Is your website driving away potential customers? Avoid these common bad website design mistakes

What makes a website design 'bad'?

Bad website design boils down to one thing: creating a frustrating user experience. Common pitfalls include difficult navigation, cluttered layouts, poor color choices, lack of mobile responsiveness, slow load times, and ineffective CTAs. Inconsistent use of fonts and color schemes across a website leads to a chaotic user experience. These issues don’t just annoy users—they actively drive them away. Most users are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience.

Difficult navigation or poor navigation

For instance, difficult navigation is a major red flag. When menus are poorly structured or key links are missing, users can quickly become frustrated and leave the site. A carefully planned navigation hierarchy, coupled with regular maintenance to fix broken links, can make all the difference.

Color scheme

Color choices also play a significant role. Overusing colors or selecting clashing palettes can overwhelm users and diminish your site’s professionalism. By sticking to a cohesive color scheme of three to four colors that align with your brand, and understanding the psychology behind those colors, you can create a visually appealing experience.

Mobile responsiveness

Another critical area is mobile responsiveness. With the majority of web traffic coming from mobile devices, sites that don’t adapt to smaller screens risk alienating half their audience. Tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test and frameworks like Bootstrap can ensure a seamless experience for all users.

Load time

Additionally, slow load times are a frequent offender. Large, unoptimized images and bloated code can push users away, as most expect pages to load in two seconds or less. Low quality images also contribute to a poor user experience, making the site look outdated and unprofessional. Simple tweaks, like compressing images and leveraging CDNs, can significantly improve performance.

Cluttered pages

Cluttered pages are another common issue. Sites crammed with excessive text, images, or widgets can feel chaotic. Using white space and organizing content into scannable sections can keep users engaged. Similarly, ineffective CTAs that blend into the design or fail to inspire action can hurt conversions. Bold, action-oriented CTAs with contrasting colors and clear placement can turn that around.

Inconsistent Typography

Don’t underestimate the importance of typography. Fonts that are hard to read—whether too decorative or too small—can make content inaccessible. Using too many different fonts can lead to a disjointed and inconsistent design, disrupting the user's experience. Stick with legible, professional fonts like Sans Serif, and ensure body text is large enough to be read comfortably.

By addressing these common mistakes, your website can transform from a frustrating experience into one that users enjoy and trust. An outdated design can also negatively impact user perception, making your site seem less credible and less appealing.

Curious to learn more about common website design mistakes and how to fix them? Take a look at our guide: What Makes a Website Bad: 15 Examples & Crucial Mistakes. It’s full of practical examples and tips to help you improve your site’s design.

How to identify and fix bad website design elements

It’s easy to overlook design flaws when you’re managing a website daily, but visitors notice them immediately. Poor website design can lead to a poor user experience, frustrating users and lowering engagement. A poorly designed website can drive users away and hurt your credibility. Evaluating and improving your site design is crucial. Here are key steps to identify and address common website design issues:

Run usability tests to identify poor user experience

Usability testing provides valuable insights into how real users interact with your website. Tools like Hotjar or Crazy Egg allow you to track user behavior through heatmaps, session recordings, and click patterns. These tools reveal problem areas, such as confusing navigation, overlooked CTAs, or sections of your site where users drop off.

By understanding how users experience your site, you can pinpoint areas that need improvement—whether it’s simplifying the layout, reorganizing menus, or making CTAs more visible and engaging. For example, evaluating the design and functionality of the search bar can significantly impact user experience, as a poorly designed search bar can confuse users and contribute to an outdated and cluttered layout.

Analyze bounce rates

Bounce rates, which measure the percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing just one page, can be a strong indicator of design problems. High bounce rates often mean users aren’t finding what they’re looking for or feel disconnected from the site’s visual or functional appeal. The structure and layout of a web page can significantly impact user engagement, influencing whether visitors stay or leave.

Check your bounce rate metrics in Google Analytics and pay special attention to key landing pages. A poorly designed page can deter users even if they’ve landed there through compelling marketing or SEO efforts. Look for factors like disorganized content, overwhelming visuals, or irrelevant page content that might push visitors away.

Review site responsiveness

With more than half of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, having a responsive design is essential. A responsive site adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes, ensuring that visitors on smartphones, tablets, and desktops all have a smooth experience.

You can check your site’s responsiveness with tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test. Look out for common issues such as oversized images, unresponsive buttons, or text that’s difficult to read on smaller screens.

The Internet Archive Wayback Machine can be used to evaluate past design changes and understand how your site has evolved over time. Responsiveness not only improves user experience but also boosts your site’s SEO ranking.

Gather user feedback

Sometimes the best way to uncover design issues is to go straight to the source—your users. Tools like surveys, feedback forms, and user interviews can provide direct insights into what’s working and what’s frustrating for your audience.

Ask questions like:

• “Was it easy to find what you were looking for?”
• “What part of the site felt confusing or cluttered?”
• “What would you change to improve your experience?”

Recurring feedback often highlights areas needing immediate attention, such as navigation challenges, slow load times, or unclear calls to action. Listening to your users gives you a clear roadmap for making targeted improvements that genuinely enhance the experience.By taking these steps, you can identify weak points in your website design and make meaningful changes to ensure a smoother, more engaging experience for your audience. Remember, the goal isn’t just a better-looking website—it’s a site that meets user needs, keeps them engaged, and supports your business goals.Why good website design is crucialA website is more than just an online presence—it’s the face of your brand, your digital storefront, and often the first point of contact for potential customers. A great design isn’t just about looking good; it’s about creating an experience that drives trust, engagement, and results. Let’s break down why website design matters so much:

Credibility and first impressionsDid you know users form an opinion about your website in just 0.05 seconds? That’s faster than the blink of an eye! Your site’s design is the very first thing they’ll notice, and if it feels outdated, cluttered, or poorly structured, they’re likely to click away without a second thought. Think of your website as your virtual handshake. A sleek, professional design instantly communicates that your business is trustworthy and credible. On the other hand, a bad design—poor color schemes and overwhelming text blocks, can severely impact user perception, making even niche sites hard to navigate and less appealing.Pro tip: Invest in consistent branding (colors, fonts, logo) and prioritize a clean, easy-to-navigate layout. This establishes trust and keeps visitors engaged.Higher conversion ratesGood design isn’t just pretty; it’s strategic. A thoughtfully designed website acts like a guide, subtly leading visitors to take action—whether that’s signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase, or booking a consultation.Elements like intuitive navigation, eye-catching visuals, and prominent calls-to-action (CTAs) make it easy for users to interact with your site. When the design feels seamless, users are more likely to follow through with the actions you want them to take.For example:

• Before: A cluttered landing page with confusing buttons and too much text.
• After: A minimalist layout with a bold CTA like "Start Your Free Trial" right above the fold.

The result? Fewer distractions and a clear path to conversion.SEO and performance benefitsSearch engines like Google don’t just rank websites based on content—they also factor in design and usability. Google favors sites that are:

• Fast-loading (because nobody likes waiting for a page to load).
• Mobile-responsive (since over half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices).
• Easy to navigate (because a better user experience means lower bounce rates).

A well-designed website checks all these boxes, helping you climb search engine rankings while keeping visitors engaged. Plus, with proper design practices like optimized images and clean coding, your site runs faster and performs better, improving user satisfaction.User retention and engagementHave you ever stayed on a website simply because it was pleasant to use? That’s the power of good design. A combination of attractive visuals, logical layouts, and smooth functionality can keep users on your site longer, exploring what you have to offer.

When your website is easy to navigate and visually appealing, it encourages users to interact with your content—whether it’s reading a blog, scrolling through your product gallery, or sharing a page on social media. The longer they stay, the more likely they are to return. Poorly designed websites with cluttered layouts and poor navigation can frustrate users, leading them to leave quickly and reducing overall engagement.Key Features to Prioritize for Retention:

• White Space: Gives the content room to breathe and prevents visual overwhelm.
• Readable Fonts: Make sure text is clear, professional, and appropriately sized.
• Interactive Elements: Include engaging features like animations, hover effects, or interactive infographics.

Key takeaways

• A bad website design can hurt your credibility and push users away, while a well-designed site keeps them engaged and builds trust. The worst websites often suffer from outdated visuals, ineffective navigation, and overall lack of functionality, severely impacting user engagement and credibility.
• Issues like clunky navigation, slow load times, and unresponsive layouts are common but fixable with the right strategies and tools.
• Great website design isn’t just about looks—it’s about creating a seamless experience that drives results and supports your business goals.

Good design is a blend of art and science. Investing in quality design is more than worth it—it’s essential for thriving in today’s digital landscape.If your website could use a little love, don’t sweat it. Small improvements can make a big difference. Visit Stan + Vision to explore how our expert team can help you create a site that not only looks great but also meets the needs of your audience and business goals.