10 Common Website Mistakes Rural Businesses Make - And How a graphic designer can fix them.

abbieevanson1
Jun 25
4 min read

Updated: Jun 27

WEBSITE SERVICES

The Biggest Website Mistakes We See in the Rural Sector from a graphic designer

Avoid These Pitfalls to Build a Stronger, More Trustworthy Online Presence

At Digital Rural, we work with agricultural, equine, and rural businesses every day and we love helping them thrive online. But time and time again, we see the same website mistakes holding brilliant rural businesses back from making the impact they deserve.

Here are the most common website pitfalls we see in the rural sector and how to fix them.

1. Outdated Design That Feels Stuck in the Past

Many rural business websites haven’t been updated in years. While the business itself may be modern and forward-thinking, the site might still look like it was built in 2012.

Why it matters? First impressions count. Visitors will judge your professionalism based on how your site looks and feels. A dated design can make your business seem behind the times, even if it’s not.

Quick fix: Invest in a refresh with a graphic designer every 3–5 years. Clean, modern design with high-quality imagery and easy navigation builds trust instantly.

Explore our branding services → Our Services

2. Hard-to-Find Information

If your opening times, location, services, or contact info aren’t easy to find within seconds, you’re likely losing leads.

Why it matters? People visiting your site are often on a mission: book a service, check availability, or get directions. Make it effortless.

Quick fix: Add a clear navigation menu, with obvious links to “Contact,” “About,” and your core offerings. Include key info in the footer too.

3. Not Mobile-Friendly

Too many rural websites still aren’t optimised for phones. With over 60% of traffic coming from mobile devices, that’s a big red flag.

Why it matters: A website that doesn’t work well on phones feels clunky, slow, and frustrating and sends customers away fast.

Quick fix: Use responsive design so your site adapts to different screen sizes. This should be a standard in any modern website build.

4. Lack of Clear Branding

Inconsistent fonts, colours, and logos or no real visual identity at all, are common in small rural business websites.

Why it matters: Good branding helps you stand out and builds recognition. Without it, your business is forgettable or worse, untrustworthy.

Quick fix: Work with a designer to build a brand kit that includes logo, colour palette, fonts, and brand voice guidelines.

Check out our full brand identity packages

5. Missing or Poor - Quality Photography

Stock photos or blurry mobile shots can make even the best businesses feel impersonal or unprofessional.

Why it matters: Authenticity is everything in the rural space. People want to see the real people, places, and products behind the brand.

Quick fix: Use real, high-quality images that show your team, premises, and products. Professional photography is worth every penny.

6. No Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

Many websites forget to guide the visitor. “What do you want them to do next?” is a question that often goes unanswered.

Why it matters: If you don’t tell people what to do, they won’t do it. Whether it’s “Book a lesson,” “Order now,” or “Request a quote,” be direct.

Quick fix: Add buttons and links with clear, action-focused language. Make them visible on every page.

7. No SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

Even the best websites are invisible without SEO and many rural businesses are missing this piece completely.

Why it matters: If your site isn’t appearing in search results for terms like “Shropshire livery yard” or “farm shop near me,” you’re missing customers.

Quick fix: Use local keywords in your content, update your metadata, and start a simple blog.

We offer simple SEO help for rural businesses

8. No Social Proof (Reviews, Testimonials, Case Studies)

People trust people. But a lot of rural sites don’t include real feedback from happy customers.

Why it matters: In tight-knit rural communities, reputation is everything. Showing proof builds confidence fast.

Quick fix: Add a testimonials section, case study pages, or Google review links directly to your site.

9. Broken Links or Incomplete Pages

Nothing says “We don’t maintain this site” like a 404 error or a half-finished “Coming Soon” page that’s been there for months.

Why it matters: Broken pages feel unprofessional — and Google doesn’t like them either.

Quick fix: Check your site regularly or use a free tool to scan for broken links. Update or remove anything that’s outdated.

10. No Contact Form or Clear Way to Get in Touch

You’d be surprised how many websites forget this. If a visitor can’t contact you easily, they’ll move on.

Why it matters: A missed enquiry is a missed opportunity. Some people won’t pick up the phone but they’ll send a message.

Quick fix: Use a simple, working contact form. Include email and phone as backup options, and make sure someone is checking them.

Final Thoughts

The rural sector is full of brilliant businesses doing amazing work but too many are held back by websites that don’t reflect their value.

If your site needs a refresh or you’re not sure where to start, we can help. At Digital Rural, we specialise in branding, websites, and marketing for rural and countryside-based businesses and we’re here to help you grow.

Our Work

Our Services