5 Website Mistakes That Kill Conversions and How to Fix Them

Your website works 24/7, introducing people to your business, answering their questions, and guiding them to take the next step. But if your website is making some common mistakes, you might actually be turning people away instead of winning them over.

Let’s walk through and learn how to fix five of the biggest website mistakes that quietly kill conversions (the things you actually want visitors to do, like buy something, make a reservation, or contact you).

Website Mistake #1: Confusing Navigation

Imagine walking into a store and nothing is labeled and you can’t find the checkout counter. That’s what it feels like when your website navigation is unclear. If visitors can’t find what they’re looking for in just a few clicks, they’ll leave.

How to fix bad website navigation: Keep your main menu simple. Limit it to the essentials, like “Home,” “About,” “Services,” and “Contact.” Don’t overwhelm people with too many options. On mobile, make sure the menu is easy to open and the links are large enough to tap with a thumb. A clean, intuitive navigation helps people feel guided.

Mistake #2: Slow Loading Times

People expect things instantly. If your site takes more than a few seconds to load, visitors will hit the back button and try someone else’s site instead. Slow pages are one of the fastest ways to kill conversions.

How to fix a slow website: Start with your images. Large, uncompressed photos are often the biggest culprit. Tools like TinyPNG or built-in website plugins can shrink file sizes without hurting quality. Also, check your hosting plan. If you’re on the cheapest option, upgrading to a faster server can make a big difference. Remember, speed isn’t just about convenience. Google also takes it into account when deciding where your site ranks in search results.

Mistake #3: Weak or Hidden Calls-to-Action

A call-to-action (CTA) is simply the prompt that tells visitors what to do next, like “Book a Call,” “Order Online,” or “Get a Quote.” If your CTAs are buried at the bottom of the page or they’re too generic (like “Submit”), visitors won’t take action. People need clear direction.

Create and place a great call-to-action: Place your primary CTA right where visitors will see it immediately, without scrolling. Use action words that describe the benefit, not just the action. For example, “Start Your Free Trial” is more compelling than “Sign Up.” And don’t be afraid to repeat your CTA throughout the page so it’s always within reach.

Mistake #4: Text That’s Hard to Read

Your content may be amazing, but if it’s presented in tiny gray text on a white background, nobody will stick around to read it. Likewise, long walls of text can feel overwhelming, especially on a phone.

How to fix website text and make it better: Make sure your text is large enough. Sixteen pixels is a good minimum for body text. Use plenty of spacing between lines and paragraphs to give the eye room to breathe. Break content into sections with clear headings so readers can scan quickly. And double-check your color contrast. Dark text on a light background works best for readability.

Mistake #5: Not Optimizing Your Site for Mobile Users

More than half of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. Yet many sites still look like a squished version of the desktop layout, with tiny buttons and images that take forever to load. If your site doesn’t work on a phone, you’re losing customers.

How to make your website mobile-friendly: Test your site on your own phone. Can you easily navigate it with your thumb? Do the pages load quickly? Are buttons and links big enough to tap? If the answer is no, it may be time for a redesign with a mobile-first approach, where the site is built for phones first and then expanded for desktop. This not only improves user experience but also helps with SEO since Google ranks mobile-friendly sites higher.

Your website should guide visitors to action. By fixing confusing navigation, speeding up your load times, making your calls-to-action clear, improving readability, and prioritizing mobile users, you’ll have a site that works for you and brings you more clients and customers.

We help businesses turn their websites into powerful conversion tools because your site should always drive results. Take a look at our portfolio and book a call with our team today!