Small businesses and personal websites often fall into the same traps. This guide expands on the recommendations from the video: 5 Research-Backed Web Design Mistakes and Fixes, helping you recognize and avoid these ongoing issues.
Misspellings and poor grammar.
This is not acceptable, especially when grammar checkers, spell-checkers, and AI assistants are built into most modern tools.
Slow loading.
A fast website is essential, as slow load times deter visitors. If your site takes longer than three seconds to load, most users will leave. Test your site’s speed regularly. If results are poor, consult a web developer to resolve any issues.
Broken links.
Dead links are one of the oldest mistakes. This happens when you click a link on your site that points to a “404, Not Found” page. Use this tool to see if your website has any broken links.
Coming soon and blank pages.
‘Coming Soon’ pages provide no value and frustrate visitors. Remove links to empty pages and instead describe what the site or page will be about. Consider adding a subscriber form so users can be notified when the site or page launches.
Leftover filler text.
This occurs when developers do not remove or replace the placeholder text included with templates. If you find “lorem ipsum” or other dummy text on your website, it must be removed. Check placeholder social media links as well, as templates may include non-functional URLs that should be updated or removed.
Programming error messages.
Error messages from coding issues that are unrelated to your website’s content indicate technical problems. Contact your developer to address these as soon as possible. Visible errors undermine trust and suggest your services may be unreliable.
Non-responsive, desktop-only websites.
Most websites today are designed for all devices, but some remain non-mobile-friendly. As of July 5th, 2024, Google no longer indexes non-mobile websites. If your site is not optimized for mobile, it can harm your reputation and imply neglect for your mobile audience.
Not Using Whitespace Properly.
Whitespace, or negative space, refers to the areas of a website left empty. Effective use of whitespace improves readability, balance, and memorability. Insufficient whitespace makes content hard to read. Apply whitespace deliberately to guide users and emphasize your message. Refer to minimalist designs for examples.
Inconsistent Branding.
Inconsistency in colors, fonts, and messaging is a common problem. A website should consistently reflect the brand identity. Mixing too many design elements confuses visitors and erodes trust. Consistent branding is vital for your website. Visitors should recognize your brand immediately through a unified visual approach.
Cookie Banner Overload.
Recent privacy regulations led to prominent cookie banners that disrupt the user experience and create mistrust. Since 2025, UX standards have evolved.
Consent requests should be clear, courteous, and non-intrusive. Users are aware of privacy issues; however, they dislike being blocked by repeated modals. Today’s best practice is to use lightweight banners with straightforward language that disappear once a choice is made.