The 5 Biggest Website Planning Mistakes Business Owners Make
Building a website for your business? It’s exciting—but also a little overwhelming. There’s so much advice out there, and it’s easy to get caught up in the design and tech without laying the right foundation. If you want a website that actually helps your business grow (instead of just sitting there looking pretty), you need to avoid these five major website planning mistakes. Let’s dive in.
1. Not Defining Your Website’s Goals
One of the biggest website planning mistakes business owners make is jumping straight into design without a clear purpose. A website isn’t just something you “should” have—it needs to serve a specific function for your business.
Ask yourself: What do I actually want my website to do?
Is it to book more appointments?
Sell products?
Build an email list?
Show off your portfolio?
If you don’t define this from the start, your website will feel scattered, and visitors won’t know what to do next. Think of your website as an employee—what’s its job? Once you know that, you can design everything around that goal.
2. Not Knowing Your Ideal Client
Your website isn’t for you—it’s for your audience. But if you’re not crystal clear on who that is, your site will try to speak to everyone and end up connecting with no one.
Your website copy, design, and images should all speak directly to your ideal client. That means:
Using words they relate to (not just industry jargon).
Showing images that resonate with them.
Making the layout easy for them to navigate.
If you’re not sure who your ideal client is, take some time to define them. The better you understand them, the better your website will convert visitors into customers.
3. Ignoring User Experience (UX)
A beautiful website doesn’t mean much if it’s frustrating to use. If visitors can’t figure out where to go or what to do, they’ll leave within seconds.
Key things to focus on for good UX:
Navigation: Make it easy for visitors to find what they need.
Speed: A slow website will drive people away.
Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs): Tell visitors exactly what you want them to do (Book a call, Buy now, Sign up, etc.).
Your homepage should make it instantly clear who you help and how. The main button or CTA should lead them straight to the next step—whether that’s booking a call, signing up, or making a purchase.
4. Trying to Do Everything Yourself
Look, I get it—DIYing your website feels like a money-saver. But if you’re spending hours wrestling with tech, second-guessing design choices, and trying to make everything “perfect,” you’re probably losing more in time and missed opportunities than if you just hired a pro.
A good website expert will:
Make sure your site actually works (no broken links, slow pages, or weird layouts).
Optimize it for search engines (so people can find you).
Create a design that reflects your brand and speaks to your audience.
Investing in professional help doesn’t just save time—it makes sure your website actually does its job.
5. Forgetting About Mobile Users
More than half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site only looks good on a laptop, you’re losing customers.
Common mobile mistakes include:
Tiny text that’s hard to read.
Buttons that are too small to tap.
Images that don’t resize properly.
Your website should be fully responsive, meaning it automatically adjusts to look great on any device. Always check how your site looks on a phone—because that’s where a lot of your visitors will see it first.
Ready to Get Your Website Working for You?
Now that you know the five biggest mistakes that could be stopping your website from attracting and converting your ideal clients, you don’t have to keep making them.
I want to help you build a website that actually works—one that doesn’t just look good but also attracts and connects with the right people.
That’s why I’m inviting you to check out my free webinar where I walk you through how to plan, design, and optimize a website that works for you.
📅 Join me for From overwhelmed to website ready and learn exactly what to do before you build your website!
I’ll be sharing the essential steps to take before you start building, so you can create a site that’s not only beautiful but also strategic and effective.