Struggling to figure out why your website isn't converting visitors into customers? You're not alone. Many business owners unknowingly make common website mistakes that drive potential leads away. 

The good news is, these errors are easy to fix once you identify them. Let's dive into the most common pitfalls and how you can turn your website into a conversion machine.

1. Lack of Clear Calls to Action (CTA)

The number one mistake I see on small business websites is the lack of a clear, direct call to action (CTA). Too many websites use vague terms like "Learn More" or "Contact Us." This doesn’t give the website visitor a clear sense of what to do next.

When someone lands on your website, they should immediately know the action they need to take. Whether it’s scheduling a call, booking an appointment, or purchasing a product, you need to clearly tell visitors what their next step should be. Don’t be clever or vague – be direct.

A well-designed CTA is vital because it leads your site visitors toward becoming paying customers. Without a direct CTA, they’ll leave your site without taking any meaningful action.

2. No Transitional Calls to Action

Not every website visitor is ready to make a purchase or schedule a service immediately, but that doesn’t mean they should leave your site empty-handed. This is where a transitional call to action comes in.

A transitional CTA offers something of value in exchange for the visitor’s email address, such as a free guide, a checklist, or a discount. These lead generators allow you to capture information and follow up with potential customers through email nurturing. Simply put, it’s how you keep the conversation going with your visitors until they’re ready to buy.

Avoid using generic offerings like "Subscribe to our Newsletter." Instead, give your audience something valuable that will entice them to hand over their email address. For instance, offering a "10% discount on your first order" is a powerful transitional CTA that many e-commerce businesses successfully use.

3. Poor CTA Placement

Your website’s call to action placement matters just as much as the wording. One of the most common mistakes I see is CTAs buried in the middle or bottom of a webpage, making it hard for visitors to take action.

The most valuable real estate on your website is the top right-hand corner of the screen. This is the perfect spot for your direct CTA, whether it’s “Book Now,” “Schedule a Consultation,” or “Start Your Free Trial.” Make sure it’s clearly visible and easy to find.

Place your CTAs strategically across your site – not just at the top of the page but also in key areas where visitors are most likely to take action.

4. Unclear Website Messaging

Another common website mistake is unclear messaging and this can be attached to the common website design mistakes. The designs and the words you use on your site, especially at the top of the homepage (often referred to as “above the fold”), need to be crystal clear.

Ask yourself:

• What do you do?

• How do you help your customers?

• What do visitors need to do to take action?

These questions should be immediately answered when someone lands on your site. If a first-time visitor can’t figure out what you offer and how to engage with you in just a few seconds, they’ll leave.

Pro Tip: Test your website’s clarity by running your homepage’s copy through an AI tool like ChatGPT. If AI can’t figure out what you do, neither can your customers.

5. Too Much Focus on Yourself, Not the Customer

One of the biggest website design mistakes is focusing too much on your business and not enough on the customer. Many small business owners load their website with information about themselves—how long they’ve been in business, their company history, etc.—but that’s not what customers are looking for.

Your website should speak directly to the pain points of your audience. Instead of "We offer X, Y, and Z services," shift your copy to speak to the customer’s challenges and how you solve them.

For example, instead of saying "We are experts in web development," try "Struggling with a slow-loading website? We help businesses like yours build fast, mobile-friendly sites that boost conversions."

6. Poor Use of White Space

Many business owners cram their websites full of text, images, and design elements, but this often makes it overwhelming for visitors. One key user experience element often overlooked is white space.

White space (or negative space) around text and design elements helps guide visitors through your content and makes your website more mobile-friendly. It ensures your messaging stands out and doesn’t overwhelm the visitor. A clean, uncluttered design can boost readability and improve conversions.

7. Slow Loading Times

Did you know that slow loading times can significantly hurt your conversions? If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, visitors are likely to bounce, leaving before they even get a chance to explore your products or services.

To prevent this, optimize images, compress files, and ensure that your site is responsive and lightweight. Fast websites not only improve user experience but also perform better in search engine optimization (SEO) rankings.

8. Unclear or Overcomplicated Navigation

Your navigation menu should be simple and intuitive. Too many options or poorly labeled sections confuse visitors and prevent them from finding the information they need. A clear, well-organized menu helps guide your site visitors to the most important pages, such as your services, contact information, and CTA.

Make sure your website copy and design elements work together to provide a seamless user journey, so visitors don’t get lost in the clutter.

9. Non-Mobile-Friendly Design

More people than ever are browsing websites on their phones. If your site isn’t optimized for mobile devices, you’re losing out on potential customers. Responsive design, where your site adapts to different screen sizes, is critical for providing a smooth mobile experience.

Ensure that your site is easy to navigate on mobile and that important elements like CTAs and navigation menus are easy to tap. Additionally, mobile-friendliness is a key ranking factor for search engines, so optimizing for mobile will also improve your SEO.

Ready to Fix Your Website? 

If you’re making any of these common website mistakes, don’t worry – you’re not alone, and they can all be fixed. By focusing on clear calls to action, clean design, and user-focused messaging, you can significantly increase your conversions.

Need help optimizing your website?

Schedule a call with me and let’s chat about how we can help you grow your business and dominate your market.