5 common website mistakes that drive people away (and how to fix them)

Your website might look the part, but is it doing its job?

It is easy to focus on design and forget about the small details that shape how visitors actually experience your site. And if those details are not right, people will quietly click away before you have had a chance to connect with them.

Here are five common website mistakes we often see and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Confusing navigation

If people cannot find what they are looking for quickly, they will not stick around. Overcomplicated menus, unclear page names, or too many options can leave visitors feeling lost.

How to fix it: Keep your navigation clear and simple. Use familiar terms and group similar pages together. Prioritise the key actions you want people to take.

2. No clear call to action

Every page on your website should answer one question: what do you want your visitor to do next? Whether it is making a donation, signing up to a newsletter, or getting in touch, make sure the next step is obvious.

How to fix it: Use clear, friendly calls to action. Buttons should stand out visually and use active language like Get started, Join us, or Find out more.

3. Slow load speed

People will not wait around for a slow website, and search engines will not love it either. Large images, too many plugins, or messy code can all drag your site down.

How to fix it: Optimise your images, limit unnecessary plugins, and check your site speed regularly using free tools like PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.

4. Poor mobile experience

More than half of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. If your site is hard to use on a phone — tiny text, fiddly menus, awkward forms — you will lose visitors fast.

How to fix it: Make sure your website is fully responsive. Test it on different devices and screen sizes. Keep layouts clean and simple.

5. Overcomplicated language or unclear messaging

You know your organisation inside out but your visitors might not. If your website is full of jargon, or if it is not clear who you help and how, people will quickly lose interest.

How to fix it: Write like a person, not a press release. Use straightforward language. Focus on how you help and why it matters.

Final thought

These are simple fixes, but they make a real difference to how well your website works. If you are not sure whether your site is doing its job, we are always happy to chat about how to make it better.

Photo: Andrea Piacquadio