Let’s face it – building a business website can be daunting. Whether you’re launching a new startup or refreshing an existing site, it’s easy to make decisions that seem sensible at the time but end up costing you traffic, enquiries, and credibility. Over the years, I’ve worked with dozens of small business owners across Leeds and beyond, and I’ve seen the same mistakes crop up again and again.
Some of them are small but frustrating. Others are absolute deal-breakers when it comes to growing your business online. In this post, I’m walking you through the most common website mistakes I encounter – and more importantly, how to avoid them.
1. No Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
You’d be surprised how many websites don’t tell visitors what to do next. If your homepage or service page doesn’t guide the visitor, they’ll probably just leave. A clear, visible CTA helps move people through your site and nudges them towards making contact, booking a service, or buying a product.
How to fix it: Add a strong CTA to every key page. Think “Get a Free Quote”, “Book a Consultation”, or “Call Us Today”. Make sure it’s prominent and repeated where it makes sense.
2. Trying to Say Too Much on the Homepage
I get it – you want to show everything you offer. But cramming too much into the homepage overwhelms visitors. Instead of helping people, it often causes them to bounce straight off.
How to fix it: Keep your homepage focused. Highlight your core offer, key benefits, and one or two paths for people to explore (like Services and About). Let the other pages do the heavy lifting for more detailed info.
3. Poor Mobile Experience
Over half of website traffic in the UK comes from mobile devices. If your site is awkward to use on a phone or tablet, you’re actively pushing people away. I’ve worked on plenty of sites that looked decent on desktop but were a total mess on mobile.
How to fix it: Use responsive design principles. Test your site regularly on a range of devices. Check your button sizes, spacing, and readability. If it’s hard to use on mobile, it’s costing you.
4. Slow Loading Times
A slow website frustrates users and harms your Google rankings. Page speed is one of the signals Google uses to rank websites. Even a couple of seconds’ delay can send people running to a competitor.
How to fix it: Optimise your images, use caching, and consider a content delivery network (CDN) if your audience is spread across regions. If you’re not sure where to start, PageSpeed Insights is a great free tool for testing your site.
5. Weak or Outdated Branding
Branding isn’t just about a logo. It’s the colours, tone, style, and overall vibe your business gives off online. If your branding looks dated, inconsistent, or cheap, it undermines trust.
How to fix it: Invest in strong, consistent branding. Use your brand colours, fonts, and tone across your website. If you don’t have brand guidelines, now’s a good time to create them.
6. Confusing Navigation
Website visitors won’t hunt around for what they need. If your navigation is clunky, hidden, or overloaded, people will leave. I’ve seen menus with too many options, weird labels, or missing pages altogether.
How to fix it: Keep your navigation simple and clear. Use familiar terms like Home, About, Services, and Contact. Make sure visitors can get to key pages in one or two clicks.
7. No SEO Strategy
It’s not enough to just launch a good-looking website – people need to find it. If you’re not doing SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), you’re relying on luck. And let’s be honest, that’s not much of a strategy.
How to fix it: At a basic level, make sure every page has a relevant title, meta description, and heading structure. Use keywords your audience might search for. Want a deeper dive? Check out our SEO services for small businesses.
8. Stale Content
If your last blog post was from 2019 and your team page still lists someone who left two years ago, that’s a problem. Outdated content tells visitors (and search engines) that your site isn’t actively maintained.
How to fix it: Review and update your site regularly. Keep your blog active. If you can’t commit to writing often, at least make sure your key pages are accurate and up to date.
9. Using Stock Images Poorly
Generic stock photos can kill credibility. I’ve seen websites using American-looking boardrooms or painfully cheesy team shots. They scream “template” rather than authenticity.
How to fix it: Use real photos of your team, office, or work where possible. If you must use stock images, choose ones that feel natural and relevant to your brand. Sites like Unsplash and Pexels offer better-quality free images.
10. Not Making it Easy to Get in Touch
If someone wants to contact you, don’t make them dig around. I’ve worked on sites where the contact form is buried in a submenu or the phone number is missing completely.
How to fix it: Include your contact details in the header or footer of every page. Add a clear contact page with all the options: phone, email, form, map, social links. And double-check that the form actually works!
Bonus Mistake: Not Working with the Right Designer
It’s tempting to go for the cheapest option, or use a friend of a friend. But your website is one of your most important business tools. If it doesn’t look professional, perform well, and generate leads, it’s letting you down.
If you want a site that looks great, works on all devices, is built with SEO in mind, and actually helps you grow your business, I’d love to help. I offer bespoke WordPress websites built around your goals – no templates, no fluff.
Ready to Upgrade Your Website?
If your current website is making any of the mistakes above, don’t worry – most of them are fixable. The important thing is recognising the issues and knowing when to bring in a professional.
Looking for a Leeds-based website designer who knows what actually works for small businesses? Let’s chat.
Get in touch today to discuss your project, ask questions, or get a free no-obligation quote. I’m happy to work on new builds, redesigns, or improvements to your existing site.
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to take your site to the next level, I’ve got you covered.
