Website Design Mistakes That Are Costing You Conversions (And What to Do Instead)
Let’s Get Real: If Your Website Isn’t Converting, It’s Not You — It’s the Design
Okay, let’s talk about something no one really prepares you for when you start selling digital products online: you can have the cutest Canva templates, the smartest planner, and the best idea ever…
But if your website doesn’t sell it for you, all that hard work can feel like a total waste.
You’re not lazy. You’re not “bad at tech.” You don’t need to scrap your product and start from scratch.
Most of the time, the reason you’re not seeing sales is because of a few sneaky website design mistakes.
Ones that are easy to fix — once you know what to look for.
Let’s walk through the most common ones I see (and yep, I’ve made these too). By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly what to do to turn your website into a money-making machine — no coding degree required.
❌ Mistake #1: You're Hiding the "Buy" Button
What’s going wrong:
You’ve got a beautiful homepage, a cute brand palette, and maybe even a few testimonials — but the actual "Buy Now" button?
Buried halfway down the page or in some hard-to-spot corner.
Here’s the truth: People don’t scroll with intention unless you guide them.
If your website visitor has to search for how to buy, they won’t.
What to do instead:
Think of your website like a Target aisle. The good stuff? Eye level. Easy to reach.
Your buy button needs to be obvious, above the fold (aka before they have to scroll), and repeated throughout the page.
Use phrases that feel inviting and actionable:
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“Grab Your Copy”
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“Start Today”
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“Instant Access”
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“Snag It Now”
And pro tip: make those buttons BIG and in your accent color so they pop.
❌ Mistake #2: You're Writing a Novel, Not a Product Page
What’s going wrong:
You’re over-explaining. You’ve got 10 paragraphs of text describing the product, your process, your background, the history of planners since 1850...
People don’t read online. They scan.
Especially moms checking your site between diaper changes or entrepreneurs looking for a quick solution.
What to do instead:
Stick to short paragraphs. Break things into bullet points. Use bold headers that explain what they’ll get and how it’ll help.
Here’s a mini layout that converts like crazy:
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Quick hook/title: “Finally! A digital planner that helps you actually stay consistent”
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Short story: “I created this because I was tired of pretty planners that just sat in my Downloads folder.”
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Bullet list of benefits: “Inside, you’ll get…”
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Call to action button: “Get Instant Access”
Make it feel like a conversation, not a lecture. You’re not just listing features — you’re connecting.
❌ Mistake #3: Your Site Isn’t Mobile Friendly
What’s going wrong:
You built your website on a laptop… but your audience is on their phones.
If they land on your homepage and it’s slow to load, buttons are too small to tap, or your layout is hard to scroll — they will bounce faster than you can say abandoned cart.
What to do instead:
Open your site on your phone right now and ask yourself:
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Can I read everything without zooming?
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Do the buttons work?
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Is it easy to navigate with one hand?
If not, it’s time for a cleanup. Most website platforms like Shopify, Showit, and WordPress have mobile previews built in — use them. And always preview every new product page on your phone before you hit publish.
❌ Mistake #4: You're Making People Wait
What’s going wrong:
Your site takes forever to load. Maybe you’ve added too many images, fancy fonts, or auto-play videos.
Here’s the deal: attention spans online are short. If your page doesn’t load in under 3 seconds, most visitors are already gone.
What to do instead:
Compress your images before uploading them (use tools like TinyPNG or Canva’s export settings).
Avoid using 10 different fonts or massive header videos. Keep it clean, fast, and functional.
Remember: your site should feel like a boutique, not a carnival.
❌ Mistake #5: You’re Not Building Trust
What’s going wrong:
Your site might be technically "pretty," but it’s missing heart. It doesn’t feel like you.
And if people don’t trust you, they don’t buy from you.
What to do instead:
Build that trust with warmth and realness. Add a quick photo of you with a caption like:
“Hey, I’m Brit! I created this because I used to feel totally overwhelmed trying to stay consistent in my business — and I knew I couldn’t be the only one.”
Even if you don’t have tons of reviews yet, use phrases like:
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“Loved by over 100 entrepreneurs (and counting!)”
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“Tested + trusted in my own business first”
And don’t forget to include:
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A clear refund policy
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A FAQ section
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An easy way to contact you
❌ Mistake #6: Overwhelming Menus + Distractions
What’s going wrong:
Your menu bar looks like a Thanksgiving buffet: Home, About, Blog, Shop, Resources, Freebies, Podcast, YouTube, Testimonials, Contact…
Visitors get decision fatigue fast. When they’re overwhelmed, they leave.
What to do instead:
Simplify your menu to the essentials:
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Home
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Shop
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About
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Contact
And on product pages? Remove the clutter. You don’t need a sidebar full of widgets or pop-ups distracting them from clicking “buy.”
✅ Quick Wins: 5 Tiny Fixes That Can Boost Conversions This Week
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Add a big, bold CTA at the top of every page
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Replace “Learn More” buttons with “Get Instant Access”
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Create a 3-bullet benefits list for every product
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Add a short “Why I made this” blurb with a personal photo
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Test your checkout process — make sure it’s friction-free
💡 Final Thoughts: Your Website Should Work For You, Not Stress You Out
You didn’t create your business to babysit a broken website.
You did it for freedom. For income. For impact.
And your site should support that — not block it.
If your traffic isn’t converting, don’t panic or burn it all down. Start with these small tweaks. I promise, they add up.
And if you need help? That’s literally why Brit Hutchings Creative exists. We design websites that sell your digital products while you get back to life.
👉 Ready to stop guessing and start converting? Let’s chat about your website.