Your website is your business’s first impression—and in most cases, your only chance to get it right. When potential customers land on your site, they’re not just looking at your services. They’re subconsciously asking themselves:
“Can I trust this person with my money?”
If your website looks outdated, clunky, or amateur, they won’t stick around to find out. Here are 5 of the most common website mistakes that make your business look unprofessional—and what to do instead.
1. Inconsistent or DIY Branding
Let’s start with what your visitors notice in the first two seconds: how it looks.
Inconsistent colors, mismatched fonts, fuzzy logos, and homemade graphics don’t say “small business charm”—they say “side hustle with no attention to detail.”
What this tells visitors:
- You’re not serious.
- You don’t invest in your own business.
- If your own house is a mess, what will you do with theirs?
Common red flags:
- Using default fonts or more than 3 typefaces
- Different logo versions across pages
- Stock photos that don’t match your industry
- No clear visual hierarchy or layout system
What to do instead:
You don’t need a full rebrand. You need consistency.
- Pick a simple, clean brand palette (3–5 colors max)
- Use one font for headings and one for body copy
- Make sure your logo is high-resolution and used the same way everywhere
- Get a proper favicon — yes, people notice that missing browser tab icon
🧠 Pro tip: Consistency builds credibility. Even a clean, minimalist site can feel premium if it’s visually aligned.
2. No Clear Navigation or Structure
If someone lands on your homepage and can’t figure out where to go next, they’ll leave. Period.
Your navigation menu is not the place to get creative. Clever link labels, overstuffed dropdowns, or hiding important pages under vague categories just creates friction—and friction kills conversions.
What this tells visitors:
- You’re disorganized
- You haven’t thought about their experience
- You’re not making it easy for them to do business with you
Common red flags:
- Menu links like “Solutions” or “Experience” (instead of Services, About, etc.)
- Too many dropdowns or multi-level menus
- No contact button in the header
- Footer with missing or broken links
What to do instead:
- Use clear, familiar page titles: Home, About, Services, Contact, Portfolio, Blog
- Put your most important CTA (Book a Call, Get a Quote) in the top right or sticky header
- Make sure mobile navigation works well and collapses cleanly
- Include a simple footer with all key pages and contact info
3. Weak or Missing Calls to Action
A beautiful site without direction is just a digital brochure. Your website should guide users to take action—whether that’s booking a consult, filling out a form, or making a purchase.
If your site doesn’t tell people what to do, they’ll do… nothing.
What this tells visitors:
- You’re not confident in what you’re offering
- You’re not focused on helping them take the next step
- You might not even want their business
Common red flags:
- No CTA on the homepage or service pages
- Passive language like “Learn More” or “See Details”
- Buttons that blend into the background or don’t stand out
- Relying on a single contact form in the footer
What to do instead:
- Use bold, benefit-driven CTAs like “Book Your Free Strategy Call” or “Start My Redesign”
- Repeat the CTA at least 2–3 times per page (top, middle, bottom)
- Make sure buttons contrast clearly with the background
- Use action-oriented copy—not just “Submit”
4. Unoptimized Mobile Experience
If your site doesn’t look or work right on mobile, you’re losing half (or more) of your audience.
Today’s users are browsing on phones, booking appointments on tablets, and clicking ads on Instagram. If your layout breaks, your text is too small, or buttons aren’t tappable—bye.
What this tells visitors:
- You’re behind the times
- You don’t care about user experience
- You’re not investing in professionalism
Common red flags:
- Fonts too small to read on a phone
- Spacing issues or overlapping content
- Images not resizing or cut off
- Contact forms that don’t work on mobile
What to do instead:
- Use a responsive layout that adapts to all screen sizes
- Test every key page on mobile: homepage, services, contact
- Check that forms are mobile-friendly and CTA buttons are thumb-sized
- If you use a builder like Elementor, optimize each section for mobile manually
5. Broken Links, Placeholder Text, and Outdated Content
This one’s a silent killer. You may not notice it—but Google and your visitors do.
Nothing screams “I don’t care” like a homepage still showing “Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet” or a broken image where your About photo should be. It’s like showing up to a sales meeting in your pajamas.
What this tells visitors:
- Your business is neglected
- You’re not paying attention to details
- You may not even be in business anymore
Common red flags:
- 404 errors or broken internal links
- Outdated blog posts (last post from 2022…)
- Dummy text still on live pages
- Service info that no longer matches what you offer
What to do instead:
- Set a recurring calendar reminder to audit your site monthly
- Use tools like Screaming Frog or Broken Link Checker to scan your site
- Keep your blog or updates current—even 1 post per month shows you’re active
- Remove or redirect any outdated pages
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a flashy website. You need a clean, professional, strategic one that builds trust, looks great, and guides visitors toward action.
The truth? Most websites aren’t broken—they’re just not intentional. And unintentional websites don’t convert.
If your website is making any of these mistakes, it’s costing you more than just credibility—it’s costing you actual revenue.
Ready to Clean It Up?
I help small businesses ditch the DIY mistakes and build websites that actually convert. If you’re ready for a professional redesign—or just want honest feedback—book a free 15-minute strategy call.
Let’s make your first impression do the selling for you.
