5 Common Website Mistakes—and How to Quickly Fix Them

Common website mistakes

Even the best websites can suffer from a few overlooked issues. The good news? Most of them are easy to identify and even easier to fix; no full redesign necessary.

Summer is the perfect time to do a light site audit. Here are five common problems we frequently see, along with simple solutions you can implement right away:

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1. No Clear Call-to-Action Above the Fold

When a visitor lands on your homepage or a key landing page, what do you want them to do next?

If your main call-to-action (CTA) isn’t immediately visible, you’re likely losing conversions. Your CT, whether it’s a button, a sign-up form, or a pop-up, should be prominent and persuasive the moment the page loads.

Tip: Choose one strong CTA per page and make sure it’s clearly placed “above the fold” (visible without scrolling).

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2. Misusing Heading Tags

It’s tempting to choose headings based on their appearance instead of their role in the content hierarchy, but this can create confusion for both users and search engines.

For example, jumping from an H2 to an H5 for style reasons can disrupt the flow, hinder accessibility, and negatively impact your SEO.

Tip: Use heading tags (H1–H6) in proper order to maintain a clear structure. If you want a paragraph or heading to appear differently, style it with CSS rather than breaking the semantic flow.

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3. Lack of White Space

A cluttered layout can make even the best content feel overwhelming. On the other hand, generous spacing between elements makes your website easier to read and more visually appealing.

Tip: Add padding and margin around text, images, and sections. Use consistent spacing rules to create a balanced, breathable layout that keeps users engaged.

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4. Overloaded Navigation Menus

When your navigation tries to do too much, it can become more of a hindrance than a help. Menus with too many items or multi-level dropdowns can frustrate visitors and bury important pages.

Tip: Keep top-level navigation limited to your most essential pages. Move less critical links to your footer or group them in dropdowns. For mobile, consider simplifying the menu even further.

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5. Poor Mobile Optimization

With mobile traffic often surpassing desktop, your site must deliver a seamless experience across all screen sizes. Tiny text, overlapping sections, or awkward layouts can drive users away fast.

Tip: Use responsive design tools to adjust spacing, font sizes, and layout based on device type. Test your site regularly on multiple screen sizes to ensure everything works smoothly.

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Final Thought

You don’t need a full redesign to make a meaningful impact. Tackling even one or two of these common issues can significantly improve user experience and performance. Regularly revisiting your site with a fresh set of eyes can help you catch small problems before they become big ones.

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Need help identifying and fixing these issues on your site? Our team is here to help.

Don’t feel like tackling this alone? Let’s do it together and book a WordPress Website Workout.

Or book a half-hour WordPress Support Session. In practice, this proves to be a very efficient way to get you started.