13 Website Design Mistakes That Are Killing Your Conversions

Your Website Might Be Driving Customers Away

Here's a sobering statistic: 38% of people will stop engaging with a website if the content or layout is unattractive. And once they leave? 88% won't come back.

After building hundreds of websites for small businesses, I've seen the same mistakes kill conversions over and over again. The good news? Most are easy fixes once you know what to look for.

Mistake #1: Slow Loading Speed

The problem: Your site takes more than 3 seconds to load.

Why it matters:

• 53% of mobile users abandon sites that take over 3 seconds to load
• Every additional second reduces conversions by 7%
• Google uses page speed as a ranking factor

How to fix it:

• Compress images (use WebP format)
• Enable browser caching
• Use a content delivery network (CDN)
• Remove unnecessary plugins and scripts
• Choose a quality hosting provider

Test your speed: Google PageSpeed Insights (pagespeed.web.dev)

Mistake #2: Not Mobile-Friendly

The problem: Your site looks broken or is unusable on phones.

Why it matters:

• 60%+ of web traffic is mobile
• Google uses mobile-first indexing
• A poor mobile experience destroys trust

How to fix it:

• Use responsive design (adapts to screen size)
• Make buttons at least 44px tap targets
• Ensure text is readable without zooming
• Remove hover-dependent interactions
• Test on actual devices, not just resizers

Mistake #3: No Clear Call-to-Action

The problem: Visitors don't know what to do next.

Why it matters: If you don't tell people what to do, they'll do nothing—and leave.

How to fix it:

• Have ONE primary CTA per page
• Use action words: "Get Started," "Book Now," "Get Your Free Quote"
• Make it visually prominent (contrasting color, large size)
• Place CTAs above the fold AND throughout the page
• Don't make people hunt for how to contact you

Bad CTA: "Submit"

Good CTA: "Get My Free Quote"

Mistake #4: Walls of Text

The problem: Dense paragraphs that nobody will read.

Why it matters:

• People scan websites—they don't read every word
• Walls of text look overwhelming and get skipped entirely
• Important information gets buried

How to fix it:

• Use short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max)
• Add subheadings every 2-3 paragraphs
• Use bullet points and numbered lists
• Bold key phrases
• Add white space between sections

Mistake #5: Poor Navigation

The problem: People can't find what they're looking for.

Why it matters:

• 94% of users say easy navigation is important
• Frustration leads to immediate bounces
• Lost visitors don't convert

How to fix it:

• Keep main navigation to 5-7 items maximum
• Use clear, descriptive labels (not clever ones)
• Ensure your logo links to the homepage
• Add a search function for larger sites
• Include a sticky header on long pages
• Make contact information obvious

Bad navigation: "Our Journey" "Solutions Hub" "Connect"

Good navigation: "About Us" "Services" "Contact"

Mistake #6: Stock Photo Overload

The problem: Generic handshake images and fake smiling businesspeople.

Why it matters:

• People can spot stock photos instantly
• They make your business look generic and untrustworthy
• They don't represent YOUR business

How to fix it:

• Invest in professional photos of YOUR team, space, and work
• If using stock, choose authentic-looking images
• Avoid obviously posed business scenes
• Show real examples of your work (before/after, project photos)

Mistake #7: Auto-Playing Media

The problem: Videos or music that play automatically.

Why it matters:

• It's startling and annoying
• Users scramble to mute or close the tab
• It uses data and slows loading
• It's especially problematic in quiet environments

How to fix it:

• Never auto-play audio
• If videos auto-play, mute them by default
• Let users choose to engage with media
• If you must have a hero video, keep it short and silent

Mistake #8: Missing Trust Signals

The problem: Nothing proves you're legitimate.

Why it matters:

• People need reasons to trust you before buying
• Without trust signals, visitors assume the worst
• Competitors with trust signals win

What to add:

• Customer reviews and testimonials
• Trust badges (payment security, guarantees)
• Industry certifications and awards
• Client logos (with permission)
• Years in business
• Number of customers served
• Professional memberships

Mistake #9: Outdated Design

The problem: Your site looks like it was built in 2010.

Why it matters:

• Outdated design = outdated business (in visitors' minds)
• Old sites often have security vulnerabilities
• They typically perform poorly on mobile

Signs your design is outdated:

• Flash elements (these don't even work anymore)
• Skeuomorphic design (fake 3D buttons, leather textures)
• Tiny text
• Cramped layouts with no white space
• Beveled edges and glossy buttons
• Low-resolution images

How to fix it:

• Modern trends: Clean layouts, plenty of white space, flat design, large typography, subtle animations

Mistake #10: Hiding Contact Information

The problem: People can't figure out how to reach you.

Why it matters:

• Ready-to-buy customers will give up and call your competitor
• Hidden contact info looks suspicious
• You're literally blocking potential business

How to fix it:

• Put phone number in the header
• Include email address in footer and contact page
• Add live chat if possible
• Ensure contact page is in main navigation
• Include physical address (builds trust, helps local SEO)
• Make the phone number clickable on mobile

Mistake #11: Broken Links and Errors

The problem: Links lead to 404 pages or error messages.

Why it matters:

• Shows lack of attention to detail
• Frustrates users trying to navigate
• Hurts SEO and search rankings
• Makes your business look unprofessional

How to fix it:

• Use a broken link checker monthly
• Set up custom 404 pages that help users
• Monitor Google Search Console for crawl errors
• Fix redirects when you change URLs

Mistake #12: Complicated Forms

The problem: Forms ask for too much information.

Why it matters:

• Every field you add reduces completions by ~5%
• Long forms feel like a burden
• People question why you need that information

How to fix it:

• Only ask for essential information
• Use progressive profiling (get more info over time)
• Mark required fields clearly
• Use smart defaults where possible
• Break long forms into steps

Contact form needs: Name, Email, Message

Contact form doesn't need: Phone, Company, Industry, How did you hear about us, Budget, Preferred contact time...

Mistake #13: No Clear Value Proposition

The problem: Visitors can't understand what you do or why they should care.

Why it matters:

• You have 5-10 seconds to capture attention
• Confused visitors leave
• Clear value propositions can increase conversions by 90%+

How to fix it:

• State what you do in the headline
• Explain who it's for
• Highlight the main benefit
• Keep it simple—no jargon

Bad: "Synergizing innovative solutions for tomorrow's challenges"

Good: "We build websites that bring you more customers"

How Many Are You Guilty Of?

If you found yourself nodding along to several of these, don't panic. Most websites have at least a few of these issues. The important thing is to fix them.

Priority order:

1. Speed and mobile (these affect everything)
2. Clear CTAs (so visitors can convert)
3. Trust signals (so they want to convert)
4. Navigation and content (so they can find what they need)
5. Visual polish (so you look professional)

The Easy Solution

Building a website that avoids all these mistakes—and actually converts visitors into customers—takes expertise. That's exactly what we do at SEOJack.

Every website we build is:

• Lightning fast
• Mobile-optimized
• Conversion-focused
• Modern and professional
• Built with clear CTAs and trust signals

Stop losing customers to a poorly designed website. See our templates or get started today.