4 Website Design Mistakes That Can Hurt Conversion
Let’s put it this way: you’ve poured your heart into designing your website. But as the website goes live, your conversions aren’t where they should be. Frustrating, right?
If the layout looks sleek, colors pop, and you have killer content, what could sabotage your conversion rates? It may come as a surprise to you, but your website’s design might be hurting your conversions.
Aesthetics catch the eye, but a website’s true measure lies in turning visitors into paying customers. Your website’s design needs to strategically guide users toward taking action, whether that’s making a purchase or reaching out to learn more.
Here, we’ll walk through some common website design mistakes that could be hurting conversions.
#1 Too Much Clutter
Nearly 84.6% of web designers consider cluttered web design to be the most common mistake.
You might think adding lots of features, images, and text will make your site more impressive. But actually, it will overwhelm the visitors and make it hard for them to focus on what matters. Hence, they leave.
The thing is, visitors need clarity, not chaos. If your homepage is jam-packed with content, they don’t know where to look—your main message and call-to-action (CTA). Instead of guiding them toward converting, you’re sending them into decision fatigue.
Keep things simple, hence. Use plenty of white space around the elements of your website. That will create breathing room and draw attention to the core content.
Don’t use too many vibrant colors. Otherwise, it will create visual clutter, which will distract visitors from the main message.
Steer clear of especially low-contrast colors like red and pink. Tech.co says that these colors make the text less legible, which results in a poor browsing experience.
#2 Non-Responsive Web Design
Mobile devices are driving significant growth in global e-commerce. Consumers are increasingly purchasing products and services through their smartphones and tablets.
In 2023, revenue from mobile e-commerce sales accounted for more than half of all retail sales, reaching an estimated $1.7 trillion.
If your website doesn’t adjust seamlessly to different screen sizes, visitors won’t stick around. They will just leave and find a competitor whose site is responsive. Don’t let that happen—optimize your site so that it adapts to different devices.
Using single-column forms, removing pop-ups, compressing all images, and increasing font size will make your website mobile-friendly.
Oh, and don’t forget buttons and links. Hocoos advises keeping them large enough for comfortable fingertip tapping and spacing far enough to avoid accidental clicks.
If that sounds too much of a task, consider relaunching your website with an AI-powered website builder.
These tools build a website in as few as five minutes. And AI-powered website builders don’t just design a website, but also optimize it for mobile phones. They automatically resize and reposition the elements so that they fit the screen of different devices.
Just make sure to choose an AI website builder that offers almost every feature you’ll need, such as web hosting, custom domains, booking systems, and marketing integrations.
#3 Stock Images Everywhere
Stock photos are convenient. But if your site is plastered with generic images, it can feel impersonal and fake.
The problem with stock photography is that it is cliched, overused, and inauthentic, says Business.com.
People crave connection. They want to know your story, see your team, and understand your brand. When your site is full of stock images, it’s harder to build trust or stand out.
Hence, use authentic visuals whenever possible. Snap photos of your team, office, or products in action. If you must use stock photos, pick ones that feel natural and fit your brand’s vibe.
#4 Missing or Unclear Calls-to-Action Buttons
Your visitors shouldn’t have to guess what you want them to do next. If your CTAs are vague, buried, or just plain boring, you’re leaving conversions on the table.
Your CTAs need to be crystal clear. A button that says “Contact Us” doesn’t cut it anymore.
Gartner’s 2022 Technology Marketing Benchmarks Survey found that CTAs offering content assets such as case studies outperform those that solicit meetings, such as “Contact Us.” Changing your CTA to “go” or “click here” can boost conversion rates by 30% and 25%, respectively.
Place your CTAs in logical spots—above the fold, at the end of your content, or wherever your visitors naturally pause. Also, make your CTAs stand out with bold colors. Some of the best colors to use for CTAs are yellow, black, orange, or blue, says Forbes.
Designing a website that converts isn’t rocket science, but it does take thought and intention. Fixing even a few of these common design mistakes can turn visitors into loyal customers.
Now, take a fresh look at your site. And if you spot any of these design faux pas, fix them right away. A few small tweaks can lead to big wins.
