Web Design - Business | 2025-09-29 | Felipe Salazar
10 Mistakes Companies Make When Designing Their Website (and How to Avoid Them)
After working with more than 20 companies and speaking with more than 100 potential clients, Iāve noticed a pattern: most of them make the same 10 mistakes when creating their website. These flaws, while common, can drastically reduce the quantity and quality of visitors, directly affecting their Google visibility and, therefore, their sales.
In this article, Iāll show you what those mistakes are, how you can avoid them, and tell you a bit about how we approach web design to guarantee results.
Hereās the list:
- Using any āpage builderā or design tool.
- Using generic templates for the visual design.
- Hosting the website on the cheapest hosting they can find.
- Forgetting about periodic maintenance.
- Hiring graphic designers instead of web developers.
- Leaving SEO (Google positioning) for the end.
- Neglecting the writing and content of the website.
- Using Artificial Intelligence for everything and expecting it to do all the work.
- Using low-quality or unprofessional images and videos.
- Thinking that having a website is enough to get clients.
1. Using Any āPage Builderā or Design Tool
Itās very tempting for companies to turn to tools like Elementor, Wix, Squarespace, etc. They promise you can create your website easily and quickly. The problem? That initial convenience comes at a high cost in the long run.
Why is it a mistake?
These visual builders (āpage buildersā) tend to generate bloated and inefficient code. This results in a slow website, one of the main reasons visitors leave and why Google penalizes you in its search results. Additionally, although they offer templates, customization options are limited, making it very difficult to create a truly unique and professional design that stands out from the competition.
The solution:
In our case, we build our clientsā websites with clean code from scratch. This gives us total control over performance, speed, and design, guaranteeing an ultra-fast, flexible site 100% adapted to the brandās identity.
2. Using Generic Templates for the Visual Design
This mistake goes hand in hand with the previous one. You choose a template that looks āniceā, change the colors, put your logo, and youāre done.
Why is it a mistake?
Your company ends up with a website that looks the same as hundreds or thousands of others. A generic template doesnāt communicate your brandās unique value proposition and projects an unprofessional image. Potential clients perceive this and may question the quality of your services.
The solution:
Invest in custom web design. Good design is not only aesthetic, but strategic. It must be based on your brand identity, your target audience, and your business goals, creating a unique experience that connects with your visitors and guides them toward action.
3. Hosting the Website on the Cheapest Hosting
Hosting is the ālandā where your digital āhouseā (your website) is built. Choosing the cheapest is like building a mansion on muddy ground.
Why is it a mistake?
Low-quality hosting causes slowness, constant outages, and security breaches. When your website goes down or takes forever to load, you lose clients and credibility. Additionally, technical support is usually poor, leaving you alone when you need it most.
The solution:
Hire a quality, optimized hosting service. It doesnāt have to be the most expensive, but it should guarantee good speed, security, and reliable technical support. Itās a small investment that protects a very large asset.
4. Forgetting About Periodic Maintenance
Launching a website and never touching it again is like buying a new car and never taking it to the shop.
Why is it a mistake?
Over time, software becomes outdated, plugins become vulnerable, and compatibility issues may arise. A website without maintenance is a magnet for hackers, viruses, and technical failures. Iāve seen client pages full of casino or strange product ads simply because of inadequate maintenance. This destroys your reputation and Google may remove you from its search results.
The solution:
Establish a monthly or quarterly maintenance plan. This should include software updates, backups, security scans, and performance reviews. This ensures your website always runs optimally and securely.
5. Hiring Graphic Designers Instead of Web Developers
There is a common confusion between the role of a graphic designer and a web developer.
Why is it a mistake?
A graphic designer is an expert in the visual part (logos, color palettes, images). They can create a beautiful mockup of how the website will look, but they donāt have the technical knowledge to build it. Hiring only a designer is like having the blueprint for a house, but nobody to build it.
The solution:
You need a professional web developer (or a team that includes both profiles). The developer is the programmer who converts that design into a functional, fast, secure, and adaptable website for all devices.
6. Leaving SEO (Google Positioning) for the End
Many companies say: āFirst we build the website and then weāll deal with SEO later.ā This is one of the most costly mistakes.
Why is it a mistake?
SEO is not something that gets āaddedā at the end. The website structure, URLs, loading speed, and how content is organized are fundamental pillars of SEO that must be defined from the start. Fixing it later is much more difficult and expensive.
The solution:
Integrate an SEO expert from the planning phase. This ensures your website is built on a solid foundation so that Google can understand and rank it correctly from day one.
7. Neglecting the Writing and Content of the Website
Your website can be the fastest and most beautiful in the world, but if the text is boring, confusing, or says nothing, it wonāt be worth anything.
Why is it a mistake?
Content is what sells. Poor or generic text (āWe are a leading companyā¦ā) doesnāt connect with your clientās needs. If you donāt clearly explain how you solve their problem, theyāll go look for someone else who does.
The solution:
Invest in professional copywriting. Itās about writing persuasive texts that speak directly to your ideal client, highlight the benefits of your product or service, and invite them to take action (contact, buy, etc.).
8. Using Artificial Intelligence for Everything and Expecting It to Do All the Work
AI is an incredible tool, but itās not a magic wand.
Why is it a mistake?
Asking an AI to write all your website content typically results in generic texts without personality that donāt reflect your brandās unique voice. AI doesnāt know your business, your story, or your clients like you do.
The solution:
Use AI as an assistant to generate ideas, drafts, or overcome creative blocks. But always, always, there must be a human who reviews, edits, and adds the personal touch, experience, and emotion that only your brand can offer.
9. Using Low-Quality or Unprofessional Images and Videos
Blurry photos taken with a phone or typical stock images that have been seen a thousand times reduce professionalism.
Why is it a mistake?
Low-quality multimedia content conveys an image of carelessness and low trust. If you donāt take care of your own companyās image, how will the client trust you to take care of them?
The solution:
Invest in professional photography and videography. Show your team, your facilities, or your products authentically and with high quality. If you use stock images, choose those that look natural and align with your brand. And donāt forget to optimize them so they donāt slow down your website!
10. Thinking That Having a Website Is Enough to Get Clients
āI have the website, now letās wait for clients to come.ā If only it were that simple.
Why is it a mistake?
A website is like a shop on an empty street. If you do nothing to attract visitors, nobody will know you exist. Itās a tool, not a magic solution.
The solution:
Create a digital marketing strategy to drive qualified traffic to your website. This can include ongoing SEO, content marketing (blog), advertising on Google or social media, and email marketing. Your website is the operations center, but it needs routes that bring clients to it.
Avoiding these 10 mistakes will not only save you money and headaches, but will also lay the foundation for your website to become your best salesperson.
If youāre thinking about creating or redesigning your website and want to do it right from the start, donāt hesitate to contact us. Weāll be happy to help you build an online presence that genuinely generates results.