9 Common UI Mistakes That Hurt Your Website (And How to Fix Them)

Avoid these user interface issues and create a better experience for your customers.

Your website is often the first impression someone has of your business. If that experience is confusing, frustrating, or unclear—even for just a few seconds—you could lose that customer for good.

In 2025, people expect websites to be fast, easy to navigate, and intuitive across all devices. And that’s where UI and UX come in.

What Do UI and UX Mean?

• UI (User Interface) refers to how your website looks and functions—the layout, colours, buttons, menus, forms, and other visual and interactive elements.
• UX (User Experience) is the overall experience a person has while using your site—how easy it is to find information, take action, or achieve their goal.

When UI and UX are done well, your site feels smooth, intuitive, and trustworthy. When they’re not, users get confused and leave—often without taking action.

Let’s look at 9 of the most common UI mistakes small business websites make, and how to fix them to improve user experience, increase conversions, and look more professional online.

1. Confusing Navigation

The mistake:
Menus with too many options, cryptic labels, or dropdowns stacked inside dropdowns.

Why it’s a problem:
If users can’t find what they’re looking for within a few seconds, they’ll leave. Navigation is the backbone of good website structure.

Fix it:

• Limit your main menu to 5–7 clearly labelled items
• Use familiar terms like “Services,” “About,” “Contact”
• Highlight key actions with buttons like “Book Now” or “Get a Quote”

2. Poor Mobile Experience

The mistake:
Buttons are too small, layouts break on smaller screens, or content disappears entirely on mobile.

Why it’s a problem:
With over 60% of web traffic now coming from mobile devices, a clunky mobile experience is a dealbreaker.

Fix it:

• Use a mobile-first design approach
• Ensure touch targets (like buttons) are big enough
• Test on multiple devices—not just your desktop browser

3. Overcomplicated Forms

The mistake:
Forms that ask for too much information, have unclear instructions, or are difficult to complete on mobile.

Why it’s a problem:
The more effort it takes to fill out a form, the more likely users are to abandon it—especially on mobile devices.

Fix it:

• Only ask for essential fields (name, email, maybe phone)
• Use clear labels and validation messages
• For longer forms, show progress bars or divide into steps

4. Inaccessible Design

The mistake:
Low colour contrast, tiny fonts, missing image descriptions, or content that can’t be accessed via keyboard.

Why it’s a problem:
Not everyone accesses your site the same way. Inaccessible design excludes users with vision impairments, motor limitations, or other disabilities—and it may even affect SEO.

Fix it:

• Use a colour contrast checker
• Ensure font sizes are legible on all devices
• Add alt text for images and label form fields properly

5. Lack of Visual Hierarchy

The mistake:
All elements appear equally important—text blocks, headings, buttons, and images compete for attention.

Why it’s a problem:
Users don’t know where to look first, what’s clickable, or what action to take next.

Fix it:

• Use clear H1, H2, H3 heading structures
• Make primary buttons stand out visually
• Group related information and add whitespace to reduce clutter

6. No Clear Calls to Action (CTAs)

The mistake:
Visitors get to your site and think: “What am I supposed to do here?”

Why it’s a problem:
Without a clear CTA, users won’t take the next step—whether that’s booking, calling, downloading, or purchasing.

Fix it:

• Place prominent buttons like “Book a Consultation” or “Contact Us” near the top of each page
• Use active, benefit-oriented language: “Get Your Free Quote,” not just “Submit”

7. Auto-Play Carousels or Sliders

The mistake:
Your homepage has a rotating banner that cycles through slides automatically.

Why it’s a problem:
Studies show that most users ignore or miss rotating content, especially if it moves too quickly. It can also hurt load times and distract from your core message.

Fix it:

• Avoid carousels entirely—or use manual sliders only
• Don’t include key messaging in slides that rotate on their own
• Use a static hero section with one strong image and message instead

8. Inconsistent Design Elements

The mistake:
Buttons, fonts, and colours vary from page to page.

Why it’s a problem:
Inconsistency looks unprofessional and makes users question your attention to detail—which can affect trust.

Fix it:

• Stick to a defined brand style guide
• Use the same button styles, heading formats, and colour palette throughout your site
• Reuse components rather than reinventing them for each page

9. Ignoring Website Speed

The mistake:
Your website takes too long to load due to oversized images, bloated code, or poor hosting.

Why it’s a problem:
People expect fast experiences. If your page takes more than 3 seconds to load, many users will bounce.

Fix it:

• Compress and resize images before uploading
• Remove unused plugins or scripts
• Use a fast, reliable hosting provider

Quick UI Fixes You Can Do Today

• Make sure your main CTA is visible above the fold
• Test your site on mobile and tablet
• Reduce your navigation to the essentials
• Run a speed test at PageSpeed Insights
• Check colour contrast for accessibility

FAQ: Website UI & UX

What’s the difference between UI and UX?

• UI (User Interface) is the visual design and interactive elements—how your website looks and works.
• UX (User Experience) is how users feel while interacting with your site—how easy and intuitive it is to use.

How do I know if my website has a bad user experience?

Common signs include:

• High bounce rates
• Low conversion rates
• Users saying they “couldn’t find” something
• Frequent customer service questions about things that should be obvious

A UX audit or usability test can help uncover these issues.

What are the most important UI elements on a homepage?

• Clear navigation
• Headline that says what you do
• Primary CTA (e.g. “Book Now,” “Get a Quote”)
• Visual hierarchy (headings, spacing, images)
• Contact info or ways to take the next step

Is it better to redesign or fix my existing site?
If your site is only a few years old and structurally sound, fixing key UI issues can go a long way. If it’s 5+ years old, not mobile responsive, or difficult to update, a redesign may be more efficient and cost-effective in the long run.

How often should I update my website design?
Most small businesses should update their site design every 3–5 years, or sooner if:

• Your branding has changed
• Your site isn’t mobile-friendly
• You're not seeing the results you want
• You’ve added new services that aren’t reflected online

Conclusion: Good UI Isn’t Optional—It’s Expected

Small business websites don’t need to be fancy—but they do need to be clear, fast, and easy to use.

By avoiding these common UI mistakes, you’ll not only make your website more enjoyable to use, but you’ll also increase trust, engagement, and conversions.

Need help reviewing or refreshing your website? Contact Activate for a no-obligation chat about how we can improve your site’s UI and UX to better support your business goals.