Your Website Is Not a Junk Drawer. Let’s Fix It.
There’s something on my mind.
I have seen a pesky situation crop up in the past few months that has happened so frequently that I have to say something about it.
Before I do, please know that I say this with the utmost respect and care and that this comes from the kindest place in my heart, but I have to break it to you: You are using your website incorrectly.
Yes you, and probably your colleague, and definitely that guy down the road who does webinars and has the too long sales funnel.
Your website is the digital front door to your business, not a storage unit for every PDF, thank you page, and resource you've ever created.
I've spent the last decade watching smart business owners unknowingly sabotage their growth by treating their website like an overstuffed filing cabinet. And it’s okay because honestly? Who teaches you this stuff? And even if they did? You probably wouldn’t listen.
Because it’s boring. And because you’re busy. I get it.
But for every “personalized experience” you’re building on your website, I can tell you what you are really doing is adding unnecessary complexity (read: COST) when you go to refresh and revamp it. Eventually, you’ll have to deal with the digital mess collecting dust.
The Problem No One Talks About
When you use your website as storage, you're essentially:
Creating duplicate "resources" pages for every download
Building endless standalone thank you pages
Storing massive files directly on your site
Keeping outdated versions of pages "just in case"
It's like you've hired a beautiful storefront on Main Street, but instead of creating an inviting shopping experience, you're using it to store your inventory, paperwork, and office supplies. Not exactly the impression you want to make, right?
Why This Should Matter to You (Even If Technology Scares You)
I get it—the technical aspects of websites can be intimidating. And nothing sounds more snore-inducing than the phrase: “website architecture realignment”. But that's exactly why you hire experts like us.
That being said, understanding the impact of using your website incorrectly doesn't require a tech degree and I am willing to bet you already feel these things below acutely.
When your website becomes a dumping ground:
Your site slows down. More pages and files mean longer load times, which frustrates your visitors and potential clients.
Updates become a nightmare. Need to change your contact information or have new resources or headshots to share? Now you have to update it on dozens of different pages instead of one place.
Your client experience suffers. Visitors get lost in a maze of similar-sounding resources, unable to find what they need. OR they got a fun landing page with some links that now they can’t find again.
Your website projects disorganization. If your digital presence is chaotic, clients might wonder if working with you will be, too.
Google doesn’t love duplicate content. At all. If you didn’t tell Google otherwise, it’s crawling those pages that are supposed to be private and listed as unlinked. You checked that box right?
The overall vibe is the backend of your website feels like chaos. And as busy business owners, we have enough of that right? So what do we do when we have an activity that feels like a bit of a dumpster fire? That age old trick:
Avoid, avoid, avoid.
The updates don’t get done. The blog doesn’t get updated. You tell yourself it will be a project for another day! ……that day never comes, right? Because there is never a good time for a website project.
What This Says About Your Expertise
The most successful service providers understand that a truly bespoke client experience doesn't come from custom web pages—it comes from you and your team delivering personalized value, and I KNOW you are already doing this in so many ways both big and small.
When you create a new page for every resource or thank you message, you're actually diminishing your perceived expertise. You're signaling that your solution to complexity is to create more complexity, not to design elegant systems.
What Smart Businesses Do Instead
The businesses I work with that have the most effective websites treat their CMS as what it actually is: a Content Management System, not a content storage system.
Here's what they do differently:
They create a centralized resource hub. Instead of scattered resource pages, they organize materials in one location with clear categories. It’s easier to stay on top of and it gets updated regularly with new findings and tools.
They design intentional user journeys. Rather than dead-end thank you pages, they guide users to the next logical step in the relationship. This isn’t a one-size fits all, but typically anything that’s a thank you or confirmation should usually be delivered through your email marketing platform. We want every step users take on your website to make sense and happen in three clicks or less.
They leverage proper tools for the job. They use email platforms for subscriber management, resource delivery, video hosting for videos, and cloud storage for large files. Any hulking dinosaur being stored on your site is a total drain on your site speed. Oh, and your photos are all optimized for web, right?
They build systems that scale. They think about how their website will work not just today, but when they have twice as many resources or clients. Know that a great website is ALWAYS a work in progress and it is never done. But by being future focused and lasered in on making sure it’s the right size and fits the right people well, it will be poised to serve you longer than the average off the shelf website.
What This Actually Costs You
Whether you like it or not, people Google you. And even though your website may present in a pleasing fashion, a mess under the hood will always end up costing you. Every year that you let your content sprawl without restraint simply adds more tech debt to your account.
When you use your website incorrectly:
You waste hours of your team's time managing unnecessary complexity
You spend more on future redesigns because the cleanup work is extensive
You undermine your positioning as an organized, strategic expert
The businesses that position themselves as true advisors—not vendors—understand that their website architecture reflects their strategic thinking.
Expert Guidance, Not Just “Another Web Update”
If reading this makes you feel overwhelmed about your own website, take a deep breath. The good news? You don't have to figure this out alone. That's exactly what strategic advisors like us are for.
We help businesses transform their websites from digital storage units into powerful business tools that build relationships before, during, and after the sale. We are here to make sure that we align your digital ecosystem and match it with the high-level expertise you provide.
Your website should be working for you, not creating more work. It should be a dynamic marketing and sales tool, not a digital dumping ground. '
Maybe most of all? It's about ensuring that at every touchpoint—before, during, and after the sale—your clients experience the clarity and strategic thinking that made them hire you in the first place. That’s the power of a thoughtful and strategic website.
You win by doing the boring thing over a very long time horizon. In this case, the boring thing is proper content management and strategic website planning—not sexy, but incredibly effective for building a business that lasts.
Looking to transform your website from storage space to strategic asset? That's exactly what we do best. We’re only a contact form away!
meet the author & ceoAhoy there, I’m Sabrina!
I write about the joys and trials of owning a business, being bold, and taking decisive action as a leader.
Mix this with Midwest no-nonsense, being a Mom to 3 growing-too-quickly kids, lots of travel, 2 giant German Shepard dogs, and an after-school sports schedule that makes your eyes cross, and that’s the slice of life you’ll find here.
