Your website might look professional, load quickly and make a great first impression.

But what happens if someone clicks your contact button and nothing happens?

One of the most common things we see is business owners assuming their website is working because they can see it online. Unfortunately, a website can look perfectly normal while important features stop working in the background.

The good news is that these problems can usually be identified and fixed before they begin costing your business valuable enquiries.

> Read more reasons why customers don’t trust your website

Why Do Broken Website Features Matter?

Imagine a potential customer is ready to contact you.

They complete your enquiry form, click Submit and… nothing happens.

Most people won’t try again.

They probably won’t call you to tell you your form isn’t working either. Instead, they’ll simply visit another business whose website works as expected.

Your website should make it easy for people to take the next step. If important features don’t work, trust can disappear very quickly.

What Can Stop a Website From Working Properly?

A website is made up of many moving parts.

Over time, updates to WordPress, plugins, themes or your hosting environment can sometimes create unexpected problems.

Some of the most common issues we come across include:

• Contact forms that stop sending enquiries.
• Buttons that no longer link to the correct page.
• Broken links.
• Missing images.
• Pages displaying error messages.
• Online bookings that stop working.
• Shopping cart or checkout issues.

These problems aren’t always caused by poor websites. Sometimes they simply occur because websites need ongoing care, updates and testing.

> Learn why first impressions matter

How Can You Tell If Something Is Broken?

One of the biggest challenges is that many website problems aren’t immediately obvious.

For example, your contact form may appear to work because the button responds when you click it. However, if the enquiry email isn’t delivered, you may never know a customer tried to contact you.

That’s why we recommend regularly testing the most important parts of your website, including:

• Contact forms.
• Booking forms.
• Checkout pages.
• Phone number and email links.
• Main navigation.
• Important buttons.

A few minutes of testing can help prevent weeks of missed opportunities.

One Simple Thing You Can Do Today

Submit a test enquiry through your own website.

Don’t just check that the form appears to work.

Make sure the enquiry is successfully delivered to your inbox and that any confirmation message or email is received.

It’s one of the simplest checks you can perform, yet it’s surprising how often businesses discover a problem they didn’t realise existed.

> Learn why website speed matters

Try It Yourself

Open your website and pretend you’re a customer.

Ask yourself:

• Can I easily find the contact page?
• Does every button take me where I expect?
• Do all the links work?
• Can I successfully submit an enquiry?
• If I wanted to buy from this business today, could I?

Seeing your website through the eyes of a customer is often the quickest way to identify problems.

Why This Matters for Your Business

Every broken feature creates another obstacle between your business and a potential customer.

We’ve found that business owners often spend time trying to attract more visitors, while a simple issue such as a broken contact form may already be preventing enquiries from coming through.

A well-maintained website helps visitors move confidently from learning about your business to contacting you, making a booking or completing a purchase.

Key Takeaways

• A website can look normal while important features stop working.
• Broken forms, buttons and links can cost your business enquiries.
• Regular testing helps identify problems before customers do.
• Many website issues can be prevented through ongoing maintenance.
• A reliable website builds trust and makes it easier for customers to take the next step.

Need Help Checking Your Website?

If you’re not sure whether every part of your website is working properly, we’d be happy to help.

Book a free discovery call and we’ll help you identify potential issues and explain what should be working to give your visitors the best possible experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I check my website?

It’s a good idea to check the most important features of your website at least once a month, especially after major updates to WordPress, plugins or your theme.

Why would a contact form stop working?

Contact forms can stop working for several reasons, including software updates, email delivery problems, plugin conflicts or changes to your hosting environment.

Do broken website features affect customer trust?

Yes. If visitors encounter broken forms, buttons or error messages, they may lose confidence in your business and choose another provider instead.

>View our website Home & Care options

References

WordPress Support. Updating WordPress
https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/updating-wordpress/

Google Search Central. Creating Helpful, Reliable, People-First Content
https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content

Nielsen Norman Group. Error Message Guidelines
https://www.nngroup.com/