10 Website Mistakes That Drive Visitors Away

We've audited a lot of websites. And while every site is different, the mistakes we see tend to cluster around the same ten issues. How many does your site have?

1. No Clear Call to Action

If a visitor doesn't know what to do next, they leave. Every page needs a single, obvious next step.

2. Stock Photo Overload

People in suits pointing at laptops. Diverse teams having way too much fun in a meeting room. These photos don't build trust — they do the opposite. Use real photos of your team, your work, your product.

3. Autoplay Videos

Nothing makes someone close a tab faster than unexpected audio. Never autoplay video with sound.

4. Tiny Font Size

Body text below 16px is too small on mobile. If visitors have to squint, they leave.

5. Too Many Menu Items

Navigation with 12 items is navigation with none. Visitors get overwhelmed and don't know where to go. Limit your main nav to 5–6 items maximum.

6. A Contact Form That's Too Long

If your contact form has more than five fields, you're losing leads. The more fields, the lower the completion rate. Keep it minimal.

7. No Social Proof

Testimonials, reviews, case studies, client logos — these build trust faster than any headline you can write. If you have them, show them prominently.

8. Broken Links and 404 Pages

Nothing erodes credibility like clicking a link and hitting a dead end. Audit your site regularly. Set up a proper custom 404 page with clear navigation if someone does end up there.

9. No Privacy Policy or Terms

For consumer-facing websites, a missing privacy policy is a trust red flag and a legal risk. Sort this out.

10. It Hasn't Been Updated in Years

Old testimonials, outdated team photos, 'News' sections with posts from 2021. All of this signals that your business has gone quiet — even if it hasn't.

If you spotted more than three of these on your own site, it might be time for a refresh. Dab Hand Marketing builds websites that avoid every one of these mistakes from the ground up. Get in touch.