10 Common Website Mistakes (With Statistics)

We got tired of seeing these problems on our client's websites so we've collected 10 common website mistakes that we find annoying!

Also, did you know that we offer a free website audit to help you identify website problems and give you actionable advice to improve your website?

Ok, let's dive in to the 10 common mistakes!

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10 Common Website Mistakes

1. Slow Loading Times  

Nobody likes waiting for a page to load. If your website takes forever to pop up, visitors are likely to bounce away before they even see your content. Speed matters!

Get this - according to bloggingwizard, for lead generation, sites that load in 1 second have conversion rates of 39%

Sites that load in 1 second have conversion rates of 39%. This number dropped to 18% for sites that took six seconds to load.

So, for every 1,000 visits, sites with a load time of one second can expect to generate 390 new email subscribers. This number drops to 180 new subscribers for sites that take six seconds to load.

(Also, conversion rates are 3x higher for ecommerce sites that load in 1 second..!)

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2. Poor Navigation  

If users can't find what they're looking for quickly and easily, they're going to get frustrated and leave. Make sure your menu is clear and your site map makes sense.

Why is navigation important?

38% of consumers look at a page’s layout or navigational links. (Top Design Firms, 2021) 38% of people visiting a website for the first time look at the layout or navigational links on a page.

If the layout is confusing or the navigation menu is hard to find, then visitors may leave your website.

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3. Unresponsive Design  

With so many people browsing on mobile devices, a site that doesn't adjust to different screen sizes is a big no-no. Always test your site on various devices to ensure a smooth experience.

73.1% of web designers believe that a non-responsive design is the top reason why visitors leave a website. (GoodFirms, 2021)

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4. Cluttered Pages  

Overloading your pages with too much content, ads, or pop-ups can overwhelm visitors. Keep it clean and focused − less is often more.

Too many elements. Clutter on the page can lower your conversion rate. In fact, when page elements increase from 400 to 6,000, conversion rates drop by 95%.

5. Outdated Content

Old, irrelevant content can make your site look neglected. Regularly update your posts, articles, and information to keep things fresh and current.Something interesting on the Moz website about content update:

‍Generating higher click-through thanks to a fresher date within your search snippet. I’m not aware of any organic search click-through study that would include dates in search snippets, but it’s safe to assume that in most cases, most people would be attracted to a fresher date, so if your search snippets include dates, it’s a good idea to make sure they're pretty recent
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6. Missing Contact Information  

Make sure your contact info is easy to find. If users have to hunt around to get in touch with you, they'll probably give up and move on to a competitor.This is linked to the poor navigation but make sure it's clear what you want the user to do!
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7. Non-SEO Friendly

If your website isn't optimized for search engines, you're missing out on a lot of potential traffic. Use relevant keywords, meta tags, and make sure your site structure is search-engine friendly.Here are two killer stats that might help illustrate why this is SO important:

1) SEO drives 1,000%+ more traffic than organic social media. (BrightEdge)
2) 60% of marketers say that inbound (SEO, blog content, etc.) is their highest quality source of leads. (HubSpot)

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We wrote a killer blog post here all about SEO to help you improve that.

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8. Inconsistent Branding  

Your website should reflect your brand consistently. From the color scheme and font choices to the tone of your content, everything should align with your brand’s identity.

When asked what visual elements they value on a company website, 40% of consumers said images, 39% said color and 21% said video. (Top Design Firms, 2021)

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9. Annoying Pop-ups  

Pop-ups can be really irritating, especially if they appear too frequently or are hard to close. Use them sparingly and make sure there's an easy way to dismiss them. Fascinatingly, an article on Optimonk explains that gamified popups are among the best converting popups!
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10. Poor Quality Images  

Grainy or low-resolution images can make your website look unprofessional. Invest in high-quality visuals to enhance the overall aesthetic of your site.

39% of consumers appreciate color more than any other component of a website’s design. (Top Design Firms, 2021)

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Conclusion

Creating a top-notch website is all about paying attention to the details that matter to your audience. From consistent branding and avoiding annoying pop-ups to investing in high-quality visuals, these elements can significantly impact how visitors perceive your site. Remember, your website is often the first impression potential customers will have of your brand, so making it visually appealing and user-friendly is crucial. By addressing these common issues, you're well on your way to building a site that not only looks great but functions seamlessly and leaves a lasting positive impression.

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Remember, if you want support, we'll record a 10 minute website review, recorded by real Webflow experts completely free of charge within working days.

Simply fill out this form here!