For over 15 years, I’ve been helping businesses transform their websites from clunky, confusing, outdated messes into polished, professional marketing assets that work. In that time, I’ve seen the same mistakes repeated by businesses over and over again. These missteps might seem small but can make a big difference in how your visitors experience your site—and whether they turn into paying customers.
Today, I’m going to walk you through four of the most common website design mistakes and explain how you can fix them to leave a better impression, convert visitors, and grow your business.
Mistake #1: Wasting Prime Space at the Top of Your Home Page
The top of your home page is prime real estate. When someone lands on your website, you’ve got about three seconds to let them know who you are, how you can help them, and what they need to do next. Yet too many businesses waste this space on oversized logos, meaningless taglines, or generic content that doesn’t communicate any real value.
Your logo is just a piece of your identity—it’s not the whole story. Yes, it’s important, and yes, you love it (maybe you even spent a lot of time or money designing it). But it shouldn’t dominate the top of your home page. Instead, use this space to share a clear, concise one-liner that tells visitors what you do and how you can help them. Follow that up with a bold, easy-to-find call to action (CTA) so they know exactly what to do next.
For real-life examples of businesses that misuse this space, be sure to watch the video where I break it down with specific examples. The key takeaway here is that your website visitors are looking for clarity. They want to understand, within seconds, whether your business can solve their problem. Use this opportunity to communicate that.
What to Do Instead:
- Keep your logo to no more than 20% of the width of your header area.
- Add a strong, benefit-driven headline that speaks directly to the transformation you offer your customers.
- Include a clear CTA that makes it easy for visitors to take the next step—whether that’s calling you, signing up for a service, or scheduling a consultation.
Mistake #2: Using Sliders to Communicate Important Information
Sliders (or carousels) on home pages used to be all the rage, but they’ve fallen out of favor for good reason. Studies show that only about 10% of users will engage with the second slide of a slider, and even fewer will make it to the third, fourth, or fifth slide. So if you’ve got critical information buried in slide three, chances are no one’s seeing it.
While sliders might seem like a good way to pack multiple messages into a single space, they end up diluting the power of each message. People are more likely to scroll down the page than they are to sit around and wait for the next slide to appear. If you’re using sliders to communicate different value propositions, you’re better off consolidating that information into one powerful statement at the top and using the rest of the page to unpack it further.
Some websites try to get around this by using video backgrounds instead of sliders. While videos can be engaging, they can also slow down your site’s load time—something that can drive visitors away. If you choose to go this route, make sure the video is high quality, loads quickly, and doesn’t distract from your main message.
What to Do Instead:
- Replace sliders with a single, strong statement that sums up what makes your business unique.
- Use the rest of your home page to break down the other important points you want to make.
- If you must use a video or slideshow, make sure it doesn’t overwhelm the text and is optimized for fast loading.
Mistake #3: Making Your Text Hard to Read
Your website visitors are skimmers, not readers. And if they can’t quickly find the information they’re looking for, they’re going to bounce. One of the most common mistakes I see is text that’s difficult to read, either because of poor contrast between the text and background or because the text is too dense and unorganized.
Contrast is a big deal—especially for users with visual impairments. Light text on a light background, or dark text on a dark background, can make it nearly impossible to read your content. Similarly, large blocks of text with no breaks are hard to skim, and most people won’t bother trying to read them.
What to Do Instead:
- Make sure your text has enough contrast with the background. Use a color checker to ensure accessibility standards are met.
- Break up large paragraphs into smaller chunks. Use headlines, bullet points, and other visual aids to make your content easy to skim.
- If you’re including images or graphics, ensure the text on them is legible and doesn’t get lost in the design.
Mistake #4: Including Irrelevant Information (or Not Enough Relevant Information)
I see this all the time: websites crammed with irrelevant details, but lacking the information that customers actually care about. Whether it’s keyword stuffing to game SEO rankings or placing unimportant content (like awards or certifications) too prominently, this approach often overwhelms visitors and distracts them from what really matters.
For example, many businesses highlight their credentials or unique selling points too early in the user’s journey. While it’s great to be veteran-owned, offer warranties, or be based in a specific area, that’s not necessarily the first thing customers are looking for. They want to know how you can solve their problem, and then—once you’ve earned their trust—they’ll care more about those other details.
On the flip side, some websites fail to include the most basic, relevant information, like pricing. While I understand the hesitancy to share pricing upfront, it’s often something customers want to know before they make a decision. Hiding this information only creates friction and may result in lost business.
What to Do Instead:
- Focus on the most relevant information first: what you do, how you do it, and how customers can get started.
- If you have perks like warranties, certifications, or awards, include those further down the page after you’ve covered the basics.
- Don’t hide your pricing. Even if there are variations, offering ballpark figures or ranges can help customers make informed decisions.
Final Thoughts
Improving your website doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does take intention. By avoiding these four common mistakes—wasting prime home page space, using sliders, making text hard to read, and including irrelevant information—you can create a website that works for you, attracting more visitors and converting them into paying customers.
If you’re not sure where to start or if your website is guilty of any of these mistakes, I’m here to help. At BuildMyBusinessWebsite.com, I offer custom web audits starting at just $8. I’ll take a look at your site, identify the top five areas where you can improve, and provide actionable recommendations to help you get more out of your online presence.
Ready to take the next step? Visit BuildMyBusinessWebsite.com to get started today. And if you want more tips, tools, and strategies to help you succeed in your self-employment journey, head over to Self-Employment Sidekick to learn more.
Your website is one of your most powerful business tools—make sure it’s working as hard as you are.
