Your website is bleeding customers - here's how to fix it.

Your website is like your online shop window. If it’s messy, slow, or confusing, people will walk away without a second thought. A poorly designed site can hurt your business—fewer visitors, less engagement (that's how much people interact with your site), and worst of all, fewer sales.

The problem is, many business owners don’t even realise their website is the issue.

So, let's sort that out. In this article, we’ll walk through the most common website design mistakes that could be hurting your credibility and conversions—and more importantly, how to fix them.

A Slow Website? People Won’t Wait

Ever spent a lot of time on a website that took ages to load? Aye, me neither. If your site takes more than a few seconds to appear, visitors will leave and look elsewhere faster than you can say "dead on." People are impatient, gone are the days of dodgy GPRS and 3G signals, with higher internet speeds and the knowledge of the whole world literally at our fingertips we expect websites to load immediately.

A slow website can also hurt your ranking on Google, meaning fewer people will find your business online. You can use a free service like Google Page Speed Insights to check your speed. To fix it, you can try:

• Reducing large image sizes (9/10 pictures - even ones taken on a phone - will need to be reduced and optimised)

• Enabling caching (a way of storing data to make loading faster)

• Upgrading your web hosting (the service that keeps your site online).

• Removing animations (Even simple animations like elements sliding onto the screen can increase your loading time)

Get it sorted before your visitors do a runner!

Your Website Needs to Work on Phones Too

When's the last time you whipped out the laptop to look something up online? Chances are you are like most people and do most of your browsing on your phone, not just on computers. If your website looks tiny or jumbled when someone visits on a mobile device, they’ll not stay too long.

A mobile-friendly website automatically adjusts its layout to fit any screen. This is called "responsive design." Go ahead and check your website on your phone - does it look good and work properly? If not, you may need to update your design or use a website builder that ensures mobile compatibility. Otherwise, you’re just handing business over to your competitors on a plate. While most website builders today do offer some level of responsive design, it can take some tweaking and fiddling to get it just right.

(Good job we know someone who's good at designing responsive websites then, check them out here)

Hard-to-Use Menus? Brutal.

If visitors need to hunt for basic information—like your contact details or what you offer—they’ll give up. Your website’s navigation (the menu and links that help people move around) should be simple and clear. Nobody wants to feel like they’re in a digital maze.

Stick to a few main sections like Home, About, Services, and Contact. Don’t overcomplicate it with too many options. Any services or products you want to highlight should be presented clearly and easy to find. People should find what they need within seconds, not minutes. Keep it straightforward, or they’ll be gone.

Cluttered Pages? Less is More

Imagine walking into a shop where everything is crammed into one small space. Pure head-wrecking, isn't it? The same goes for your website. Too much text, too many images, and flashy distractions make it hard to focus.

A clean design is best. Use short paragraphs, clear headings, and enough space between sections so visitors can easily scan the page. Keep it simple and easy to read—don’t make them work for it or they'll go find what they need somewhere else.

No Clear Next Step? Tell Visitors What to Do

Imagine you’re down your local spar, loaf and papers in hand and your ready to buy, but there’s no checkout or staff to help. You'd just leave, wouldn't you? That’s what happens when a website doesn’t tell visitors what to do next.

Your website needs strong "calls to action" (CTAs). These are clear messages like "Buy Now," "Get a Free Quote," or "Contact Us Today." They should stand out on the page so visitors know exactly what to do. If they have to guess, they’ll not hang about.

Boring or Fake-Looking Photos? Make It Real

Using generic stock photos (the kind you see on every other website) makes your business look impersonal. You know the ones—smiling business people shaking hands like they’ve just won the Euro Millions. Scundered.

People connect with authenticity. Use real photos of your team, your office, or your products. If you must use stock images, choose ones that look natural and high-quality. A genuine, unique website builds trust with your customers and makes you look the real deal.

Final Thoughts: A Good Website Brings More Customers

Your website is often the first impression people get of your business—so make it a good one. Avoiding these common mistakes will make it easier for customers to engage with your site and take action.

Want some quick web design tips? Focus on speed, simplicity, and making sure your site works well on phones. Keep navigation clear, avoid clutter, and use real, engaging visuals. Most importantly, make sure visitors know what to do next with a strong call to action.

A well-designed website can bring in more customers and boost your business. Give your site the attention it deserves, and watch your online success grow. You’ll be flying!