Your website is often the first place potential customers learn about your business. If it’s slow, confusing, or hard to use, they may leave before learning what you offer.
At Forge Apollo, we use our experience in Philadelphia web design to help businesses build user-friendly websites that support their goals. We also see many businesses across the Philadelphia area make the same common website mistakes. The good news is that most of these mistakes are easy to fix.
Here are some of the most common website mistakes we see Philadelphia businesses make and how you can fix them.
Trying to Say Too Much
Your website should tell visitors what you do, but that does not mean every detail needs to be on the homepage.
Long blocks of text, too many menu options, and crowded pages can make it difficult for visitors to find what they need. Instead of trying to explain everything at once, focus each page on a clear purpose.
When we redesigned DaSTOR’s website, we focused on keeping the content clear and easy to scan. Shorter sections and concise messaging help visitors find the information they need without having to read through large blocks of text.
The fix: Start with the most important information. Make it clear who you help, what you offer, and what visitors should do next. Use headings, short paragraphs, and calls to action to make your content easy to scan.
Overlooking the Mobile Experience
A website might look great on a desktop but fall apart on a phone. Text can be too small, buttons can be difficult to tap, and images may not display correctly.
With so many people browsing on their phones, a mobile-friendly website is an important part of a successful site.
The fix: As part of our website QA process, we test your site across different screen sizes before launch to ensure it looks and works as it should on every device. Make sure the text is easy to read, the navigation is simple, the buttons are easy to tap, and important information does not get buried.
Building a Slow Website
People do not want to wait around for a website to load. Large images, unnecessary animations, outdated plugins, and messy code can all slow down your site. In fact, 38% of users will leave a page if it takes five seconds to load.
A slow website can hurt the user experience and make it harder for potential customers to stick around.
The fix: We look at website performance throughout the development process, not just before launch. Our team optimizes images and other media, removes features that can slow down your site, keeps plugins and website technology up to date, and tests page speed as part of our QA process. This helps make sure your website loads quickly and gives visitors a better experience.
Making Navigation Complicated
Have you ever visited a website and had no idea where to click? Your customers should not have the same experience.
If visitors have to hunt through multiple menus to find your services, contact information, or other important information, they may give up.
Too many options can make it harder to find what you need.
The fix: Keep your main navigation simple. Use familiar labels and organize related information together so visitors can quickly find what they need without digging through your site. For example, SRFFCU has a clear, organized navigation that makes it easy to move between key areas of the site without feeling overwhelmed.
Forgetting About SEO
A beautiful website does little good if potential customers can’t find it.
Some businesses focus heavily on design and forget about search engine optimization. Without relevant keywords, useful content, clear page structures, and other SEO basics, your website may struggle to appear in search results or AI-powered searches.
The fix: Our approach is to build SEO and AI visibility into your website from the start. We research what your customers are searching for and use those terms naturally throughout your pages. We also give each page a clear title, heading structure, and purpose.
Using Generic or Outdated Content
Your website should give visitors a reason to choose your business. Generic statements like “We are committed to excellence” do not tell them much.
Outdated information can cause even bigger problems. Old services, incorrect contact information, or outdated team photos can make your business look less active than it really is.
Website Content That Connects
|
Do This ✅ |
Not That ❌ |
|
Keep your dog clean, comfortable, and looking their best with grooming tailored to their coat and needs. |
We provide innovative solutions for businesses of all sizes. |
|
Book a grooming appointment that works for your schedule, with gentle care from a team your pet can trust. |
We are committed to providing the highest level of service to our customers. |
|
From baths and nail trims to full haircuts, we make grooming simple for you and comfortable for your pet. |
Our experienced team is dedicated to delivering exceptional service. |
The fix: Review your website regularly. Update your services, team information, images, case studies, and other important content. Write copy that focuses on your customers and explains how you can help them.
Forgetting the Call to Action
What do you want visitors to do after they land on your website?
If the answer is unclear, they may simply leave.
Every important page should guide visitors toward the next step, whether that means requesting a quote, scheduling a consultation, calling your business, or learning more about a service.
This landscaping website lacks clear calls to action on the homepage, making it unclear what the user should do next.
The fix: Add clear calls to action throughout your website, as we did for Suburban Lawn and Landscaping. Make them specific and easy to find without overwhelming visitors with too many options.
Treating Your Website as a One-Time Project
Launching your website is not the end of the process. Your business will change, your customers’ needs will change, and technology will change.
A website that worked well five years ago may not work as well today.
The fix: Think of your website as an ongoing marketing tool. Review its performance, update content, test important pages, and make improvements as your business grows. That’s why we offer ongoing website retainers to help keep your site working for your business over time.
Build a Website That Works for Your Business
Avoiding common website mistakes comes down to more than making your website look good. Your website needs to be easy to use, fast, mobile-friendly, search-friendly, and built around your customers. Whether you need a brand-new website or a few improvements to your existing one, our Philadelphia-area web design team is here to help.
Ready to improve your website? Contact Forge Apollo for web design in Delaware County.
