5 Signs Your Website Is Scaring Away Customers
And Easy Tips to Fix It!
Let’s have a chat—about your website.
I know, I know—your cousin’s friend’s brother threw it together because someone told you that you needed a site. They were right (the person not the brother). Whether you’re a brick-and-mortar business or an entirely online operation, your website is the face of your brand.
When someone searches for you on Google, your site is often their first impression. And it’s your chance to wow them—or at least not scare them away.
In today’s DIY website world, it’s easy to throw a site together. It’s also easy to overlook the little things that can hurt your traffic, frustrate visitors, and cost you sales.
Here are five common website mistakes—and how to fix them.
1. Your Site Looks Outdated or Unprofessional
We get it. Back in 2004, Geocities was fading and WordPress was just picking up steam. That site you built? It’s almost old enough to drink in the U.S.
But the internet—and your customers—have evolved.
People form first impressions in just 0.1 seconds. If your site looks old, cluttered, or untouched since Friends aired its finale, they’re bouncing.
Fix It:
Modern web design isn’t just about looking pretty. Clean layouts, mobile optimization, clear navigation, and a strong visual hierarchy build trust—and keep visitors around longer.
2. It’s Not Mobile-Friendly
Over half of all web traffic is mobile—and that number keeps growing. If your site only looks good on desktop, you’re leaving a lot of people behind.
Clunky navigation, slow load times, and unresponsive images lead to what’s known as bounce rate—when users ditch your site almost immediately.
Fix It:
Most website builders include mobile optimization, but don’t trust them blindly. Preview your site on different devices. Ask friends or customers to test it and report back. You can also check your site’s mobile-friendliness here.
3. Slow Loading Time
This one’s a double whammy: slow load times frustrate users and hurt your SEO rankings.
Search engines penalize sluggish sites. And even if people find you, they won’t wait around. Your dream homepage isn’t doing anyone any good if it takes 10 seconds to load.
Fix It:
Compress your images. Limit heavy video content. Choose a solid hosting provider. You can test your site speed here.
4. No Clear Calls-To-Action (CTAs)
Picture this: you’re in a store with no signs, no registers, and no staff. How do you buy anything?
That’s what it feels like to visit a site with no clear CTA.
Fix It:
Use buttons like “Add to Cart,” “Get Started,” or “Contact Us.” Don’t just add them—test them. Try one CTA for a month. If traffic isn’t converting, try a different one.
5. Confusing Or Outdated Content
Outdated content erodes trust fast. If your images, prices, or product details are from two years ago, customers will wonder what else is wrong.
Fix It:
Keep your most important content current. Focus on product descriptions, FAQs, team bios, and anything that affects customer trust. You don’t have to rewrite everything—just show that someone’s paying attention. (Your forgotten Tamagotchi may be dead, but your website doesn’t have to be.)
Conclusion
You don’t need to rebuild your entire website overnight. But fixing a few common issues can make a big difference.
These problems are widespread—and totally fixable. Don’t let a few avoidable mistakes turn visitors away. Tackle them one at a time, and turn your site into something you’re proud to send traffic to.
Want a quick website health check? Here’s a checklist you can use—or schedule a personalized, in depth website audit today!
