Hoping your website is good enough, but you’re not sure? A weak website costs you money, clients, and credibility.
Your website is a digital brochure, yes— but it’s also a trust builder, a lead generator, and a reputation maker. Many creative and service professionals overlook usability.
If you think a basic landing page with a stunning portfolio is “fine” then expect “fine results. But don’t you want a high-performing design that generates leads and converts clients?
This article explains the specific ways that a poorly designed website can hurt your business (and how to fix them).
Poor design quietly eats into your profits–and a strong website pays for itself
Let’s talk about money. You can’t run a business without revenue, and your website can make or break your bottom line.
Here are three main ways that a bad website might be costing you dollars:
- You pay for ads to get leads, but premium visitors leave quickly when they see your site
- Your slow load times and messy site structure make you rank lower in Google
- You lose referrals from happy clients because your site doesn’t represent your best work
A strong website hums along 24/7, impressing visitors and funneling them into your pipeline with ease. It should rank highly, load quickly, and answer your prospects’ questions so they feel confident in booking a consultation.
You do have to invest in building a strong website. But the investment should pay for itself.
The website design mistakes that cost you the most
These seven website design mistakes repel leads because they contribute to a poor user experience. Remember, your users are real people looking for a simple solution to their needs.
- Too much text
- Not enough quality photos of your work
- Large, unoptimized images slowing the site
- Not mobile-friendly (especially when most browsing happens on phones)
- Confusing menus that hide your services and contact details
- Using the same generic template as everyone else
- No clear “Request a Quote” or “Book Now” button
Audit your site to see which of these mistakes you’re making. One mistake is bad, but all seven? That’s unforgivable — and your site may need a total overhaul.
Here’s how to fix each of these common website design mistakes:
- Too much text? → Edit hard and optimize for keywords.
- Not enough quality photos? →Hire a photographer to capture your best work.
- Large, unoptimized images? →Hire a developer to compress photos and create code that optimizes for load speed.
- Not mobile-friendly? →Use a responsive website theme.
- Confusing menus? →Limit the menu to 5-6 options.
- Using the same generic template? →Customize your site’s look to elevate your brand.
- No clear Contact buttons? →Add an obvious, friendly CTA on every page.
The truth is that fixing mistakes is always worth the effort, but it’s not always easy.
Some mistakes can’t be fixed with glitter or glue alone. You may have to wipe the slate clean.
Should you refresh or redesign your site?
A refresh may be good enough if your site has strong traffic, but a few pages are underperforming. In this case, keep the layout and update your visuals and content.
A redesign is needed if your site meets at least one of these criteria:
- Website is 5+ years old
- Website is not mobile responsive
- Website is not secure
- Website is not accessible
- Website is built on outdated or proprietary software (Wix, Squarespace)
The deciding factor should not be how you feel about the design. It’s performance.
Take a hard look at your stats and your business goals to determine whether or not your site is performing well enough to satisfy your online visitors. You might like the way it looks, but traffic and conversion metrics don’t lie.
If your site is not attracting, retaining, and converting visitors, you need a website redesign.
Choosing the right web partner
This part is easy, if you know what to look for.
Here’s what to look for in a web partner for a website redesign:
- Industry-specific knowledge: Save yourself time and money by working with a partner who gets your business. You’ll avoid frustration if your design partner already understands what you need from a site in terms of aesthetics and functionality.
- SEO knowledge + design knowledge: You want a pretty page but you also want to get discovered on search engines. Some firms excel at one or the other. Find a partner with strong skills in both areas.
- Measurable results: A good web partner is forthcoming with metrics. To build a site that performs well, you need a partner who can measure, report back, and analyze data.
It should go without saying, but please carefully review any agreements you sign with any agency.
Make sure you own whatever assets will be created for your business. Understand the timeline for delivery so expectations are clear. For instance, it’s natural for some parts of a website redesign to take time, like if you’re investing in an SEO strategy. On the other hand, it’s not normal to hear nothing from your designers for weeks at a time.
Review and next steps
First, you need to understand whether your site is costing you business. We can help with that, or you can look at your data and review the checklist above.
Then, fix those mistakes and enjoy a website that works as nicely as it looks. You’ll need a web design partner who can code a clean site and provide industry-specific advice on user experience.
Consult a pro about your website’s needs to get started.