May 20, 2025
Article
Top 7 Web Design Mistakes Local Businesses Make (and How to Fix Them)
Your website is often the first stop for new customers—so even small missteps can cost you foot traffic and bookings. Here are the most common pitfalls we see (and the easy “quick wins” you can tackle today or hand off to Siteon).
1. Slow Loading Pages
The problem: Waiting more than 3 seconds for a page to load drives visitors away.
DIY Quick Win: Compress your hero image (TinyPNG or ImageOptim), enable lazy-loading for galleries, and turn on basic caching in Framer’s project settings.
Outsource option: Let Siteon run a performance audit, optimize all images and scripts, and cut your load time in half—fast.
2. Ignoring Mobile Users
The problem: Desktop-first layouts that squash or hide content on phones.
DIY Quick Win: In Framer, switch to mobile view and adjust your sections using auto-layout. Make sure buttons and links sit at thumb-friendly sizes.
Outsource option: Siteon can rebuild your key pages in a true mobile-first structure—no more pinching or scrolling headaches for your customers.
3. Missing or Buried Calls-to-Action
The problem: Visitors don’t know what to do next—book, order, call?
DIY Quick Win: Add a clear button (“Book a Table,” “Schedule Today”) in your header and at the end of each section. Pick a contrasting color so it stands out.
Outsource option: We’ll audit your page flow, rewrite your CTAs for maximum clarity, and place them where they drive real clicks.
4. Outdated or Inconsistent Branding
The problem: A logo in one corner, random fonts and colors elsewhere—your site feels unprofessional.
DIY Quick Win: Pull together your logo, two brand colors and one headline font in Figma. Apply those consistently to headings, buttons and backgrounds.
Outsource option: Siteon’s Brand & Prototype service will give you a mini style guide plus interactive mockups—so every pixel on your site matches your vibe.
5. No Online Booking or Ordering
The problem: Asking customers to phone or email to reserve a spot creates friction—and lost revenue.
DIY Quick Win: Grab the embed code from OpenTable, Resy or your favorite booking tool—and drop it into an HTML embed section in Framer.
Outsource option: We’ll integrate a seamless reservation widget (or e-commerce sidebar) that works on desktop and mobile—and even train your staff on how to manage it.
6. Cluttered Navigation
The problem: Too many menu items or hidden sections leave visitors confused.
DIY Quick Win: Simplify your top nav to 4–5 items max (Home, Menu/Services, About, Contact). Use dropdowns only if absolutely needed.
Outsource option: Siteon can restructure your site map, build reusable Framer components for menus, and ensure every page is just a click away.
7. Lack of Basic Analytics
The problem: Flying blind—no data on where people drop off or which pages drive bookings.
DIY Quick Win: In Framer’s settings, paste your Google Analytics (or Plausible) tracking ID. Check your dashboard after 24 hours to see traffic trends.
Outsource option: We’ll set up conversion tracking (form submissions, booking clicks) and deliver a simple report so you know exactly what’s working.
Your Next Steps
Pick one quick win from the list above and implement it this afternoon.
Evaluate the results—did bounce rates drop? Bookings tick up?
When you’re ready for a full refresh, let Siteon handle the rest. We specialize in turning these fixes into holistic, high-impact website upgrades—fast, professional and affordable.
Ready to stop losing customers at the first click?