WEB DESIGN
7 Web Design Mistakes That Could Be Costing You Clients
A well-designed website can be your best salesperson. But a poor one? It could be driving potential customers away. Here are 7 common web design mistakes we see (and how to fix them).
By Owen Hollier
Founder, Kiwi Creative
03 Sept 2026
Quick Read
Your website is often the first interaction a potential customer has with your business. Before they call you, message you or request a quote, they’re likely to look you up online.
And in a matter of seconds, they’re deciding whether they trust you.
A modern website isn’t just about looking good. It needs to communicate what you do, build credibility and make it incredibly easy for the right people to take the next step.
At Kiwi Creative, we see the same mistakes again and again — businesses with great services, but websites that aren't doing them justice.
Here are 7 web design mistakes that could be costing you clients — and what you can do instead.
01.
A Cluttered, Confusing Layout
Your website has seconds to make a good first impression. If visitors are faced with too much text, too many colours, confusing navigation or information everywhere they look, they’ll struggle to understand what you actually do.
Fix It: Keep it simple. Remove unnecessary elements, use clear headings and give every section a purpose. Your visitors should know where to look and what to do next.
02.
Not Optimised for Mobile
More and more people are browsing websites from their phones. If your website looks great on a desktop but feels awkward, cramped or difficult to navigate on mobile, you could be losing potential customers before they even see what you offer.
Fix It: Design for mobile as well as desktop. Buttons should be easy to tap, text should be readable and every section should adapt naturally to smaller screens.
03.
Slow Loading Speed
Nobody likes waiting for a website to load. A slow website creates frustration, increases the chance of visitors leaving and can make your business appear less professional.
Large images, unnecessary animations, bloated code and poor hosting can all contribute to slow loading times.
Fix It: Design for mobile as well as desktop. Buttons should be easy to tap, text should be readable and every section should adapt naturally to smaller screens.
04.
Your Website Doesn't Clearly Say What You Do
One of the biggest mistakes we see is businesses making visitors work out what they actually offer.
If someone lands on your homepage and can't immediately understand what you do, who you help and why they should choose you, there's a good chance they'll leave.
Fix It: Make your message obvious. Your headline should communicate your value quickly, while the rest of the page should support that message with clear information, proof and calls to action.
06.
No Trust or Social Proof
People are naturally cautious about spending money with a business they don't know. A website full of claims about how good you are isn't always enough to convince them.
Your potential customers want to see evidence.
Fix It: Show them. Add testimonials, reviews, case studies, client logos, results, qualifications, accreditations or examples of your work. The more credible proof you can provide, the easier it becomes for someone to trust you.
07.
Treating Your Website as a One-Off Project
Launching your website shouldn't be the end of the process.
Your business changes. Your customers change. Your competitors change. And the way people search online changes too.
A website that was effective two or three years ago might not be performing nearly as well today.