5 Common Website Design Mistakes Small Businesses Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Common Website Design Mistakes Small Businesses Make and How to Avoid Them
Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. A well-designed website can build trust, drive conversions, and set your small business apart from competitors. However, many small businesses unintentionally make design mistakes that harm their online presence. Below are five common website design mistakes and actionable tips to avoid them, supported by expert insights.
 
1. Slow Loading Times

Research indicates that 53% of mobile users abandon a site if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load (Google, 2023). Common culprits include large image files, excessive use of plugins, or poorly optimised code, all of which negatively impact user experience and search engine rankings.

 
How to Avoid This:
  • Compress images with tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim to reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality.
  • Use caching tools and a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to enhance site performance.
  • Test your website’s speed using tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights to identify areas for improvement (Google, 2023).

    2. Poor Mobile Optimisation

    With over 59% of global website traffic coming from mobile devices in 2023 (Statista, 2023), having a mobile-friendly website is essential. Websites that fail to adapt to various screen sizes risk alienating a significant portion of their audience, often leading to higher bounce rates.

     
    How to Avoid This:
    • Implement responsive web design to ensure your website adapts seamlessly to different devices.
    • Regularly test usability using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool (Google, 2023).
    • Simplify navigation by designing touch-friendly buttons, minimising text-heavy elements, and focusing on mobile-first layouts.

      3. Unclear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

      HubSpot reports that 70% of small business websites lack clear CTAs, leaving visitors unsure of the next step to take (HubSpot, 2023). CTAs guide users toward specific actions, such as signing up for newsletters, booking consultations, or making purchases, and are critical for driving conversions.

       
      How to Avoid This:
      • Use concise, action-oriented language like “Get Started” or “Sign Up Today.”
      • Highlight CTAs using contrasting colours and bold, attention-grabbing buttons.
      • Limit the number of CTAs per page to maintain focus and avoid overwhelming users (HubSpot, 2023).

        4. Cluttered Pages

        Cluttered web pages can overwhelm visitors and make it difficult to locate key information. GoodFirms found that 94% of first impressions are influenced by a website’s design, with clean layouts and well-organised content ranking highly in importance (GoodFirms, 2023).

         
        How to Avoid This:
        • Use white space strategically to give your website a clean and breathable design.
        • Focus on key messages by prioritising content and eliminating unnecessary elements.
        • Structure content with subheadings, bullet points, and clearly defined sections for easy readability (GoodFirms, 2023).

          5. Lack of Consistent Branding

          Inconsistent branding can confuse visitors and damage trust. According to Forbes, consistent branding can increase revenue by up to 23% by fostering brand recognition and credibility (Forbes, 2023).

           
          How to Avoid This:
          • Use a consistent colour palette, typography, and tone of voice throughout your website.
          • Align your website’s visuals and messaging with other marketing channels, such as social media and print materials.
          • Regularly audit your website to ensure all elements remain aligned with your brand identity (Forbes, 2023).

            Take Your Website to the Next Level
            Avoiding these common website design mistakes can significantly enhance your online presence and improve user experience. A well-designed website not only attracts visitors but also keeps them engaged, boosting the likelihood of conversions.
            At Plum Digital Hub, we specialise in creating professional, user-friendly websites tailored to small businesses. Contact us today to learn more about our website packages and discover how we can help your business grow!
             

            References

            Forbes (2023) The importance of branding for small businesses. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/ (Accessed: 2 January 2025).
            GoodFirms (2023) Web design survey: First impressions matter. Available at: https://www.goodfirms.co/ (Accessed: 2 January 2025).
            Google (2023) PageSpeed Insights. Available at: https://pagespeed.web.dev/ (Accessed: 2 January 2025).
            Google (2023) Mobile-friendly test. Available at: https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly (Accessed: 2 January 2025).
            HubSpot (2023) The impact of CTAs on website conversions. Available at: https://blog.hubspot.com/ (Accessed: 2 January 2025).
            Statista (2023) Mobile internet traffic worldwide. Available at: https://www.statista.com/ (Accessed: 2 January 2025).

             
            forbes.com forbes.com
            Forbes is a global media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle. (29 kB)
             
            goodfirms.co goodfirms.co
            GoodFirms is your trusted B2B Reviews & Rating platform, helping you choose the right partner from hand-picked lists of vetted companies using credible, verified reviews from real users. (40 kB)
             
            Chrome for Developers Chrome for Developers
            Learn how to set up Lighthouse to audit your web apps.
             
            blog.hubspot.com blog.hubspot.com
            HubSpot’s Blog for marketing, sales, agency, and customer success content, which has more than 400,000 subscribers and attracts over 4.5 million monthly visitors. (4 kB)

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