Your website often gives potential customers the first impression of your business. If it’s not user-friendly, clear, and engaging, you could drive visitors away without realizing it.
At Dogwood, we see website mistakes—some small, some big, but all of them can cost you customers. So, I contacted our development team to discover the most common issues they see when working on websites. Here’s what they had to say—along with practical ways to fix these problems before they impact your business.
1. Outdated Content & Broken Links
“Old content / not keeping the site updated.”
– Brett Watkins, Web Developer at Dogwood
A neglected website sends the wrong message. Visitors may assume your business is inactive if they see outdated blog posts, expired promotions, or broken links.
Fix It:
- Regularly update your blog, news, and service pages.
- Run a broken link check (using Google Search Console or a plugin).
- Keep product descriptions, pricing, and FAQs up to date.
2. Poor Website Design & Slow Load Times Drive Customers Away
“A company’s website serves as its digital footprint or profile, offering a first impression to potential clients. Just like a messy office can create a negative vibe, a disorganized or cluttered website can leave visitors with a poor perception of your business.”
– Zoyace Shrestha, Website Developer at Dogwood
In today’s fast-paced world, people expect instant access to information. Visitors will quickly lose interest and move on to a competitor if a website is cluttered, slow, or difficult to navigate.
“I had a personal experience that highlighted this for me. I needed a rental car but didn’t have one at the time. I visited a rental company’s website to book a car, but it took forever to load and was difficult to navigate. Frustrated, I abandoned the site and chose another company instead.”
This story illustrates how poor website design and performance can cost business customers.
Fix It:
- Optimize your website for fast loading speeds (compress images, use a reliable hosting provider like Dogwood, and enable caching).
- Keep the layout clean and easy to navigate—too many options or a cluttered design overwhelms visitors.
- Ensure your call-to-action buttons are obvious and guide visitors toward their next step.
3. No Contact Page (or Making It Hard to Get in Touch)
“No contact pages / not making it easy for users to contact your business.”
– Brett Watkins
If potential customers can’t find your contact information, they may assume you don’t want their business.
Fix It:
- Place your contact info in the header or footer.
- Ensure your contact page is prominent in the main navigation.
- Offer multiple ways to connect—phone, email, live chat, or a simple form.
4. Outdated or Deprecated Plugins
“Fixing any deprecated plugins. That would include plugins that are no longer maintained or are no longer compatible with the newest versions of PHP & WordPress.”
– Jesse Jones, Website Developer at Dogwood
Many websites rely on plugins for added functionality, but outdated or unsupported plugins can slow down your site, cause errors, and create security vulnerabilities.
Fix It:
- Regularly audit and update your plugins.
- Remove plugins that are no longer maintained or incompatible with your website.
- Consider replacing outdated plugins with better-supported alternatives.
5. Bad Search Functionality
“Bad search functionality.”
– Brett Watkins
If your website has a search bar, it should help users find what they need. A poorly optimized search function frustrates visitors and drives them away.
Fix It:
- Make sure your search bar is easy to find.
- Optimize search results to display relevant content.
- Consider adding an autocomplete feature.
6. Poor Navigation & Missing Key Information
“Poor navigation or not highlighting the most frequently accessed things seems to be a common occurrence we address in our redesigns.”
– John Furr, Director of Technology at Dogwood
If visitors can’t find key information quickly, they’ll leave. Whether it’s services, pricing, or contact details, businesses must ensure their most valuable pages are easily accessible.
Fix It:
- Simplify your menu structure and keep it intuitive.
- Ensure contact details, pricing, and services are easy to find.
- Use a sticky navigation bar so users don’t have to scroll endlessly.
7. Text Links That Don’t Look Clickable
“Text links that are not easily identifiable as clickable.”
– Brett Watkins
If users can’t immediately tell what’s clickable, they’ll struggle to navigate your site efficiently.
Fix It:
- Use a different color and underline for links.
- Ensure buttons look like buttons (with clear contrast and hover effects).
- Avoid using colors that blend with the background.
8. Insecure Domains (SSL Issues & Mixed Content)
“I’d also say to fix anything concerning an insecure domain. Whether it’s a bad certificate or HTTP images, anything like that can cause both Chrome & interested site visitors to avoid you like the plague.”
– Jesse Jones
If your website isn’t secure, browsers like Chrome warn visitors that your site isn’t safe. This destroys trust and can cause potential customers to leave before seeing your content.
Fix It:
- Ensure your site has a valid SSL certificate to display HTTPS instead of HTTP.
- Check for mixed content errors (HTTP images, scripts, or files on an HTTPS site) and update links accordingly.
- Use SSL testing tools to verify your certificate is working correctly.
9. Color Contrast Issues (Especially on Buttons)
“Color contrast issues. Especially on buttons.”
– Brett Watkins
Low contrast makes text hard to read, frustrating visitors and reducing conversions.
Fix It:
- Use high-contrast colors for buttons and text.
- Test contrast using the WebAIM Contrast Checker.
- Avoid placing text over busy background images.
Final Thoughts
Your website should work for you—not against you. If visitors struggle to navigate, find information, or trust your security, they’ll leave and might not return.
What Should You Fix First?
If you don’t know where to start, our team suggests focusing on:
- Fixing outdated or slow-loading elements that frustrate visitors.
- Ensuring your domain is secure (HTTPS with no mixed content errors).
- Improving navigation so users can find what they need instantly.
By addressing these common mistakes, you’ll create a seamless, professional, and trustworthy online experience that keeps visitors engaged and converts them into customers.
Need Help Fixing These Issues?
Dogwood specializes in website audits, redesigns, and maintenance to ensure your site performs at its best. Reach out today to see how we can help improve your website and boost your business!
