Web Design Mistakes to Avoid for Better UX and Conversion
The internet doesn’t reward “pretty.” It rewards clarity, speed, and trust. Here’s a field guide to the mistakes that quietly kill conversions—and how to fix them fast.
Mistake #1 — Bloated Heroes that Tank LCP
Autoplay video backgrounds, 3MB hero images, and web font thrash are top reasons your Largest Contentful Paint misses target. If the hero is slow, the page “feels” slow.
Fix:
- Serve the hero via
srcset+sizes(AVIF/WEBP), under 180–220 KB on mobile. - Inline critical hero copy (HTML), lazy the decorative media, and preload only the one text face you need.
- Reserve space to avoid CLS: set explicit
width/heightor aspect via Tailwindaspect-*.
<img
src="/assets/images/hero-960.webp"
srcset="/assets/images/hero-480.webp 480w, /assets/images/hero-960.webp 960w, /assets/images/hero-1600.webp 1600w"
sizes="(max-width: 640px) 96vw, (max-width: 1024px) 90vw, 1200px"
alt="Your value proposition in one image"
width="1600" height="900" loading="eager" decoding="async"
class="w-full h-auto aspect-video object-cover rounded-xl" />Mistake #2 — Low Contrast and Sloppy Typography
Gray-on-gray might “look” modern, but it fails real users and WCAG. Long lines, tight leading, and all-caps everywhere add up to fatigue.
Fix:
- Body copy contrast ≥ 4.5:1; large text ≥ 3:1. Respect 60–75ch measure and 1.6–1.75 leading.
- Underline links by default and provide a visible focus ring—never remove outlines without replacement.
Mistake #3 — Navigation that Hides the Money
If users can’t find Services, Pricing, or Contact in one glance, they bail. Over-nested menus and clever labels betray the goal.
Fix:
- Primary nav: 5–7 items max. Use plain language (“Pricing”, not “Invest”).
- Expose “Contact” and a primary CTA. Add a “Skip to content” link for keyboards.
Mistake #4 — Vague or Competing CTAs
“Learn more” is not a conversion intent. Neither is stacking five CTAs in one viewport.
Fix:
- One primary CTA per section, verb + outcome: “Book a strategy call”.
- Pair with a low-friction secondary: “See pricing”.
<div class="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
<a href="/workwithus/" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-black bg-[#d4a856]
hover:bg-gradient-to-r hover:from-[#587b91] hover:to-[#d4a856] hover:text-white transition-all duration-200
focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-[#d4a856] min-h-[44px]">Book a Strategy Call</a>
<a href="/services/" class="inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-[#587b91] ring-1 ring-[#8b969a]
hover:ring-[#d4a856] hover:text-black transition-all duration-200 focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-[#d4a856]
min-h-[44px]">See Services</a>
</div>Mistake #5 — Popups that Hijack the Session
Entry popups, auto-playing chat, and newsletter gates kill intent and accessibility when they trap focus or block content.
Fix:
- Delay until engagement (e.g., 45–60s or 50% scroll). Provide Esc, overlay click, and visible close button.
- Use
aria-modal="true", focus trap, and return focus to the trigger on close.
Mistake #6 — Forms that Fight the User
Unlabeled fields, tiny targets, and cryptic errors erode trust. Mobile keyboards matter too.
Fix:
- Use real
<label>, helpful placeholders, and inline error text near the field. - Trigger the right keyboards:
type="email",inputmode="numeric", etc. - Min 44×44 px tap targets; clear success state and confirmation page.
<label for="email" class="block text-sm font-medium">Work email</label>
<input id="email" name="email" type="email" required
class="mt-1 w-full rounded-md border px-3 py-2 focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-[#d4a856]" />
<p id="email-error" class="mt-1 text-sm text-red-600 hidden">Enter a valid email.</p>Mistake #7 — Desktop-First Thinking
Most first visits are on mobile. Crowded navs, hover-only interactions, and tiny controls are silent revenue leaks.
Fix:
- Design from a 360–390px viewport up. Test with real thumbs and reach zones.
- Replace hover-only with explicit toggles. Keep critical actions above the fold.
Mistake #8 — Motion that Ignores the User
Parallax and scroll-jacking look fancy until someone gets motion sickness. Respect preferences.
html { scroll-behavior: smooth; }
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce){
* { animation: none !important; transition: none !important; scroll-behavior: auto; }
}Mistake #9 — Unoptimized Images and Icons
PNG logos, oversized hero shots, and icon fonts waste bandwidth and blur on high-DPR screens.
Fix:
- Prefer AVIF/WEBP with fallbacks. Use vector SVG for logos/icons; drop icon fonts.
- Lazy load non-critical media and set
fetchpriority="high"for the true hero only.
Mistake #10 — Third-Party Script Creep
Each widget adds network cost, privacy risk, and runtime jank.
Fix:
- Quarterly script audit. Remove unused pixels. Self-host where allowed. Defer/async everything that isn’t critical.
- Use a consent banner that actually blocks non-essential tags until opted-in.
Mistake #11 — Ignoring Empty, Error, and 404 States
Dead-end pages cost reputation. Guide the user back to value.
Fix:
- Empty states explain “why empty” + next step. 404s link to popular content, search, and contact.
Mistake #12 — Weak Trust Signals
No address, no team, no process, no reviews? Users assume you’re temporary.
Fix:
- Real photos, named author bylines, case studies, policies, and contact options that work.
- Keep metadata current: open graph, canonical, last-modified where relevant.
Owner’s QA Checklist
- LCP ≤ 2.5s on 4G; CLS ≤ 0.05; INP ≤ 200ms on key pages.
- Nav exposes Services, Pricing, Contact. One CTA per section.
- Body 60–75ch, contrast AA+, visible focus, skip link present.
- Images: AVIF/WEBP, explicit dimensions, lazy below the fold.
- 3rd-party audit: remove junk, async/defer, consent respected.
- Forms: labels, errors inline, correct keyboards, success page.
- States: empty, error, and 404 guide users back to value.
FAQs
What should I fix first if my site feels slow?
Start with the hero (LCP) and images. Compress, serve responsive formats, and minimize render-blocking fonts/scripts.
How many fonts are too many?
One text face + one display style is plenty. Variable fonts can cover both while reducing requests.
Are popups always bad?
No—time them to intent, implement accessible focus management, and make dismissal obvious.
