5 Website Mistakes I See All the Time (And How to Fix Them)

I look at A LOT of websites. Some I’m designing from scratch, some I’m giving a little facelift, and some come to me because the owner knows something isn’t working… they’re just not quite sure what. 😉

And honestly? Most websites don’t need to be completely blown up and started over.

Sometimes it’s a handful of little things that can make a BIG difference in how your website looks, feels, and — most importantly — works for your business.

So, here are five website mistakes I see all the time…and how to fix them!

1. Your homepage doesn’t tell me what you actually do.

You would be surprised how often I land on a beautiful website and still have no idea what the business actually does.

Your visitors shouldn’t have to investigate. 🔎

Within a few seconds of landing on your homepage, I should know who you are, what you do, and who you help.

THE FIX: Keep your main headline clear and simple. You can absolutely have personality (please do!), but clarity comes first.

Think less “Creating Possibilities for a Better Tomorrow” and more “Custom Website Design for Small Businesses.”

You can get clever after we know what the heck you do. 😂

2. There’s no clear next step.

Okay, I’m on your website. I like what I see.

Now what?

Do you want me to contact you? Schedule a consultation? Shop? Request a quote? Make a reservation? Donate?

Don’t make people figure it out.

THE FIX: Give your visitors clear calls to action throughout your website.

Buttons like Get a Quote, Schedule a Consultation, View Our Services, Shop Now or Contact Us make it ridiculously easy for someone to take that next step.

And yes — you can have more than one button on a page. 😉

3. Your mobile site is an afterthought.

This is a BIG one.

Your website might look absolutely gorgeous on your 27-inch desktop monitor…and then you open it on your phone and suddenly the headline is six lines long, someone’s face is chopped in half, and there’s a giant weird space between sections. 😂

Not ideal.

THE FIX: Check. Your. Mobile. Site.

Every page.

Make sure your text is readable, buttons are easy to tap, images are cropped correctly, and there aren’t strange spacing issues.

I spend a surprising amount of time tweaking the mobile version of the websites I design because it matters THAT much.

4. You forgot about SEO.

You built the website. Added the pretty pictures. Hit publish.

Done, right?

Not quite. 😉

There are a bunch of little behind-the-scenes details that help Google understand what your website is actually about.

THE FIX: Make sure your pages have SEO titles and descriptions, your headings are structured properly, and your images have descriptive filenames and alt text.

Instead of uploading:

IMG_8472.jpg

Try something like:

minnesota-small-business-website-design.jpg

Those little details may not be exciting, but together they can make a BIG difference in helping your website get found.

5. Your website hasn’t been touched since 2019.

If your website still says “Copyright 2019,” features an employee who left three years ago, or has a button that goes to a page that no longer exists…we need to talk. 😂

Your website isn’t something you build once and forget about forever.

Your business changes. Your services change. Your team changes. And your website should change with you.

THE FIX: Give your website a little checkup every few months.

Click your links. Read through your services. Update old photos. Check your contact information. Look at it on your phone.

Sometimes a few small updates are all it takes to make an older website feel fresh again.

The good news?

If you recognized your website in one (or five 😂) of these, don’t panic.

You probably don’t need to throw the whole thing away.

A few thoughtful updates can make a HUGE difference in how professional your website feels, how easy it is to use, and how well it works for your business.

And if you open your website, stare at it for five minutes and think…

“Yep. I have no idea where to start.”

That’s where I come in. 😉

Whether your website needs a few updates, an SEO tune-up, a fresh new look, or a complete redesign, I’d be happy to take a look and help you figure out what makes sense.

Ready to give your website a little love? Let’s chat!