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If your site is frustrating users, it’s costing you jobs. You only have 0.05 seconds to make a good impression. 

Many design professionals invest in beautiful websites—but beauty doesn’t guarantee usability.

Consider this an intro to good UX (user experience).

Usability is how easily someone can navigate, understand, and act on your website. It’s about empathy for the person using the site. A usable website is clear, functional, and gets a potential client to the info they need fast. Usable websites can be beautiful, too!

Let’s dive into some core usability issues that directly impact credibility (and leads) and how to decide whether it’s time for a redesign.

How usable is your site?

Usable means clear, functional, and easy.

Look over your site from the perspective of a new visitor and consider how intuitive it is to complete common tasks:

  • See portfolio
  • Request a quote
  • Read reviews
  • Contact us

Pay very close attention to the mobile experience of your site, especially portfolio content.

Mobile-friendly websites are especially critical in your field. Design-heavy sites can become pretty clunky on mobile, slowed down with large images. But mobile users expect tap-friendly menus, fast load times, and easy scrolling.

Where could you reduce friction or simplify?

Plain language and fewer categories are a good start. Say “energy efficiency” instead of “fenestration strategy.” Create a “Services” page with dropdowns instead of three different menu options for each service you offer.

It’s worth testing your website with someone outside your field—can they find key info in 5 seconds?

Tools can help you gain insights into how your site is currently performing:

If you’re still on the fence about whether usability matters, keep reading.

Your website should reflect your design philosophy

A confusing site implies a confusing design process. You’re in a field that relies heavily on visual trust. 

A usable website helps users see and feel trust.

What is your site saying about your design capabilities? 

We’d be remiss not to mention the business benefits of usability:

✓ Higher inquiry rates

✓ Better lead quality

✓ Less time explaining basics

From a user perspective, good UX matters because a happy user is more likely to take positive action such as booking a call. UX matters for search engine ranking, too. What is good for your user is generally good for the search engines as well.

In other words, usability is important for clients and for you. It should reflect your values. If your design philosophy includes ease and functionality, your website should, too.

Core principles of website usability

  • Images should load fast (under 3 seconds).
  • Navigation should be intuitive. 
  • Content should be organized hierarchically.
  • Users should feel empowered to view content the way they prefer.
  • No auto-plays.
  • No clutter.
  • Language should be simple.
  • Mobile users should be satisfied.
  • Users of all abilities should be able to use it.
  • Contacting you should be easy.
  • Service area (work and geographic area) should be obvious.

We’ll call out the four most important ones here.

One is language. Most professional websites make the mistake of assuming too much technical knowledge. Simplify and remove jargon. Speak to the client’s needs, not your industry peers.

Two is portfolio browsing. You need project photos as proof, but context is essential. Include captions, tags, and limited photo selections rather than huge galleries.

Another is accessibility. 1 billion people are disabled. Make sure your website includes them. This is the digital equivalent of universal design.

The last is a clear contact path. No button, no form, no call to action = no lead. Make it easy to get their business.

Improve these 5 key areas first

If you’re looking for a quick win, make changes in these 5 areas of your site right now.

1. Homepage messaging

  • Make your unique value clear: “Modern remodels in the Hudson Valley” > “Welcome to Our Website.”
  • Include 1–2 calls to action: “See Our Work” and “Book a Consultation.”

2. Navigation

  • Limit top-level nav to essentials: Home, Services, Portfolio, About, Contact.
  • Group dropdowns logically if needed (e.g. Residential vs. Commercial projects).

3. Portfolio access

  • Showcase your work fast. Use filters by style, size, budget.
  • Avoid forcing users into a slideshow — give an overview gallery.

4. Mobile 

  • Use tap-friendly buttons, big enough text, no horizontal scrolling.
  • Don’t stack endless full-screen images before key info.

5. Contact Path

  • Have a fixed or repeating contact button or banner.
  • Use short, simple contact forms (name, project type, email, location).

When to redesign

You may be able to fix and NOT redesign if the site is under three years old, mobile-friendly, and just needs reorganization.

You may need to redesign if:

  • Your CMS is outdated or uneditable
  • It’s not responsive
  • It uses outdated plugins
  • You’ve had a brand refresh or service shift

Redesign is a powerful opportunity to grow around SEO, performance, and visual storytelling.

Work with a web professional if needed—good UX is an investment.

Usability checklist

Worked it all out? To be sure, check your site against this list.

  • A person can find the content they need within 5 seconds.
  • The navigation is simple (max 5-7 top links).
  • My contact method is obvious on every page.
  • All pages load in under 3 seconds.
  • The design is mobile-friendly. 
  • The design is accessible for disabled users.
  • All content is clear, concise, and structured for ease of use.

Review and next steps

Usability directly affects how many clients trust and contact you. A better user experience doesn’t just look good. It converts better and reflects your professionalism.

Next step: Audit your site or have a trusted expert do it. Small improvements can lead to better jobs, faster.

Bring us all your questions during a free consultation.