Let’s be honest — your website is more than just a digital business card. It’s your best salesperson, your first impression, and sometimes your only shot at turning a visitor into a paying client.

But what if your website is quietly pushing people away?

If you’re getting traffic but not conversions, there’s a good chance your site is guilty of one (or more) of these common mistakes. The good news? They’re all fixable.

Here are the top 5 website mistakes that could be costing you clients — and how to fix them today.

1. It’s Not Clear What You Do (Within 3 Seconds)

The mistake:
Your homepage is full of buzzwords, vague taglines, or artsy design… but nowhere does it clearly say what you actually do and who you do it for.

Why it hurts:
People don’t read websites — they scan them. If they can’t instantly understand if you solve their problem, they bounce.

The fix:
Add a clear headline near the top of your homepage that says:

“I help [who] do/achieve [what], so they can [benefit].”

Example:

“I design strategic websites for women-led brands that want to convert visitors into clients.”

2. There’s No Clear Call to Action (CTA)

The mistake:
You’ve got a beautiful site… but visitors don’t know what to do next. Should they contact you? Book a call? Browse services?

Why it hurts:
Without a clear next step, your potential client will get distracted and move on — even if they were interested.

The fix:
Pick ONE primary CTA and repeat it throughout the site. Use buttons like:

• “Book a Free Discovery Call”
• “Get a Quote”
• “Start Your Project”

Pro tip: Put a CTA button in your site header so it’s visible on every page.

3. Your Website Is Slow or Not Mobile-Friendly

The mistake:
Your site takes forever to load or looks messy on phones and tablets.

Why it hurts:
More than half of all website visits happen on mobile. A slow, glitchy site = instant loss of trust (and business).

The fix:

• Use tools like PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to check your speed.
• Compress images and avoid heavy themes or bloated plugins.
• Make sure your site is responsive — it should look great on any screen.

4. Your Design Looks Outdated or DIY’d

The mistake:
Your website looks like it was built in 2014 — or worse, in Wix with Comic Sans and mismatched colors.

Why it hurts:
Even if your service is amazing, people judge your credibility based on design. A dated look can make you seem less professional or experienced.

The fix:
Invest in a modern, strategic design that aligns with your brand — or work with a designer (hi 👋🏼) who can do it for you. Clean layout, strong fonts, plenty of white space. Less is more.

5. You’re Talking About Yourself, Not the Client

The mistake:
Your website is full of “I” and “we” statements, with little mention of the client’s problems or needs.

Why it hurts:
Clients want to know how YOU can help THEM. If the copy doesn’t speak to their pain points, they’ll move on.

The fix:
Shift the focus to your ideal client. Use language like:

• “You’re here because…”
• “We help you [solve problem] so you can [achieve result].”

Make your site less of a résumé and more of a solution.

Final Thoughts

Your website should work for you — attracting the right people, building trust, and converting visitors into inquiries or sales. If you’re guilty of any of these 5 mistakes, you’re not alone. Most business owners are too close to their brand to see them clearly.

But once you fix these things? You’ll be amazed at how much more your website starts working for you — even while you sleep.