500 UK Websites Later: Here’s What We Found

It is officially that time of year. The mince pies are nearly gone, the confetti from Christmas crackers has finally been swept up, and business owners across the UK are looking at 2026 with fresh eyes. We are doing the same.

Before we jump headfirst into January, we wanted to share something fascinating. Over the last few months, we have run a little experiment. We used our AI tools to scan and analyse 500 local business websites right here in the UK. From bustling coffee shops in Manchester to boutique salons in Brighton, we looked at how small businesses are presenting themselves online.

The results? Honestly, they were a mix of brilliant creativity and some surprisingly common missed opportunities. If you are planning your digital strategy for the coming year, you might want to see if your site falls into these traps—or if you are already ahead of the curve.

The "Hidden" Business Phenomenon

One of the most striking things we noticed was how hard some businesses make it to actually buy from them. We found stunning websites with beautiful photography and heartfelt "About Us" pages, but when it came to the nitty-gritty of what they do or how to book a service, the trail went cold.

We saw restaurants with no accessible menu on their homepage. We found plumbers with contact forms buried three clicks deep. It feels a bit like walking into a shop where the staff are hiding behind the shelves.

Your website needs to be your best salesperson. It works 24/7, never takes a tea break, and doesn't ask for a holiday in August. If a potential customer lands on your site, they need to know exactly what you offer and how to get it within seconds. Clarity beats cleverness every single time.

The Content Gap is Real

Since we started Content Colin in 2024, we suspected that consistent blogging was a struggle for most SMBs. Our scan confirmed it.

Out of the 500 sites we looked at, a huge number had a "Blog" or "News" section. That is great! The problem? The last post was often dated somewhere around "July 2023" or even older. It is like walking past a shop window that still has Easter decorations up in December. It makes the business look inactive, even if you are busier than ever behind the scenes.

We get it. Writing is hard work. When you are managing staff, sorting out VAT returns, and trying to keep customers happy, sitting down to write 800 words about "Top 5 Winter Trends" feels impossible. But Google loves fresh content. Search engines see regular updates as a heartbeat. If the heartbeat stops, they assume the patient is in trouble and stop sending traffic your way.

This is exactly why we built our platform. We realised that business owners don't lack ideas; they lack time. By using AI to analyse your specific industry and voice, we help fill that gap so your site stays alive and kicking without you spending your Sunday evenings typing away.

Local SEO is Often Forgotten

Another massive takeaway was the lack of local flavour in the copy. We saw businesses that clearly operate in specific towns—let's say a bakery in Leeds—but their website copy was generic. It could have been a bakery in London, New York, or Sydney.

If you are a local business, you need to own your location. Mentioning your city, your neighbourhood, or even local landmarks helps search engines connect you with people nearby who are searching for exactly what you offer. If you are a "Florist in Bristol," say that. Don't just be a "Premier Florist."

Connecting with your community is one of our core values. We believe in doing the right thing for our customers, and part of that is helping you connect with your local customers. It is not just about algorithms; it is about showing people you are part of their world.

Social Media Buttons That Go Nowhere

We all know social media is huge. Almost every site we scanned had the familiar icons for Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok in the footer. But here is the kicker: a surprising number of those links were broken.

Some went to dead pages. Others just refreshed the homepage. Some linked to the generic facebook.com login page rather than the business profile. It is a small detail, but it breaks trust. It is a loose thread that makes the whole garment look a bit unfinished.

Have a quick check of your own site today. Click every single link in your footer. It takes two minutes, but it ensures you aren't sending your hard-earned traffic into a digital black hole.

Speed Matters More Than Ever

Finally, we noticed a lot of heavy lifting. And not the good gym kind. We are talking about massive image files that slow websites down to a crawl. We saw gorgeous high-resolution photos that took five or six seconds to load on a mobile connection.

In the digital world, five seconds is a lifetime. Most people will bounce back to Google before the image even appears. Optimising your images and keeping your site snappy is one of the easiest ways to improve your user experience and your search ranking.

Let’s Fix This Together

Looking at these 500 websites made us incredibly optimistic. The passion is there. The products are fantastic. The services are essential. The only thing missing is often just a bit of structural support to make sure the digital side of the business reflects the quality of the real-world side.

We built Content Colin because we saw these struggles firsthand. We spent two decades helping businesses sell online, and we know that content is often the biggest hurdle. You deserve a website that ranks well, drives traffic, and actually sounds like you—without the headache of doing it all yourself.

As we head into 2026, let’s make sure your digital shop window is as impressive as your business itself. If you are ready to get your content moving again, come take a look at how we can help. Here is to a brilliant year ahead