You want to build your own website – I get it! Of course, as someone who has been designing websites for nearly 25 years, I recommend working with a designer. But, I also understand the DIY mentality – after all, that’s what got me started! I also know budget has a part to play in it too.
Before you start working on your new website, I want to talk about some of the things you might not be aware of that are important to consider. The truth is, a poorly built website can send potential straight to your competitors.
Many of my clients have come to me after building their own website, after realizing it’s not bringing business the way they’d hoped. When I look their DIY site over, I can usually see some big issues. So, in this post I’ll go over some of the most common mistakes I see, and how you can avoid them.
1. Ignoring Mobile Users
If your website only looks good on a desktop, you’re in trouble. Over 60% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices. A site that’s not mobile-friendly will have visitors getting frustrated and moving on to that competitor – you know, the one who always seems to have an edge over you.
Pro Tips:
Choose a responsive design template or platform that automatically adjusts to different screen sizes. My choice is WordPress, using the Divi theme from Elegant Themes.
Check your design on various devices. As you’re designing, have your phone and/or tablet handy so you can check how things look on those devices as well. You can also use the Mobile Responsive Test Tool.
2. Complicated or Clunky Navigation
Visitors shouldn’t feel like they’re on a scavenger hunt trying to find what they’re looking for. Overly complex menus, too many subcategories, or weird labels like “Fun Stuff” instead of “Products” confuse people. And confused people leave.
Pro Tips: Keep your menu simple and intuitive. Stick to clear, recognizable terms like “About Us,” “Services,” and “Contact.” Limit your top-level menu to about 7 items at the most.
3. Not Paying Attention to Speed
The Internet has made us all very impatient. We want websites to load FAST. Studies show that people abandon websites that take more than 3 seconds to load. Large image files, too many plugins, and bloated code can bring your website to a crawl.
Pro Tips:
Optimize images before uploading, use modern file formats like WebP, limit animations, and choose a fast, reliable hosting provider. Run speed tests with Google PageSpeed Insights regularly.
If you’re using WordPress, a plugin like WP Rocket can make your website considerably faster. Plus, you can install their image tool, Imagify, to optimize your photos and other images.
4. Inconsistent Branding
A website with mismatched fonts, random colors, and off-brand imagery feels sloppy and untrustworthy. If your homepage looks friendly and inviting but your service pages are boring and cold, visitors may not stick around to figure you out.
Pro Tip:
Create a simple brand style guide. Choose a color palette (no more than 3–4 main colors), stick to 1–2 fonts, and use a consistent logo and photo style throughout your site.
5. Forgetting About SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Your website might look great, but if Google can’t find it, no one else will either. Many DIYers skip this critical step, and it costs them visibility.
Pro Tip:
Start with keyword research to know what your ideal customers are searching for. Optimize titles, headings, meta descriptions, and image alt text. Keep URLs clean and descriptive (e.g., yourwebsite.com/pet-sitting-services instead of yourwebsite.com/page123).
6. No Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
You’ve got visitors. Great! Now what? If you don’t guide them to take the next step, they’ll wander off (usually to another business).
Pro Tip:
Use clear, action-driven CTAs like “Book Your Dog’s Pet Sitter Now”, “Get a Free Quote”, “Sign Up for Our Newsletter”, or “Call Today”. Make your CTA buttons stand out visually and place them throughout your website, not just on the homepage.
7. Adding Too Much Information
In the excitement to share everything, some DIYers want to share everything about them and their business. This includes endless photos, pop-ups, and auto-play videos. This can backfire big time! Instead of people reading all that text or scrolling through the photos, there they go . . . off to your competitor!
Pro Tip:
Keep it clean. Use headings, bullet points, and white space to break up content. Focus on what’s essential. Less really is more when it comes to good web design.
8. Skipping Regular Maintenance or Updates
Launching your site is not the final goal. Neglected websites accumulate broken links, outdated info, and security holes. A competitor with a polished, up-to-date site will look far more professional – to Google and potential customers.
Pro Tip:
Check your site monthly for broken links, expired offers, outdated images, and plugin or software updates. Make ongoing updates part of your business routine.
Check your contact forms at least once a week! Even if they’re setup properly from the start, glitches happen and you’ll want to know when they do.
9. Relying Too Heavily on DIY Templates
DIY builders like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress offer great templates, but it’s easy to fall into the “cookie-cutter” trap where your site looks like hundreds of others.
Pro Tip:
Customize your template. Change fonts, colors, images, and layouts to match your brand. Use the template as a starting point, not the finish line.
10. Not Including Your Location
This one is for local businesses – and it’s a BIGGIE!
Say where you offer your services!! If potential clients/customers are looking for a business in your area, make sure they know immediately when they land on your website that they’re in the right place.
Pro Tip:
Add your location in your H1 tag on every page. This tells people where you are, and signals to Google that your location is an important factor in your business.
Bonus Mistake: Not Asking for Feedback
You might love your website, but you’re not your ideal customer. After all, you’re not building a beautiful piece of digital artwork just so you can admire your work. You want to attract customers so you can make money. (Once you make enough, you can go buy some artwork to admire!) Skipping outside feedback can leave big usability issues undetected.
Pro Tip:
Ask friends, colleagues, or even current customers to test your site. Watch how they navigate and note where they get stuck or confused. Be open to making changes based on their experience.
The Bottom Line
Your website is often the first impression people have of your business. If it’s clunky, confusing, or outdated, your visitors won’t stick around, and they won’t hesitate to click over to a competitor’s site that looks and works better.
The good news? Avoiding these common DIY website mistakes isn’t difficult. A little planning, some user-focused thinking, and a commitment to ongoing improvements will put you far ahead of the pack.
So before you hit “publish,” run through this checklist. Your visitors (and your bank account) will benefit.
STRUGGLING WITH YOUR WEBSITE?
If your website isn’t bringing in clients, chances are the content or SEO (or both) need work.
The Website Content & SEO Blueprint gives you a clear plan for what to say, where to say it, and how to make sure search engines (and humans) find you.