7 Common Website Mistakes Small Business Owners Make (& How to Fix Them!)

As a small business owner, your website is the online face of your business. It's crucial that you make a positive and lasting impression on customers visiting your website in order to build a strong reputaion. However, there are some common pitfalls that are super easy to fall into when it comes to designing your website.

In this blog post, we'll explore seven web design mistakes that small business owners often make (including us!) and provide practical solutions to help you fix them. Let's dive right in!

Uploading images & graphics files as large as possible

We understand that you want to showcase your incredible products or services through stunning visuals, but it's essential to properly optimise your images for the web. Uploading large image files can slow down your website's loading speed, leading to a frustrating user experience and damaged SEO ranking. Instead, resize and compress your images before uploading them using an app like Canva or Photoshop. There are even free online tools and plugins that can help you easily optimise your images without sacrificing their quality

Not using enough CTAs (Call-to-Actions)

Your website needs to helpfully guide visitors towards taking specific actions such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or getting in touch. Neglecting to include clear and compelling CTAs like buttons and text links can result in missed opportunities, confused users and lower conversion rates. Place prominent and visually appealing CTAs strategically throughout your website to help your users through your website’s journey. Use action-oriented language and highlight the benefits users will gain by taking action - e.g ‘sign up for web design freebies’. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different CTA placements and wording to find what works best for your audience.

Ignoring how pages look and work on mobile phones

In this mobile-centric era, neglecting mobile responsiveness is a big no-no. After all, that’s where approximately 60% of web traffic comes from there days! Most of your potential customers will be browsing the web primarily on their smartphones or tablets. If your website isn't optimised for mobile devices, you risk losing valuable leads and sales. Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, with all information visible, links clickable and menus easy to use. Test your website on various mobile devices to ensure it looks and functions seamlessly across different screen sizes. Squarespace includes a really useful mobile editing feature within edit mode which makes this task so much simpler.

Focussing your website copy too much on yourself

While it's clearly important to highlight the strengths and unique qualities of your business, it's equally vital to address the needs and desires of your customer. Avoid crafting website copy that only harps on about your achievements, products, or services. Instead, emphasise how your offerings can solve your customers' problems or improve their lives. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes and speak directly to their pain points and goals. Engage your audience with a compelling narrative that tells a story and connects with your customers on an emotional level.

Not using Alt Text in your website images

Alt text, which is short for alternative text, is essential for making your website more accessible (to humans and bots) and search engine friendly. Alt text describes images to visually impaired users who rely on screen readers to get a picture of your website. Additionally, search engines use alt text to understand the content of your images, which can improve your website's visibility in search results. Include descriptive alt text that accurately represents the image while incorporating relevant keywords in a natural and organic way - no spam please. Remember to keep your alt text concise and informative.

Neglecting the site footer (cos ‘no one reads it anyway’)

Your website footer may seem like an afterthought, but it plays a crucial role in enhancing your users experience and reinforcing your brand. Neglecting the site footer can make your website feel incomplete and unprofessional, and make it much more difficult to navigate for your customers. Use the footer to provide important information like contact details, links to essential high traffic pages, social media icons, and copyright information. Consider adding a sitemap or a search bar to help visitors navigate your website more easily for an improved experience.

Not having consistent branding across social media and website

Your brand identity must remain consistent across all online platforms if it’s to hold any authority or become truly recognisable. This means your website and social media profiles should match in visual style. Inconsistent branding can confuse visitors, decrease trust in your business and dilute your brand's recognition. Ensure that your logo, colour scheme, fonts, and tone of voice align seamlessly across your website and social media channels for an effective brand experience. This consistency will strengthen your brand presence and help create a cohesive and memorable experience for your audience, who will become your loyal fans because of it.

If you’re currently making any of these small business website mistakes, don’t panic! We’ve been web designers for over a decade, and even we’ve made these mistakes. Luckily, they’re easy enough to get on top of.

By optimising images, using CTAs properly, focussing on your customer’s unique needs, ensuring mobile responsiveness, using alt text, paying attention to the site footer, and maintaining consistent branding, you'll be well on your way to creating a visually appealing and user-friendly website that drives conversions. Embrace these tips, and watch your online presence flourish!