Top mistakes that small businesses make when designing their own website
21st August 2025
posted 21st August 2025
Many small business owners try to save money by building their own website using a web builder. But a website is more than just pretty pictures and text. Your website is an online storefront, the first impression that people get of your business. If it doesn’t work well, then you could be losing customers without even knowing it.
In this blog, we'll highlight the top mistakes that small businesses make when designing their websites and how to avoid them.
1. No clear call to action (CTA)
Image: A good example of bold and clear CTAs
Your website should guide visitors to take action. Whether it’s calling you, booking an appointment, or buying a product, you need to tell them what to do next.
The mistakes
- No buttons
- Vague CTAs like “Learn More.”
How to fix it:
- Use strong, clear CTAs
- Make them big, bold, and easy to find.
- “Book a Free Consultation”
- “Shop Now”
- “Get a Quote”
2. Cluttered or confusing design
Image: A good example of a clear and simple website design
Don't try to fit everything on the homepage or use five different fonts - this can be visually overwhelming. Keep your website simple.
The mistakes
- Busy pages
- Too many colours
- Hard-to-read text.
How to fix it:
- Keep it clean and simple.
- Use 2–3 brand colours.
- Stick to one or two fonts.
- Use white space to help people focus.
3. Not mobile-friendly
Image: An example of a responsive website design
More than half of your visitors are likely browsing from their phone. If your site doesn’t look good on mobile, they’ll leave fast.
The mistakes
- Text is too small
- Buttons are hard to tap
- Loading is slow on phones
How to fix it:
- Use a responsive design that adapts to any screen size.
- Test your site on both mobile and desktop before going live.
4. No SEO (Search engine optimisation)
SEO is essential; a beautiful website means nothing if people can’t find it on Google.
The mistakes
- No keywords
- No page titles
- No alt text for images
How to fix it:
- Use relevant keywords in your page content
- Write custom page titles and meta descriptions
- Add alt text to images
- Create content Google can index (like blogs or FAQs)
5. Slow load times
Image: Google speed checker
If your site takes more than 3 seconds to load, many people will give up and leave.
The mistakes
- Using huge images
- Too many plugins
- Poor hosting.
How to fix it:
- Optimise and compress your images
- Choose a reliable hosting provider
- Avoid unnecessary animations or scripts
6. No contact information or hard to find
Image: Clear contact information shown in the footer of a website
If someone wants to reach you, make sure it's easy for them to find your information.
The mistakes
- No contact page
- Hard to find phone number.
How to fix it:
- Include a clear Contact Us page
- Your phone number
- Email address
- Business location
- Contact form
- Keep your info in the footer so it’s on every page.
7. Trying to do too much alone
You’re an expert at running your business, not web design. DIY tools can only take you so far.
The mistakes
- Wasting time and still ending up with a site that doesn’t bring results.
How to fix it:
- Consider hiring a professional who specialises in website design and SEO. A great website will pay for itself through better customer experience and higher conversions.
Summary
Building your own website isn't easy, but while there’s nothing wrong with starting small, it’s easy to make mistakes that cost you time, traffic, and sales. Avoiding these common errors can make your site more effective and help your business grow.
Need help fixing or building a website that works? Contact us today.