Is Your Website Costing You Clients? The Top UX Mistakes to Avoid 

Your website is often the first interaction potential clients have with your business. But if it’s slow, confusing, or outdated, visitors may leave before they even explore your offerings. Poor user experience (UX) can lead to high bounce rates, lost leads, and lower conversions. In today’s digital landscape, a well-optimised website is essential to keeping users engaged and converting them into customers. 

At WebDev Brisbane, we specialise in web development, web design, and web hosting to ensure your website delivers a seamless user experience. 

In this blog, we’ll highlight the most common UX mistakes that could be costing you clients and provide actionable fixes to create a seamless user experience. 

Common UX Mistakes That Drive Clients Away 

1. Slow Page Load Speed 

Speed matters. Studies show that if a page takes longer than three seconds to load, 40% of users will leave. A slow website frustrates visitors and gives the impression of an unprofessional business. A one-second delay in load time can result in a 7% drop in conversions. That means for an e-commerce site making $10,000 per day, a single-second delay could cost $700 in lost revenue daily. 

How to Fix It: 

• Compress and optimise images. 

• Minimise HTTP requests and remove unnecessary scripts. 

• Enable browser caching. 

• Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN). 

• Choose a fast, reliable web hosting service. 

2. Complicated or Confusing Navigation 

If visitors can’t find what they’re looking for within seconds, they’ll leave. A cluttered, poorly structured menu leads to frustration and lost opportunities. Bad navigation discourages engagement and makes it less likely that users will complete desired actions, such as filling out a contact form or making a purchase. 

How to Fix It: 

• Keep navigation menus simple and intuitive. 

• Use clear, descriptive labels. 

• Limit the number of menu items to essential pages. 

• Ensure mobile-friendly navigation with easy-to-tap buttons. 

3. Non-Mobile-Friendly Design 

More than 50% of website traffic comes from mobile devices. A site that isn’t optimised for mobile will appear broken, difficult to navigate, and unprofessional. Google also prioritises mobile-friendly websites in search rankings. A poor mobile experience leads to higher bounce rates and fewer conversions. If users struggle to read content or click buttons, they will leave and visit a competitor’s site instead. 

How to Fix It: 

• Use responsive web design that adjusts to different screen sizes. 

• Test your website across multiple devices. 

• Ensure buttons and links are easy to tap. 

• Optimise images and text for readability on smaller screens. 

4. Poor Readability & Cluttered Design 

Websites overloaded with text, complex layouts, and hard-to-read fonts create a poor experience for visitors. Users should be able to scan content quickly and easily digest key information. Cluttered pages and difficult-to-read text discourage users from staying on your site, leading to lost engagement and lower conversion rates. 

How to Fix It: 

• Use clean, legible fonts. 

• Increase spacing and use bullet points for easy readability. 

• Keep paragraphs short and concise. 

• Maintain a balanced layout with ample white space. 

5. Lack of Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs) 

If visitors don’t know what action to take next, they won’t convert. Unclear or poorly placed CTAs mean lost leads and revenue. Websites without strong CTAs see lower engagement and fewer sales because users aren’t guided toward taking action. 

How to Fix It: 

• Use bold, action-oriented language in CTAs (e.g., “Get Your Free Quote,” “Start Now”). 

• Make CTAs stand out with contrasting colors and large buttons. 

• Place CTAs strategically throughout the website (above the fold, in blog posts, and at the end of pages). 

6. Annoying Pop-Ups & Auto-Playing Media 

Pop-ups and auto-playing videos can be intrusive and disrupt the browsing experience. If users feel bombarded with interruptions, they’ll leave. Poorly implemented pop-ups and loud auto-playing media can annoy visitors, leading to higher bounce rates and negative brand perception. 

How to Fix It: 

• Limit pop-ups to exit-intent or timed delays. 

• Ensure pop-ups are easy to close. 

• Disable auto-playing media or keep it muted by default. 

7. Unclear or Complicated Checkout Process (For E-Commerce) 

If your checkout process is too long, confusing, or requires too many steps, customers will abandon their carts. A long and complicated checkout process is a major reason for high cart abandonment rates, which means lost sales. 

How to Fix It: 

• Reduce the number of steps in the checkout process. 

• Offer guest checkout options. 

• Provide multiple payment options. 

• Display progress indicators to show users how close they are to completing their purchase. 

Your website’s UX plays a crucial role in determining whether visitors become loyal clients or leave for a competitor. Slow load speeds, confusing navigation, poor mobile design, and unclear CTAs can all drive potential customers away. 

By identifying and fixing these common UX mistakes, you can create a more seamless and enjoyable experience for your users—boosting engagement, conversions, and ultimately, revenue. 

If you’re unsure about your website’s UX, consider running a professional audit or reaching out to experts for optimisation support. A well-optimised site isn’t just good for business—it’s essential for growth in today’s digital landscape. 

At WebDev Brisbane, we provide expert web development services to help businesses improve user experience, optimise site performance, and increase conversions.