Top 5 Website Design Mistakes to Fix

Top 5 Website Design Mistakes to Fix for Better Conversions

These days, we do almost everything online—from shopping and learning to staying connected with others. Yet, it’s easy to miss the mark when it comes to creating a professional website that works effectively. If your business website isn’t bringing in the conversions you want, don’t worry! There are often a few common, fixable reasons behind it. Today, let’s break down the top five website design mistakes you can fix right away to see growth in conversions and a stronger online presence.

But Wait, What is a Web Conversion?

In short, a web conversion happens when a visitor completes a specific action on your site—like filling out a contact form, signing up for a newsletter, downloading a guide, or making a purchase. Many factors influence conversion rates—from SEO to brand reputation to website copy.

But none are as essential as web design!

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Getting Traffic But No Action?

If your SEO is bringing in website visitors but no conversions, it may mean your design isn’t optimized for your target audience or aligned with your brand identity. And that’s a big miss!

Settle in with a tea, and let’s go through some of the most common mistakes and how to fix them to help increase conversions.

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1. Slow Loading Speed

A slow-loading website frustrates visitors, and studies show that if a site takes more than three seconds to load, around half of users leave. Speed is critical not just for user experience but for search engine optimization—search engines prioritize faster websites because they offer a positive user experience.

How to Improve Website Speed:

Optimize Images and Videos: Use high-quality yet compressed images to avoid large file sizes that slow down your site. Also, make sure any media is optimized for mobile devices to ensure fast loading on mobile users’ screens.
Limit Plugins and Scripts: Too many plugins slow down a business website. Only use essential design elements to avoid slow loading speeds and keep performance high.
Use a CDN (Content Delivery Network): Distribute your content more efficiently across different devices and locations for faster loading.

2. Poor Navigation and Organization

Too often, designers overcomplicate website navigation. While it’s great to be creative, if users can’t find important information—like your home page or contact information—they’re likely to leave. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel with your menu with fancy things and weird steps that no one is used to. Your navigation menus should be clear and user-friendly, guiding users through your site with ease.

Best Practices for Website Navigation:

Simplify the Main Menu: Limit your options to essential pages, focusing on key web pages such as “Contact,” “About,” “Products,” and “Services.” This keeps navigation easy.
Use Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs help users track their path on your web pages, making it easier to backtrack if needed.
Prominent Contact Information: Make sure visitors can easily find your phone number, email, or other contact information.

3. Lack of Clear Call-to-Action (CTA) Buttons

If you want potential customers to take action, they need to know what to do next. Without clear call-to-action buttons, users may not know where to go, leading to missed conversions. Effective CTAs are attention-grabbing without being overwhelming.

Creating Clear and Effective CTAs:

Use Bold Colors and Placement: Ensure CTAs stand out with a color that contrasts against your background while still fitting into your color palette.
Position Strategically: Place CTAs in logical spots, especially on your home page, product pages, and in the header. They should be the first thing users see.
Use Action-Oriented Language: Phrases like “Get Started,” “Shop Now,” and “Download Guide” tell users what to do and drive action.

4. Inconsistent Branding and Overcomplicated Visuals

Brand consistency is critical to building brand identity and trust. Overusing multiple colors, fonts, and design elements can create visual chaos, confusing users and detracting from the brand’s personality. Keeping visuals cohesive is essential for small businesses aiming to build trust and a lasting impression with their target audience.

Maintaining Consistent Branding and Clean Design:

Develop a Style Guide: Use a defined color scheme, fonts, and logo placement across your site to keep a uniform look.
Embrace White Space: Allowing for white space makes content more readable and visually pleasing, creating a balanced look.
Limit Color Palette and Fonts: Stick to a limited color palette and no more than two or three fonts to avoid visual overload.

5. Ignoring Accessibility and Usability

Accessibility and usability are essential for reaching the widest audience, including people with disabilities. Ignoring accessibility can not only harm your SEO but also make your site inaccessible to potential clients. Small adjustments go a long way in making a user-friendly website that’s inclusive and functional.

Improving Accessibility and Usability:

Add Descriptive Alt Text for Images: Alt text is vital for screen readers, helping visually impaired users understand the visual elements on your site.
Strong Color Contrast: Ensuring enough contrast between text and background helps those with visual impairments read content easily.
Keyboard Accessibility: Make sure all interactive elements like forms and buttons are accessible by keyboard for users who can’t navigate with a mouse.

Ready to See If Your Website Is Conversion-Ready?

Curious to see if your site is optimized for conversions?

Download our free guide to website optimization! It’s packed with best practices for improving website speed, building a consistent online presence, and ensuring your site is responsive on different devices like mobile phones and tablets. Just enter your details, and your freebie will land in your inbox. If you don’t receive it, email us at info@donatadelanoart.com, and we’ll send you another copy!

By sidestepping these common design pitfalls, you can create a responsive website that’s visually appealing, user-friendly, and designed to convert. A well-designed website is more than just a pretty face; it’s your brand’s chance to make a lasting impact, stand out in search results, and grow.

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ABOUT THIS POST

This post is written by Donata Delano – A Professional Artist, Graphic Designer and Architect based in Canada and Mexico. She specializing in visual communication and web design, creating branding solutions and websites that are thoughtful, unique and aesthetically pleasing.

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