15 Website Design Mistakes That Are Costing You Readers

Website design mistakes cost you more than traffic—they cost you trust. Readers decide in seconds whether they’ll stick around. If your site still looks or acts like it’s from 2010, you’re not just turning them off—you’re sending them to someone else.

Here’s what you’re doing wrong. And exactly how to fix it.

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Why Website Design Mistakes Break Reader Trust

You could have the best book on the planet. But if your site is slow, hard to navigate, or feels outdated? You’ve already lost the reader.

Design isn’t just about looking good. It’s about removing friction, building credibility fast, and making sure your reader always knows what to do next.

According to HubSpot’s UX Design Trends, 88% of users won’t return after a bad experience.

That’s not just a bounce. That’s a reader you’ll never get back.

15 Website Design Mistakes That Are Driving Readers Away

1. Sliders That No One Clicks

Hero sliders waste space and slow your load time. One powerful static image beats a rotating carousel every time.

2. Pop-Ups Before You Say Hello

Give readers 30 seconds. Let them breathe before shoving your opt-in in their face.

3. Fonts From 2003

Comic Sans? Curls MT? No. Stick to clean, modern typefaces that support your brand—like Overpass, Bon Vivant Serif, or Gourmet Le French.

4. Slow Load Times

If your site takes longer than 3 seconds to load, you’ve already lost half your traffic. Run it through Google PageSpeed Insights right now.

5. Clashing Color Palettes

Loud, disjointed colors confuse the eye. Use a consistent palette. Need one? We’ve got you.

6. Generic Stock Photos

Readers want to see you. Your vibe. Your brand. Not the same model used in 30 other author sites.

7. Bloated Navigation Menus

You don’t need 12 tabs. Keep it under five core links.

8. Autoplay Anything

Music. Video. Anything that plays without consent is a red flag and a fast exit.

9. “Coming Soon” Pages That Never Came

Delete or update. An empty promise is worse than no page at all.

10. Walls of Text

Big blocks scare people off. Break it up. Use subheadings, spacing, and visuals to guide the eye.

11. Hidden Buttons

If your call-to-action isn’t bold, obvious, and repeated, it’s not working.

12. Overly Long Forms

Only ask what you need. The more fields, the more friction.

13. Excessive Animations

Movement should draw attention—not create chaos.

14. Keyword Stuffing

Irony, huh? Good SEO doesn’t mean repeating “website design mistakes” 50 times. Write for humans. Optimize with purpose.

15. Too Polished, No Personality

Readers don’t want perfect. They want real. Don’t hide behind generic “professional” design. Show your vibe.

What Readers Actually Want Instead

  • Fast load times
  • Clear navigation
  • Authentic visuals
  • Bold calls to action
  • A mobile-first experience
  • Content that feels like you

Quick Fixes You Can Make This Week

  • Replace your homepage slider with one bold image
  • Cut your nav to 5 links or fewer
  • Compress your images with TinyPNG
  • Use white space like it’s part of your design strategy (it is)
  • Add a clear CTA on every single page
  • Run your site through a mobile check — right now

Want Help Fixing These Website Design Mistakes?

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