5 Common Website Mistakes and How to Fix Them
1) Overcomplicating Your Navigation
One of the biggest mistakes people make is overcomplicating their website navigation. I highly recommend having only three to five main header navigations on your website. The reason? We don’t want to overwhelm users with too many options, making it difficult for them to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.
How to Simplify Your Navigation:
Write down the main goals of your website. What do you want visitors to do before they leave? What actions should they take?
Use your navigation to guide users toward those goals in the most streamlined way possible.
Group smaller pages under main navigation headers to avoid unnecessary clutter.
For example, a service-based business could have:
Home
About (to share more about you and your story)
Services (with a drop-down for individual services so users can find what they need easily)
Portfolio (to showcase your best work and give potential clients confidence in your skills)
Blog (optional but great for SEO and sharing valuable insights!)
Contact (so visitors can easily reach out to work with you)
Your homepage should act as a central hub that maps out every other page, ensuring a smooth and intuitive user experience.
Navigation Questions:
What if I have more than five main pages?
If they are relevant to your website’s goal, you can keep them, but make sure they are strategic and don’t overwhelm users.
Utilize drop-down menus to keep things organized while still offering depth.
Should my homepage be in the navigation or just my logo?
If your audience is tech-savvy, they likely know to click the logo.
If your audience isn’t as familiar with web navigation, it’s safer to include “Home” in the menu.
2) Using Low-Quality Images
Low-quality images can instantly make a website look unprofessional and outdated. Your images should:
Be engaging and relevant to your brand.
Express your business value and aesthetic in a visually appealing way.
Be high resolution while still optimized for fast loading times.
Image Quality Questions:
Where can I find high-quality stock images?
Free options: Pexels, Unsplash (always check licensing to ensure proper usage!)
Paid options: Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Creative Market
Should I hire a brand photographer or use stock photos?
A brand photographer is always best for a personalized, cohesive look that represents your unique brand identity.
If you're starting out, high-quality stock photos can work temporarily—just be mindful of choosing images that truly align with your brand.
What’s the best file format and size for web images?
Use JPEG for standard photos and PNG for images that need transparency.
Compress images using tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh to keep quality high while optimizing load speed.
3) Not Having a Mobile-Friendly Design
Let’s be real—most people are browsing on their phones in 2025. If your website isn’t mobile-responsive, users will leave in frustration, which means you could be missing out on potential clients or sales.
How to Ensure Mobile Responsiveness:
✔ Check your website on different devices (phones, tablets, desktops, etc.) to ensure it looks great everywhere. ✔ Hire a web designer or use a pre-built template (like the ones in my shop!) to make the process easier. ✔ Optimize for speed and readability by keeping text and images properly formatted.
Mobile Responsiveness Questions:
How can I check if my website is mobile-friendly?
Open it on your phone, tablet, and desktop.
Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to get an instant evaluation.
Why is mobile design so important?
Because people are always on their phones—whether scrolling through Instagram, clicking on a Pinterest link, or searching for a service. If your site isn’t optimized, they’ll leave fast.
4) Not Having Clear CTAs (Call to Actions)
A CTA (Call to Action) tells visitors what to do next. Without clear CTAs, visitors leave without taking action, which means lost opportunities for you.
Best Practices for CTAs:
Each page should have 1-2 primary CTAs that guide visitors toward their next step.
CTAs should be clear, action-driven, and visually distinct.
Examples:
Homepage CTA → “View My Services” or “Book a Call”
Services Page CTA → “See My Work” or “Get a Quote”
Portfolio CTA → “Let’s Work Together” or “View My Packages”
CTA Questions:
Can I have more than two CTAs on a page?
Yes, but don’t overwhelm users. Each CTA should serve a purpose and lead visitors smoothly through your website.
How do I know if my CTA is effective?
Test different variations (A/B testing) to see what gets the most engagement.
5) Cluttered Layout
A cluttered website feels overwhelming and unprofessional. The key is to use white space and intentional design choices to keep things clean and readable.
How to Reduce Clutter:
✔ Use white space strategically to give content room to breathe. ✔ Only include essential content that serves your main goal. ✔ Break up text with:
Bullet points
Short paragraphs (1-3 sentences)
Headings & subheadings
Relevant images/icons
Cluttered Layout Questions:
Is white space really that important?
Yes! It makes your site look cleaner, more professional, and easier to navigate.
How much text is too much?
Keep sections concise. People tend to skim, so make it easy for them to find what they need fast.
Final Thoughts
These five mistakes are super common, but they are also easy to fix. Your website should be simple, visually appealing, and guide visitors toward taking action without confusion.
💡 On February 26th, I’m launching four stunning website templates to help you create a professional, high-converting site. If you want to be notified when they drop, sign up for the waitlist below!
