When it comes to your website, it can be difficult to make sure you’re doing all the things to make sure that your site is actually working hard for you. As a web designer, this is my job – to make sure that your website is primed for results and actually going to help your business grow. But not everyone that creates a website for their business is a web designer.

There may be some lingering issues that might actually be hurting your website and keeping you from really seeing the growth from it that you’re wanting.

Having a website that is designed right, optimized for growth and ready to bring in clients for you on autopilot is so fucking powerful. This allows you to be able to build a business that is working around the clock…without YOU having to work around the clock. Your website can be huge in helping you bring in leads and clients, but if you’re making these mistakes that I’m going to go over today, you may be wondering why TF you aren’t seeing much growth when it comes to your website.

Small mistakes can actually have a BIG impact on the performance of your website and the results you’re getting from it.

Don’t worry, friend – that’s why I’m here. I want to help you create a website for your business that relieves stress, helps you bring in new leads, warms up your cold audience through strong branding and connection and ultimately, make more sales in your business – without having to hustle your ass off on social media.

I’ve got 5 common mistakes that I’m going to share with you today so you can be sure that your website is in the best position to work hard FOR you, so you have more time to not be working or strapped to your laptop, enjoy your life, be with your kids, binge your favorite shows, or do whatever makes your soul happy! A strong website can literally give you back more time in your life…but you have to be sure it’s done right.

Mistake 1: Poor Navigation

Let’s talk about the first mistake which I find to be one of the most common – poor navigation. There is nothing that will kill your website quicker than confusing, cluttered navigation. Having a menu that has random ass pages, or a million pages, or not even having a clear menu at all are all going to have users clicking away from your website the minute that they land on it. When you have a lot of people who come to your website and click away before exploring any of your other pages, this means you have a high bounce rate, which is no bueno. If someone bounces off your website, it means they did not convert. And that is not what we want.

Your website’s navigation is like a roadmap for your visitors. If it’s not clear and straightforward, visitors can easily get lost or frustrated, leading them to leave your site without exploring what you offer.

Confusing navigation can look like:

• Too many menu options:
  Menus with too many options or multiple dropdown levels can be hella overwhelming. Aim for simplicity—only include the most essential pages in your main navigation. You don’t need to be doing so much when it comes to your navigation – simple, clean and clear is the goal here. If your menu has more than 6-7 items, you may want to think about grouping related pages under a single dropdown or moving less important links to the footer.
• A lack of clear labels on your menu:
  Labels like “Stuff,” “More,” or “Miscellaneous” don’t communicate what the visitor will find when they click on those pages. Use clear, descriptive labels that immediately tell users what to expect. You can also get specific here as well – instead of “Services,” you could use “Marketing Services” or “Web Design Services” to be more clear about what they are going to see when they click on that page.
• An inconsistent structure across different pages:
  Navigation that changes from page to page is confusing AF. Streamline and make sure that your menu and site structure are consistent across all pages so visitors always know where they are and how to get back to key areas of your website. For example, if your main menu appears on the top of your homepage, make sure it is there on every other page of the site. Again – it all comes back to being clear and simple. This is not the place to be extra and fancy.

Your navigation may seem like something that’s not super important to your website, but it’s actually SO key to your website’s performance because if you can make it clear, simple and easy for people to click around and explore, then there’s a higher chance that they will stay on your website, read what you have to share and ultimately, be led to take action – whether that’s joining your email list, downloading a freebie, booking a consultation or signing up for your service.

So how do we fix bad navigation on your website?

• Enroll some friends or family to take a look at your website and see how their experience is with navigating from page to page. Ask them to find certain things on your website (like the price of one of your services) and see how easy it is for them to navigate to it. Have them give you some good feedback so you can pinpoint where you can make improvements with your navigation.
• Simplify, simplify, simplify. Make sure the pages in your navigation are only the most important and essential. Remember – you can add any extra pages to your footer.
• Make sure you’re being consistent with your navigation across all pages. This helps create a uniform look on your website but also makes it easy for your website visitors to click around and get to the information they are looking for.

Mistake 2: Unattractive or Outdated Design

The next mistake we’re going to cover is unattractive or outdated design. This has got to be the mistake that hurts my heart the most, because I’ve seen so many amazing business owners with websites that look old, unprofessional and just plain bad. Your website’s design is often the first impression a potential client has of your business and it really can be a reflection of your work to some people. If your design is unattractive, cluttered, or looks outdated, it can create a perception that your business is unprofessional, you’re behind the times or it can have a major impact on how your website is bringing in leads and clients for you.

A modern, aesthetically pleasing design builds trust and credibility, while an outdated one can turn visitors away before they even engage with your content or services. That’s not what we’re aiming for here. Remember that bounce rate we talked about earlier? Well, it not only reduces your chances of converting visitors into clients but also negatively impacts your SEO rankings, since search engines consider user engagement as a ranking factor. We really want to create a website that has people engaged, clicking on different pages and staying around longer, because this will create a ripple effect down the road and ultimately help your website be seen more when people are searching for what you have to offer.

So what exactly does “bad design” look like when it comes to your website?

• Poor visual appeal:
  This really comes down to design basics: things like outdated fonts (for fuck’s sake, please don’t use Comic Sans on your website unless you’re promoting something for school aged kids), clashing colors (neon pink, neon purple and neon blue might not be the best color palette to go with), or low-quality images can make your site look unprofessional. Also, try not to use too many colors and fonts on your website – stick to your key 2-3 that are branded so you create consistency across your website, emails, socials, etc.
• Cluttered layout:
  A cluttered design with too many things going on can overwhelm visitors. Clean, minimalistic layouts help guide your users’ attention to the most important content on your page. Friend…DO NOT be afraid of white space. You don’t need to have content filling up every open space on your website. White space helps create a sense of balance so you can avoid overcrowding pages with too much text or too many images.
• Not optimized for mobile:
  With it being 2024, making sure your website is optimized for viewing on mobile is an absolute must. So many times I open up a website to see it looking janky, elements in weird places and just a bad flow because that person did not bother to touch the mobile design when creating their website. That’s a NO NO. Check your website on all devices to make sure it is good to go no matter how they find you.
• Inconsistent branding:
  Your website should reflect your brand’s identity consistently across all pages of your website. Inconsistent branding—like having 5 versions of your logos, a total modge-podge of colors/fonts, or tone of voice—can confuse visitors and weaken your brand’s impact. Make sure you have your branding nailed down and commit to it when you’re creating your website

An outdated, poorly designed website is an instant turn off to most people. You want your website to grab your website visitors’ attention, not repel them and have them instantly clicking away, and bad design has the power to really turn people away the moment they land on your website. Make sure your design is on point, your branding is consistent, the flow is simple and clear, and I promise you will see people sticking around on your website a lot longer.

Mistake 3: Lack of Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

The next mistake I see a lot is a lack of clear CTAs (call-to-actions). You need these CTAs throughout your website so that people can take that next step with you when they feel ready to do so. Make it easy for people to sign up with you! Otherwise, they will be scrolling and scrolling, and if it takes them too much time to figure out how to take action, or they don’t see that action step in front of them, they probably WON’T TAKE ACTION, simply because they weren’t directed to do so.

You don’t want to leave your website visitors wondering what they are supposed to do next.

Make it easy, clear and straightforward with bold, frequent CTAs that are strategically placed throughout your website. For example, one of the things I see a lot is websites that don’t have a CTA above the fold. What does “above the fold” mean? When someone first comes to your home page, the content that they immediately see before scrolling down is considered “above the fold”. Typically, you want your website to have a clear hero section that states who you are and how you help, along with a CTA for them to either join your list, book a consultation or take some sort of next step with you.

Your website visitors may be interested in your services or products, but without a clear direction, they may not take that next step with you. So here are some tips on how to create clear CTAs for your business that will help boost conversion and keep people engaged with you/your website for longer:

• Avoid vague CTAs:
  CTAs like “Click Here” or “Learn More” are too vague and don’t give visitors a strong reason to take action. Effective CTAs should be specific and aligned with your business goals. Be crystal clear about what you want them to do next. Instead of “Learn More,” use “Get Your Free Website Audit Now” or “Schedule Your Consultation Here”
• Using too many CTAs:
  It is definitely possible to go overboard with your CTAs. Of course you want to have them positioned frequently throughout your website, but bombarding visitors with multiple CTAs on a single page can be overwhelming and counterproductive. It can create confusion about what action they should take first, and that’s not what you want to do. Limit your CTAs to one per main section of your website, each with a distinct purpose. For instance, a homepage might have a primary CTA for booking a service in their hero section and a secondary one for subscribing to a newsletter further down.
• Make your CTAs bold so they stand out:
  One trick I learned from a fellow web designer to help your CTAs stand out and grab attention is to use one of your brand colors that is the most vibrant and bright, and use that color ONLY for your CTAs. A CTA should be eye-catching and distinguishable from other text and elements on the page, so don’t be afraid to use bold text to help make sure it’s visible and stops the scroll.

Having clear CTAs throughout your website is one of the most important steps to make sure you are helping visitors convert on your website. It’s great for people to come to your page, scroll around and learn more about you…but ultimately, we want them to take some sort of action to continue on with you. Whether that is downloading a freebie and getting on your email list, signing up for your offer or booking a consultation, having clear CTAs is what will help move people through the customer journey and transform from a stranger to your next client.

Mistake 4: No Intentional Customer Journey

So I’ve already written a whole blog post about the importance of having a customer journey on your website and how to do this (pssst…it’s a good one if you haven’t read it yet. You can check it out here). Your customer journey is so important for your website because this is how you intentionally guide people through your website and take them through the different steps of learning about you, learning about your offers, considering if you are the right fit for them and then taking the next step by purchasing your product or service.

Without a clear customer journey, it’s like hosting a party where none of your guests know where to go, what to do, or even how to find the snacks. They’ll wander around aimlessly, feel lost, and probably leave early—missing out on the best parts, just like potential clients might miss out on your offers if your website doesn’t guide them clearly.

So how do we make sure that your website is being intentional about how you’re guiding people through from start to taking the next step?

• Create a logical flow:
  I always recommend sitting down and really thinking about the steps you want people to take when they land on your website. Think of your ideal client who is JUST discovering you, maybe through a pin on Pinterest or Google or social media. They don’t know much about you yet, but they land on your website…so what are going to be the logical next steps and sections of your website that will take this person who is BRAND NEW to discovering you to falling in love with you? Map it out strategically so you can be sure your website flows in an intentional way.
• Speak directly to your ideal client:
  One of the best ways to guide your ideal peeps through your website is by speaking straight to their soul. If you haven’t already, you have to dig real fuckin’ deep when it comes to who your ideal client is. Get specific AF about their unique struggles, their desires and talk directly to those points in your website copy.
• Add trust builders throughout your journey:
  One thing that your website needs to do is build trust as website visitors are getting to know you. Lean on testimonials or case studies from past clients to help build trust and credibility. I am all about sprinkling trust builders like fairy dust all over your website – don’t just have ONE testimonial section…instead, put a quote from a happy client on your home page, then maybe have a fully dedicated page that is a portfolio or case study of past work you’ve done, then on your services page, add in another review or logos of brands you have worked with. Add these trust builders throughout your website so that as they continue to get deeper and deeper into your website pages, the trust continues to be built.
• Make the next step simple and clear:
  We kind of touched on this in the last section, but don’t overwhelm your website visitors with a ton of different actions that they should be taking. Instead, focus in on the KEY next step you want them to take, whether that’s booking a consultation or directing them to your services page so they can sign up for one of your offers. Don’t have 5 bajillion potential next steps they can take because then they may get overwhelmed and not take action at all.

Your customer journey is so goddamn important to your website. This is a make-or-break thing that can really take your website to the next level if you do it right. Being strategic about how you are guiding your website visitors through your site, building trust, helping them get to know you and ultimately, taking action is how you CONVERT. It’s how you take people that don’t know shit about you and turn them into a stan that is signing up right away. Make it super easy for visitors to get in touch or book your services, and remember to really share who you are and what you do so that they clearly see that YOU are the one that they need to work with to help solve their problems.

Mistake 5: No Clarity Around Why YOU Are the One

This is another BIG mistake that, if fixed, could completely turn your website performance around. A lot of people call this your “unique value proposition” but really, all that means is: why should I choose YOU over everyone else that offers XYZ? What do YOU offer that is different from everyone else?

As business owners, imposter syndrome can be SO real sometimes.

The rise of social media makes it so easy to compare what we are doing to the others out there with similar services, which can in turn make us feel like we aren’t good enough and we won’t be able to build a business like others.

But one thing that really clicked with me when it comes to marketing myself as a web designer is to remember that THERE IS ONLY ONE ME.

If you think of YOU as the differentiating factor, you realize that there really isn’t any competition out there. No one has been through the same experiences as you. No one has done the exact same things you have. And therefore, you have a perspective to offer that no one else can.

Many times, business owners fail to communicate why THEY are the go-to person for their ideal client. Some common issues I see around this include:

• Blending in with the crowd:
  When your website looks and sounds like every other business in your industry, it’s hard for potential clients to see why they should choose you over someone else. Avoid generic ass language (like “ready to scale your business?” or “let’s take your business to the next level”. BLAH) and boring visuals. If your website uses the same stock photos, buzzwords, and design as your competitors, you’re missing an opportunity to stand out.
• Not highlighting what makes you different:
  What’s the specific benefit that only you can provide? If this isn’t clear on your website, visitors may not see the value in working with you. Identify what you do better or differently than others and make sure this is front and center on your homepage. Whether it’s a specialized or unique service, your own process that’s not like everyone else, or a unique approach, you have to make it obvious.
• Overlooking your brand personality:
  Your brand’s personality is what makes your business relatable and memorable. If your website lacks personality, it can feel sterile, uninviting and just plain BORING. I know you aren’t boring, queen. You have so much to offer but that has to be communicated through your website and branding. Infuse your brand’s voice and tone throughout your website. Whether you’re fun and casual or professional and authoritative, let your personality shine in your copy, visuals, and overall design.
• Not showcasing your expertise:
  If you’re not positioning yourself as an expert in your field, you’re missing an opportunity to differentiate yourself and stand out. Potential clients need to see that you have the knowledge and experience to solve their problems. Use blog posts, videos, webinars, or free resources to highlight your expertise. By sharing valuable insights and actionable tips, you can build trust and set yourself apart from competitors who aren’t providing the same level of value as you.

Fixing this one mistake could be all you need to start seeing a major shift in how people convert on your website. It is so important to really dig deep and figure out what makes you different, and then showcase that across your website LOUD AND CLEAR. And remember to tailor your website content to address the specific needs and pain points of your target audience. Show that you understand their challenges and have the expertise to solve them. They will feel like they have no choice but to work with YOU because when you can clearly communicate what sets you apart, there is no other option for them. YOU are the one. So get laser focused on what sets you apart and blast that shit all over your website, my friend.

Let’s wrap it up…

It’s important to remember that avoiding these common website mistakes can truly transform how your business connects with potential clients. Your website isn’t just a digital brochure—it’s a powerful tool that should be working hard to bring in new leads and sales. If you’re reading this and thinking, “Shit, I might be making some of these mistakes,” it’s all good because you’re not alone. It’s easy to overlook these things when you’re busy running your business, raising kids, wearing multiple hats and doing ALL the things…but that’s why I’m here to help.

If your website isn’t converting the way you’d like or if you’re unsure about what’s working and what’s not, my free website audit is the perfect next step. Here’s what you’ll get:

• Detailed PDF Report: I’ll go through your website with a fine-tooth comb and provide clear, actionable feedback on what’s working, what needs improvement, and where you might be losing potential clients.
• Personalized Video Walkthrough: I’ll create a short video where I personally walk you through your site, pointing out areas that need attention and offering specific tips that will help your business SHINE online.
• Focused Recommendations: Whether it’s tightening up your messaging, improving your design, or creating a stronger customer journey, I’ll give you the exact steps to take your website from “meh” to “HELL YEAH”

If you found value in this blog post and you’re feeling like your website could use some love, this website audit is a great way to get the clarity you’re searching for. Don’t let these simple mistakes cost you clients—let’s work together to create a website that truly represents the incredible business you’ve built!

Share in the comments – which of these mistakes stuck out to you most? Do you feel like you’ve made some of these or are you nailing it with your website?