Top 5 Mistakes Small Businesses Make with Their Websites (And How to Avoid Them)

Creating a website is a crucial step for any small business or startup. It’s your digital storefront, your first impression, and often where potential customers decide whether they want to do business with you. However, many small business owners fall into common traps when building their websites. These mistakes can lead to lost customers, wasted time, and even lost revenue. In this post, we’ll explore the top five mistakes small businesses make with their websites—and how you can avoid them.

1. Trying to Do It All Alone

As a small business owner or startup founder, you’re used to wearing many hats. From managing finances to handling customer service, it’s easy to see why many entrepreneurs decide to take on the task of building their website themselves. However, this DIY approach can quickly become overwhelming and counterproductive.

The Time Trap: Building a website takes time—time that could be better spent focusing on your core business activities. The more time you spend tinkering with website builders, learning HTML, or trying to figure out why your site isn’t loading properly, the less time you have to manage operations, serve customers, and grow your business. While it might seem cost-effective at first, the opportunity cost of doing it all yourself can be significant.

Inefficient Tools: Many business owners also fall into the trap of using cheap or free website builders that offer limited functionality and customization options. These platforms often seem appealing because they’re easy to use and require little upfront investment. However, as your business grows, you may find yourself stuck with a website that doesn’t meet your needs, forcing you to either invest in expensive upgrades or start from scratch.

What to Do Instead: Focus on what you do best—running your business. Consider consulting with professionals or using tools that offer more robust options right from the start. This approach can save you time and ensure your website grows with your business.

2. Choosing the Wrong Hosting Provider

Your website’s performance is directly tied to the quality of your hosting provider. Many small businesses are lured in by the low introductory rates of shared hosting providers like HostGator. While these rates might seem attractive, they often come with hidden drawbacks that can hurt your business in the long run.

Performance Issues: Shared hosting means your website shares server resources with many other sites. This can lead to slow load times, especially during peak traffic periods. A slow website frustrates visitors and can drive potential customers away, resulting in lost revenue. Studies show that even a one-second delay in page load time can lead to a 7% reduction in conversions.

Rising Costs: Another issue with shared hosting providers is the steep increase in costs after the introductory period. What starts as an affordable option can quickly become expensive, particularly as your website grows and demands more resources. This can catch many small business owners off guard, leading to unexpected expenses that strain their budgets.

What to Do Instead: Consider a more robust hosting solution from the start. In our recent blog post, "AWS vs HostGator: A Performance Benchmark Showdown," we explored the differences between AWS and HostGator. The results were clear: AWS provides superior speed and reliability, which are crucial for maintaining an engaging online presence. Investing in a quality hosting provider like AWS from the beginning can prevent performance issues and ensure your site scales with your business.

3. Neglecting Mobile Optimization

In today’s digital landscape, more than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. Despite this, many small business websites are either not optimized for mobile use or suffer from poor mobile design. This oversight can be a significant barrier to success.

The Mobile Imperative: If your website doesn’t function well on smartphones and tablets, you’re likely losing a significant portion of potential customers. Mobile users expect fast load times, easy navigation, and a seamless experience. A site that’s difficult to use on a mobile device can lead to high bounce rates, with users leaving your site before they even explore what you have to offer.

SEO Impact: Google also considers mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor in search engine results. Websites that aren’t optimized for mobile use may rank lower in search results, making it harder for potential customers to find you online.

What to Do Instead: Prioritize mobile optimization in your website design. Ensure that your website is fully responsive, meaning it adapts to any screen size and provides an excellent user experience on all devices. This not only improves customer engagement but also boosts your SEO, helping your business get found online.

4. Overcomplicating the Design

It’s tempting to pack your website with as many features and design elements as possible. After all, you want to impress visitors and show off what your business can do. However, more isn’t always better when it comes to web design.

Cluttered Design: Overcomplicating your site with too many features, flashy animations, or an overload of information can make it difficult for visitors to navigate. A cluttered design can overwhelm users, making it hard for them to find the information they’re looking for. This can lead to frustration and higher bounce rates, with visitors leaving your site before they take any meaningful action.

Focus on User Experience: The most effective websites are those that provide a clear, straightforward path for visitors. A clean design with intuitive navigation helps users find what they need quickly and easily. Key elements like your business’s contact information, services, and calls to action should be front and center.

What to Do Instead: Focus on creating a user-friendly design that highlights what’s most important to your business and your customers. Simplicity and usability should be the guiding principles of your design, ensuring visitors can easily find what they need and take the desired action.

5. Failing to Plan for Growth

Your website should grow alongside your business. However, many small business owners don’t plan for the future when building their websites, leading to costly redesigns and upgrades down the road.

Scalability Issues: As your business expands, so will your website’s needs. Whether it’s adding new products, implementing advanced features, or scaling up your online presence, your website should be able to handle it all. However, if your site is built on a limited platform or with restrictive tools, you may find yourself needing to rebuild it entirely as your business grows.

Security Concerns: Growth often brings additional security concerns, especially if you’re handling customer data or processing payments online. Failing to plan for these aspects can leave your business vulnerable to cyber threats, which can damage your reputation and cost you customers.

What to Do Instead: When building your website, choose a platform and hosting provider that offer scalability and flexibility. Planning for growth from the beginning can save you significant time and money down the line. This foresight will ensure your website continues to meet your needs as your business evolves.

Conclusion

Your website is one of the most important investments you’ll make for your business. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a website that not only attracts and engages visitors but also drives conversions and supports your business’s growth.

If you’re ready to take your website to the next level without the hassle, contact us today to learn more about our affordable starter packages. Let 17 Solutions LLC help you build a site that’s designed for success—so you can focus on building your business.