What I Notice as a Web Designer: 5 Website Mistakes to Avoid
As a web designer, there are certain things I notice right away when I land on a website. Some of them bug me as a consumer using the site for my own personal consumption, and others make me cringe as a designer—because I know they're hurting the site's performance. Whether you’re running a service based site for your business or an online store, these common mistakes can cost you customers (and money). And trust me, even big brands get this stuff wrong, so you’re definitely not alone.
Pop-Ups That Take Over the Screen Immediately
Few things are more frustrating than landing on a website, especially through an affiliate link to check out a specific product, only to be hit with a wall of pop-ups. Sometimes it's one after another, and the "X" to close them is either hidden or nearly impossible to find.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a well-timed marketing pop-up, especially if it offers a discount. But when visitors are bombarded the second a page loads, it creates a bad first impression. Instead of welcoming the user, the site overwhelms them.
A better approach is to give people 5 to 8 seconds to settle in. Let them scan the page, confirm they're in the right place, and get a feel for your content or product. Then, if you want to show a discount or email sign-up, go for it. Just make sure the close button is easy to find and works on both desktop and mobile.
Think about what a potential customer will do if they can't quickly close a pop-up and get to the content they came for. Chances are, they’ll bounce and possibly not come back. If your goal is to convert visitors, the experience needs to feel helpful, not pushy.
Too Many Clicks to Find What You're Looking For
This one applies mostly to service-based websites, but it’s something I notice often. A recent example is my personal online banking provider. They recently updated their interface, probably with the intention of making it easier to use, but the result is the opposite.
To access a section I use frequently, where I manage things like savings buckets for quarterly services or my kids’ allowance, I now have to click four different times. Before the update, I could get there in just two clicks.
People want things to be quick and easy. If it takes too many steps to reach a page or action that users commonly need, frustration builds fast. This is especially important for service-based businesses. If someone lands on your site and wants to hire you, the path to do that should be very clear.
That’s why I almost always design websites with the main call to action right in the header menu. Something like “Book a Call,” “Work With Me,” or “Get a Quote.” It needs to be obvious and easy to find. I've had clients push back on this, preferring to link to something like their Instagram instead, but that is a secondary priority, not the main one.
Here’s how I break it down:
Main call to action: The most important thing you want users to do. This is usually how someone can hire or contact you.
Secondary call to action: This could be following you on social media, reading your blog, or subscribing to a newsletter, depending on your audience and goals.
The bottom line is to make it easy to do business with you. A well-thought-out customer journey is always at the top of my list when designing a site. You have to view your website through the eyes of your potential customer. If it feels like a chore to get what they need, they’ll move on.Not Showing Images for All Product Variants
This is a common mistake I see on DIY e-commerce websites. Most e-commerce platforms make it easy to add product variants, like different colors or styles, and include images for each one. But not taking advantage of this feature can hurt your sales more than you might think.
If I’m browsing your product and it comes in multiple colors, I need to see each one. Otherwise, how can I confidently choose the color I want? Most shoppers won't take the risk of buying something if they can't visualize it first.
This issue isn’t limited to small businesses. I’ve seen it happen on luxury retail and large corporate sites too, where certain product variants simply get missed. But if your main sales channel is your website, showing every available option clearly is essential. Proofing for mistakes is also very important to catch those missed variants.
No matter how beautiful your brand is, if your customers can’t see what they’re buying, you’re creating friction in the buying process. And that friction can lead to abandoned carts or lost sales.
If you're selling online, make sure every variant—color, size, material, or style—has a photo to match. You are absolutely leaving money on the table if you don't.
Poor Image Quality and Too Many Moving Videos on Site Load
If you’re investing in a website, invest in quality imagery. That doesn’t mean you can’t use some iPhone photos here and there, but if you want to attract higher-end clients, your images need to look professional. Nothing turns people away faster than poorly lit, low-quality photos. Your website might be the first and only chance to impress a new client, so make it count by hiring a professional photographer—it’s definitely worth it. I wrote a blog post on this very topic if you care to read more here.
Another common issue I see is sites that are overly creative with too many moving parts. For example, if I land on a page and a video starts playing immediately at the top, it’s annoying. Most times, I’m there to find a specific product, not to be bombarded with auto-playing videos. When you combine that with immediate pop-ups, it creates a frustrating experience where visitors are scrambling just to get to the content.
Videos should never be placed above the fold—the part of the page that loads first and is immediately visible. There are many reasons for this, but here are three important ones:
Accessibility: Visitors with vision challenges, photosensitive conditions, or slow internet connections can be immediately turned off and leave your site.
User Experience: Auto-playing videos can distract or overwhelm visitors, making it harder for them to focus on what they came for.
Page Load Speed: Videos can slow down your site’s loading time, which impacts SEO and increases bounce rates. Remember, you have zero control over the wi-fi speed on the other end.
Keeping your website visually appealing and user-friendly means balancing creativity with usability. Quality images and thoughtful video placement help keep visitors engaged and encourage them to stay longer.
Text that is Difficult to Read Due to Color Saturation
This topic definitely deserves its own blog post, but it’s important to mention here because it comes up more often than you might think. Just the other day, I landed on a beautiful interior design website. The content was thoughtfully laid out, and they clearly paid attention to details. However, I immediately noticed poor contrast in the logo and header text.
While the light blue color they chose was pretty, it wasn’t nearly dark enough for someone with visual impairments to read comfortably. Even my 40-something eyes struggled to make it out!
What made it more surprising was that the site had an accessibility statement linked in the footer, showing they intended to be inclusive. Yet this glaring contrast issue was a big missed opportunity. Whether it was an oversight by the business owner or the designer, the problem was clear.
I don’t claim to be an accessibility expert, but I always try to ensure color contrast isn’t overlooked when designing a palette. Sometimes clients push back because darkening a color changes the look. I get it. But I always make sure to explain why this is important.
At the end of the day, the site owner is responsible for meeting legal requirements. While I’m not a lawyer and can’t provide legal advice, I do my best to communicate these recommendations clearly. Ultimately, it’s the client’s decision to make.
Ready to Make Your Website Work for You?
Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. Small design mistakes—from overwhelming pop-ups to hard-to-read text—can quickly turn visitors away and cost you sales. But the good news is, these issues are fixable!
If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed by your current website, I’m here to help. Whether you need a full redesign or just want expert advice on how to improve your site’s performance, I offer personalized consultation calls where I review your website and provide tailored recommendations.
Don’t let simple web design problems hold your business back. Book a consultation call with me today, and let’s make your website a powerful tool that attracts and converts your ideal customers.
