You ever walk into a shop And instantly walk back out Because the lights are flickering There’s a weird smell And someone behind the counter just grunted at you?
That’s your website.
If it looks awful. Loads slow. And doesn’t work on mobile.
Then you, my dear business owner, are silently telling people:
“Please leave. We are closed. Also we do not care about your feelings.”
Let’s Not Sugarcoat It: Your Website Might Be Sabotaging Your Entire Business
A frustrated user impatiently waits for a slow website to load, illustrating how slow loading times can lead to users abandoning a site.
I’m not saying your site’s bad
I’m just saying if it were a person
It would show up to your wedding in crocs and a spaghetti-stained vest
Poor website design is not just ugly
It’s expensive
Every second someone can’t find the checkout Or has to zoom in on a contact button the size of a tic tac That’s money flushing itself straight down the drain
You’re not just losing clicks You’re losing trust And possibly your sanity
What Makes a Website So Bad It Should Come With a Trigger Warning?
Let me paint you a picture
I click your link
The page loads like it’s powered by potatoes
I try to scroll
But your menu keeps disappearing like a magician’s rabbit
I try to buy something
But I’m 8 clicks in and still no clue how to add to basket
I rage quit And I tell all my mates your site is cursed
So let’s break it down:
🔥 The Top Sins of Poor Website Design
Slow as your nan’s WiFi If your site takes longer than 3 seconds to load I’ve already left to buy the same thing from your competitor
Mobile mess If I need thumb yoga to zoom in on your desktop site It’s 2025 – come on Make it work on phones Most of us are scrolling while pretending to work
Menus from the dark ages If I need to channel Sherlock Holmes just to find your About page That’s not clever That’s chaos Clear navigation = people stay longer = sales go up
Visual vomit Bright red fonts on green backgrounds Stock photos of smiling robots Text crammed tighter than jeans after Christmas No thanks
Dead ends and 404s Broken links are like handing someone a map with every road leading to “Nowhere” Fix. Them. Please.
Poor Website Design = Lost Sales, Trust Issues, And Possibly IBS
An example of poor website design with clashing visuals, stock imagery, and illegible text, highlighting the “visual vomit” that can deter users.
Here’s what bad design really does to you:
People bounce faster than a toddler on sugar
You get fewer leads than a dodgy dating profile
Customers start to trust you less than a politician in an election year
Google buries your site somewhere on page 47
And worst of all… you start thinking business is slow because of “the economy” When really It’s just your crusty old homepage
So What’s the Fix?
I won’t leave you crying into your keyboard
Here’s how to go from zero to “Ooh this looks professional”:
✅ Make it look modern
No Comic Sans No blurry photos No background music unless you’re selling 90s dance CDs
✅ Optimise for mobile
Not optional If your site doesn’t flex on a phone, it’s flexing people away
✅ Clear calls to action
Tell people what to do Buy this Click that Book now Don’t make them guess They’ll guess wrong
✅ Keep it speedy
Fast hosting Clean code No videos that autoplay and shout at me like I owe them money
✅ Update your content
A blog from 2019 isn’t vintage It’s lazy
Real Talk: Your Website Is Your Salesperson in Pyjamas
It works while you sleep
It meets people before you do
And it either whispers “trust me” Or screams “RUN”
So take a second Look at your site with fresh eyes
Would you buy from you?
If the answer’s no It’s time to clean house
FAQs About Poor Website Design
What is poor website design? It’s a site that’s hard to use, ugly to look at, slow to load, and annoying to navigate. Like a party where no one brought snacks.
How does poor design affect my business? You lose leads, sales, trust and your spot on Google. It’s like turning off the sign on your shop and hoping people still walk in.
Can I fix my website or do I need a new one? Depends how bad it is. If it just needs a spruce, go for it. If it’s held together with glitter and hope, start fresh.
How important is mobile-friendly design? If your site doesn’t work on phones, you’re basically invisible to half the internet. Probably more. Maybe your mum too.
How often should I update my website? Every time you update your business. New service? New offer? New photo? Whack it up. Keep it alive.
Do ugly websites still work? Sometimes. Like socks with sandals. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
What’s a bounce rate? It’s when someone visits your site, takes one look, and nopes out. You want that number low, not sky-high like my blood pressure after using a bad website.
Fix the Design, Save the Business
If you’re serious about growing Looking good online isn’t optional
Poor website design can tank trust, sales and your entire reputation faster than you can say “Please wait while it loads”
So give your site the glow-up it deserves
Tidy it up Make it fast Make it easy
And for the love of lipstick
Make it work on mobile
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