A lot of small business owners in Beaufort have a website, pay for it every month, and have no idea whether it's doing anything. That's a real problem. Your website should work like an employee — and just like an employee, you need to know if it's pulling its weight.
Start by asking every new customer how they found you
This sounds old-fashioned, but it works. When someone calls, books, or walks in, just ask: "How did you hear about us?" Keep a simple tally — a notepad, a spreadsheet, whatever you'll actually use. After a few weeks, patterns show up. If people keep saying "I found you on Google" or "I checked out your website first," that tells you something real. No software required.
Set up Google Search Console — it's free
Google Search Console shows you exactly what search terms people typed before they clicked to your site. It also tells you how often your site showed up in search results, even when nobody clicked. This is one of the most useful free tools out there, and most small business owners have never heard of it. It takes about 15 minutes to set up and gives you a clear window into how Google sees your site.
Use Google Analytics to watch real visitor behavior
Google Analytics (also free) tells you how many people visited your site, which pages they looked at, how long they stayed, and whether they came from a Google search, a Facebook post, or somewhere else entirely. You don't need to dig into every report. Focus on three things: how many people visited this month compared to last month, which page they land on most, and whether they make it to your contact page or your phone number. Those three numbers tell a lot.
Pay attention to your contact form and phone tracking
If your website has a contact form, check how many submissions you get each month. Write it down. If the number is zero for months at a stretch, either nobody is visiting, or something on the page is pushing people away. You can also set up a Google phone number through Google Business Profile that forwards to your real number — this lets you see exactly how many calls came from your Google listing versus your website directly.
Watch for signs your site might be pushing people away
Sometimes the problem isn't that people aren't finding your site — it's that they leave right away. In Analytics, this shows up as a very short average visit time, or most visitors only viewing one page before leaving. Common culprits: the site loads too slowly on a phone, it's hard to find your phone number, or the page looks outdated and people don't trust it. These are fixable problems, but you have to know they exist first.
What to do if your site isn't performing
If you look at the numbers and realize your site isn't sending you customers, it may be time for a fresh start. At Integrity Web Creations, we build custom websites for Beaufort-area businesses with no upfront cost. You pay one flat rate of $100 a month, which covers everything — hosting, security, updates, and support. There's no long-term contract, and you own your site. We also make sure the right tracking tools are built in from day one, so you're never guessing again.
