Do you provide a service that is just the solution they need? Can you make their lives better? Your website better address these questions immediately. If you make your website all about your company and not the web visitor, you are going to miss out on leads. 

6. Your website is partying like it’s 1999.

Outdated websites can hurt you. The reason the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” exists is because we all do just that. We’re human. We make assumptions based on what we see. If your web visitors are presented with a site that looks like it was developed in the late nineties, they are not going to view you as credible. They certainly will think twice before contacting you or purchasing from your site.

Outdated designs aren’t just an issue aesthetically. An old design could have performance issues too. Plus, search engines know if your site has been updated or not. We believe that somewhere, somehow, that plays a factor in rankings. One website we know of had a consistent drop in keyword rankings. After doing some investigation, we determined that the website hadn’t been updated in several years, meaning it was using old technology, as well. We advised the site owner to update his website. He did, and his rankings rose.

7. The content (text, images, videos) on your website is just plain bad.

From a website owner’s prospective, it’s hard to admit that your site might need some serious improvement. Quality is a very subjective term and saying that your website has high quality content — including text, images and videos — doesn’t mean another person will feel the same way. Take a long hard look at your website’s content.

• Is the content interesting?
• Is text grammatically correct?
• Are text, images and videos targeted toward your ideal audience?

The content on your website needs to be engaging in order to convert web visitors into leads.

Optimizing your site for lead generation is an important component of online marketing and SEO. You poured hours and money into getting web traffic, so make sure it’s not being wasted. These seven mishaps are only the beginning of some of the things that you need to review. Start making small tweaks today and monitor whether the amount of leads you are getting from your site is going up.

Setting up your website to generate leads takes knowledge, strategy, planning, and work, and if you’re looking for help, Bruce Clay, Inc. is here.

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FAQ: How can I ensure a successful SEO services agency-client relationship?

The relationship between an SEO services agency and its clients is paramount. Establishing a successful partnership is not just about improving search engine rankings; it’s about synergy, trust, and shared goals. Here, as an expert in the field, I’ll guide you through the essential elements of ensuring a fruitful SEO services agency-client relationship.

1. Clear Communication is Key

Communication is at the core of any successful relationship between an agency and client. From day one, establish an effective channel that works for both sides. Regular updates, reports, and feedback sessions are invaluable in ensuring transparency and alignment of goals.

2. Define Expectations from the Outset

A common pitfall in the agency-client relationship is misunderstandings about expectations. Define clear, measurable goals and expectations from the beginning. Discuss what success looks like, the timeline for achieving it, and the role each party plays in reaching those objectives.

3. Choose the Right Agency

Before signing any contracts with SEO agencies, be sure that they are suitable for your company and understand its target audience. They must also be flexible enough to adapt to meet any particular requirements you might have.

4. Trust, But Verify

While it’s important to trust your chosen agency, it’s also prudent to keep an eye on its progress. Implement regular check-ins and review reports to ensure your SEO partner delivers on their promises.

5. Collaborate Effectively

SEO success is a collaborative effort. Engage in a two-way dialogue with your agency, sharing insights and providing access to your team’s expertise. Your agency should adapt and refine its strategy based on your input.

Transitioning between these elements is seamless when approached with an open mind and a willingness to cooperate. An agile, responsive approach to these factors will greatly enhance your agency-client relationship.

Step-by-Step Guide to Ensuring a Successful SEO Services Agency-Client Relationship

1. Begin by clearly defining your goals and expectations.
2. Research and select an SEO agency that aligns with your industry and objectives.
3. Establish a communication plan outlining regular update schedules and feedback sessions.
4. Work closely with your agency to set achievable milestones and performance metrics.
5. Trust your agency’s expertise but maintain regular reviews and audits of their work.
6. Foster a collaborative environment where you and your agency work together to achieve your SEO goals.
7. Continuously monitor and adjust your strategy as needed.
8. Ensure your agency provides detailed reporting and insights to keep you informed.
9. Implement feedback loops to address any concerns or issues promptly.
10. Adapt and evolve your SEO strategy as the digital landscape changes.
11. Keep an open line of communication, addressing challenges and celebrating successes.
12. Build a relationship based on trust, respect, and a shared vision for success.
13. Remain receptive to industry updates and innovative SEO practices.
14. Encourage transparency in all dealings with your SEO agency.
15. Establish a timeline for your SEO project, but remain flexible to adapt as needed.
16. Nurture your SEO agency-client relationship for the long term.
17. Learn from your experiences and use them to improve future partnerships.
18. Celebrate milestones and successes together.
19. Never stop seeking ways to optimize and refine your SEO strategy.
20. Revisit and reassess your partnership regularly to ensure continued success.

A successful SEO services agency-client relationship is built on clear communication, defined expectations, trust, collaboration, and the right choice of an agency. Follow these steps to improve your ranking and form a mutually beneficial, long-term partnership with an SEO Partner. It’s not all about arriving at your destination  —  with someone reliable by your side, the journey becomes smoother.

This article was updated on November 14, 2023.

Mindy Weinstein is the founder and president of Market MindShift, a digital marketing agency, and a marketing professor at Grand Canyon University. Formerly, she was the director of training at Bruce Clay Inc. Prior to jumping in head first into SEO, Mindy co-authored two books (one published by McGraw Hill!). She has also been interviewed on radio and television, and quoted in newspapers and magazines.

See Mindy's author page for links to connect on social media.