When you first created your business, you start with the main needs to get your name out into the world. Things like your branding, logo, business card, maybe a mascot? But in the end, your website is the top priority for your online presence as a business. And let’s be honest — if your website is weak, boring, or awkward, people aren’t sticking around. In just a few seconds, visitors decide if you’re credible, professional, or just… well, not worth their time.
Website trends come and go, and while there isn’t a “right way” to design your website, there is a ton of wrong ways. Here are five website mistakes that are quietly sabotaging your website’s first impression, and how to fix them before your competitors swipe your leads.
1. Slow Load Times
Newsflash: Nobody enjoys staring at a blank computer while your gigantic, overloaded website attempts to load. Unless you’re training for extreme patience, people will probably just exit out before it can even show any information. Slow websites kill first impressions faster than any other issue. Large images, outdated plugins, and cheap hosting are the usual suspects.
The Fix:
Compress images, ditch the useless plugins, and invest in decent hosting. When it comes to images, most people assume bigger is better, but that only applies to printed material. The average digital image should be no larger than 72dpi. Faster load times = happier visitors = less awkward first impression = more leads.
2. Weak or Confusing Calls to Action (CTAs)
“Click here if you feel like it” is not a call to action. If your visitors don’t know what to do next, they’ll do nothing at all. That mysterious “Learn More” button at the bottom of the page? Yeah, it’s not cutting it. Another issue could be the complete opposite: too much call to action. If each button on your page leads to the same thing, you’re more likely to get a ton of bounces from your website once they realize there’s only a few pages of information. Even more if they find the only thing to do is give you a call to get any basic question answered.
The Fix:
Be bold, specific, and obvious. Tell your visitors exactly what to do. “Book a Free Consultation,” “Get Your Quote Today,” or “Yes, I Want This” should be clear and seperated. Every page should have a clear action step. Think of CTAs as the GPS guiding people from curiosity to conversion.
Even better, make sure your homepage has at least two or three different calls. Encourage people to sign up for a newsletter, link to your about page, explain your products. Use what you have to make your website engaging and actually fun to look at.
3. Not Mobile-Friendly
If you’re not prioritizing mobile design, then what are you even doing? Over 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site looks like a ransom note on a smartphone, your visitors are leaving. This includes cut-off text, buttons not responding, and images too large. And don’t even get us started on pinch-zooming and squinting. It’s a one-way ticket out of there.
The Fix:
Responsive design is non-negotiable. Your site should adjust seamlessly to phones, tablets, and desktops. With a professionally-designed website, your site receives a completely designed mobile version, meaning professional designs ensure that your mobile view works, and looks just as good as it does on your desktop.
4. Cluttered or Outdated Design
What is this, 2009? If your website only takes up half of your screen, includes gifs or that annoying hidden music in the background, it might be time for a revamp. Nothing kicks people off a website faster than taking one look at an outdated site and knowing none of the buttons are going to work. And no, a glittery background and stock photo overload doesn’t count as “vintage chic.”
The Fix:
Simplify. Clean layouts, consistent branding, and high-quality images make your business look trustworthy and modern. White space isn’t wasted, it makes your site feel, well, professional!
5. Forgetting About User Experience (UX)
Sure, anyone can designs a cool looking website. Trust us, we use Pinterest and Behance too. However, just because you like the way your site looks doesn’t mean your users can actually use it. Complicated menus, confusing navigation, and pop-ups that just don’t seem to have an exit button can really bum out a site. That’s a bounce fest waiting to happen.
The Fix:
Design for your audience, not your ego. Make navigation intuitive, content easy to find, and contact info obvious. Test your site like a new visitor. If you can’t figure it out in 30 seconds, neither can your potential clients.
Make a Stronger First Impression with Three Ring Focus
Your website isn’t a brochure, it’s your 24/7 salesperson. And if it’s slow, confusing, or stuck in 2008, it’s probably scaring people away instead of closing deals.
The good news? You don’t have to live with an underwhelming site. At Three Ring Focus, we help small businesses clean up their social media, sharpen their marketing strategy, and keep their websites as polished as their feeds. Whether you need a full content plan, analytics tracking, or a complete site overhaul, we’ve got the tools to get you back on track. Check out of some the work we’ve done for a little sneak peek. Don’t miss out on the benefits of having an expertly crafted branding identity.