7 Deadly Website Mistakes That Are Costing You Money and Customers

Your probably already know how important it is to make a positive first impression. Have you considered what that means for your website? It's makes a first impression, whether you like it or not.

Is it a good one? Is it memorable? Does it connect with people and guarantee they will come back?

Your website can make or break that impression before a potential customer comes in direct contact with anyone in your organization. Your website has become the first point of contact with potential customers and, if poorly designed or lacking, can cost you new business.

I read a study by the Content Marketing Institute and they found that 61% of consumers leave a website if it's not mobile-friendly. 40% of consumers leave a website if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. This is a real wake-up call for any business owner who wants to remain competitive.

It's not just technical issues that drive customers away. If y our website has poor navigation, an outdated design, and a lack of trust signals and social proof, that too can turn customers away.

Let me take a closer look in this article on the 7 ways your website may be costing you real customers and money. By the end of this article, you'll have a better understanding of how to optimize your website to attract and retain customers, and how to stay ahead of the competition.

Deadly Mistaked #1 - Slow load times:  People do NOT tolerate waiting for a website to load. If it takes too long, they go elsewhere and that's likely to your competitor's website.

Check out tools like Google's PageSpeed Insights. You can use that to identify areas for improvement. If you have large image files, you can optimize images by compressing them. You can reduce their file size significantly. This improves page load times.

Consider reducing the number of plugins used on your website. I've looked over many customer websites as I start working with them and sometimes find as many as 50 plugins on a site. Most of the time they are not needed or are the results of many years without going through the plugin list to see if they are needed.

Deadly Mistake #2 - Poor navigation: If customers can't find what they're looking for on your website, they'll quickly become frustrated and leave. Make sure your website is easy to navigate and that your menu is clearly labeled. Use simple and intuitive layouts with contrasting colors for text and background. A search bar can also be useful for customers who know what they are looking for.

Deadly Mistake #3. Outdated design: A dated website design can make your business look unprofessional and out of touch. Your website design should be regularly updated for current trends and technologies to ensure it stays modern and engaging. Make sure that the design elements are consistent throughout the website and are easy to read on different devices.

Deadly Mistake #4. Lack of mobile optimization: With more and more people accessing the internet on their mobile devices, it's crucial that your website works well on mobile. This means having a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes, and making sure all of your images and videos are optimized for mobile as well. Use a mobile-responsive theme and make sure it works perfectly across the most used devices.

Deadly Mistake #5. No clear call-to-action: Your website should have a clear call-to-action that tells customers what they should do next. This could be a button to make a purchase, a form to fill out, or a phone number to call. Make sure that the call-to-action is prominently displayed and that it stands out from the rest of the website. Use action-oriented language and make it clear what the customer will get by taking the action.

Deadly Mistake #6. No trust signals: Trust signals such as customer testimonials, security badges, and money-back guarantees can help reassure customers that your business is legitimate and trustworthy. Use customer testimonials on the website, display badges from well-known security providers, and make sure your website is using SSL certificate.

Deadly Mistake #7. No social proof: Social proof, such as customer reviews and ratings, can be powerful tools for building trust and credibility. Make sure your website includes customer reviews and ratings, as well as links to your social media profiles. Encourage customers to leave reviews, and be sure to respond to negative reviews in a professional and constructive manner.

It's really important to regularly review and update your website to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of your customers. This could include adding new products or services, updating content, or making design changes to keep up with current trends.  It’s just as important to keep an eye on the metrics of your website, such as traffic, bounce rates, and conversion rates to understand how your website is performing and make necessary adjustments.

In today's competitive market, having a website that stands out from the crowd and provides a positive customer experience is more important than ever. Don't let a poor website cost you new customers. Take the time to optimize and update your website, and you'll be on your way to attracting and retaining customers for years to come.