11 Bad Website Design Practices to Avoid That Turn Members Away

1. Difficult navigation

Poor navigation is a common web design mistake that makes it hard for users to find information quickly

One of the most common web design mistakes is poor navigation, making it difficult for members to find the information they need quickly. When visitors struggle to navigate your site, they’re more likely to leave, leading to higher bounce rates and lost engagement.

The impact of disorganized navigation

If your navigation is cluttered or inconsistent, members may:

• Struggle to locate essential pages, leading to frustration.
• Leave your site prematurely, reducing conversions and engagement.
• Miss critical content, affecting SEO and search visibility.

A well-structured navigation menu enhances user experience (UX) by making your site more organized, accessible, and user-friendly.

How to fix navigation issues

If your website suffers from difficult navigation, consider these solutions:

1. Plan a Clear Navigation Hierarchy
   • Structure your menu logically with main categories and subcategories for easy browsing.
   • Ensure essential pages (Home, About, Services, Contact) are readily accessible.
2. Ensure Easy Access to the Homepage
   • Your visitors should be able to return to the homepage easily, either via the navigation menu or by clicking on your company logo.
3. Check for Broken Links
   • Regularly audit your website to identify and fix broken links.
   • Internal links should direct members to the right pages to prevent frustration and maintain engagement.

2. Poor colour choice

Choosing the wrong color palette is a common web design mistake, affecting brand identity and user experience

One of the most common web design mistakes is selecting the wrong colour palette. Colours play a crucial role in your brand identity and user experience (UX).

The impact of bad colour scheme

Using conflicting colours can:

• Overwhelm visitors and make your site visually chaotic.
• Reduce readability and make it harder for members to focus on key content.
• Weaken brand identity, making it less memorable and cohesive.

A well-chosen colour scheme creates a consistent, visually appealing experience that enhances brand recognition and reinforces confidence in your members of the value you deliver.

How to fix poor colour choices

If your website’s colours feel off, follow these steps:

1. Limit your colour palette
   • Stick to three to four colours for a balanced and professional look.
   • Recommended breakdown:
     • Primary colour (main brand colour)
     • 1-2 accent colours (to add contrast)
     • Text colour (ensuring readability)
2. Select colours that reflect your brand
   • Choose colours that align with your brand’s identity and message.
   • For example, Pepsi uses red, white, and blue, making their brand instantly recognizable.
3. Use colour psychology to influence emotions
   • Colours evoke emotions and impact consumer behaviour.
   • Example:
     • Blue conveys trust and professionalism.
     • Red creates excitement and urgency.
     • Green symbolizes nature and growth.
   • Understanding colour psychology helps in creating the right mood for your website.

By carefully selecting and applying colours, your website can create a strong visual identity, improve readability, and provide a better user experience.

3. Lack of responsive design

Mobile responsiveness is essential, as over 50% of internet traffic comes from mobile devices. A non-optimized site risks losing visitors.

In today’s digital landscape, mobile responsiveness is no longer optional—it’s essential. With over 50% of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, businesses that fail to optimize their websites for mobile users risk losing valuable visitors. Even worse, picture a member at a conference, trade show, or networking event struggling to navigate your non-responsive website on their phone. Not exactly the impression you want to make.

The consequences of a non-responsive website

A lack of mobile navigation can lead to:

• Poor user experience on mobile devices.
• Visitors struggling to read content and navigate your site.
• Higher bounce rates, as members leave due to frustration.
• Lower search rankings, as Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites.

How to fix a lack of responsive design

If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, here’s how to improve it:

1. Test your site’s mobile friendliness
   • Use a Mobile-Friendly Test to analyze how well your site performs on mobile.
   • Identify areas where layout, images, or buttons need adjustments.
2. Implement a responsive design
   • If using WordPress, choose a responsive theme that automatically adjusts to different screen sizes.
   • Hire a web design expert to ensure your site is fully optimized for mobile.
3. Optimize elements for mobile users
   • Scale images, banners, and content so they adjust smoothly across devices.
   • Ensure buttons and links are easy to tap without zooming in.
   • Follow mobile-first design principles, prioritizing clarity and usability.

4. Slow load time

A slow-loading website is one of the biggest factors that drive visitors away. Members expect a webpage to load within two seconds—anything longer increases the likelihood of them leaving for a competitor’s site.

Why fast load times matter

• Improved user experience – Visitors can quickly access the information they need.
• Higher search rankings – Google prioritizes fast-loading websites.
• Increased conversions – Faster sites encourage members to stay and take action.

How to fix slow load times

If your website is taking too long to load, follow these steps:

1. Test  your page speed & identify issues
   • Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to analyze your site’s performance.
   • These tools will highlight problem areas and suggest optimizations.
2. Optimize & compress large files
   • Images, GIFs, and videos are common culprits for slow load times.
   • Use image compression tools like Kraken.io or TinyPNG to reduce file sizes without compromising quality.
3. Enable browser caching & minify code
   • Caching stores frequently accessed data, reducing the time it takes to load pages.
   • Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML to remove unnecessary code and improve efficiency.
4. Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
   • A CDN distributes your website’s content across multiple servers worldwide.
   • This ensures faster loading times for members, no matter their location.

5. Too many elements

A cluttered website with too much text, images, or graphics can overwhelm visitors and drive them away before they engage.

A cluttered website with too many elements—whether it’s excessive text, images, or graphics—can overwhelm visitors and drive them away before they engage with your content. A clean, well-structured site enhances readability, usability, and overall user satisfaction.

Why overcrowding hurts your website

• Overwhelms visitors – Too much content makes it difficult to focus on key messages.
• Slows down load speed – Heavy pages take longer to load, frustrating members.
• Reduces Conversion Rates – Visitors are less likely to take action if they feel overloaded.

How to fix an overcrowded website

If your website feels cluttered, try these strategies:

1. Reduce unnecessary elements
   • Follow a minimalist approach by keeping only essential content.
   • Remove redundant images, excessive buttons, and distracting animations.
2. Organize content with a clear structure
   • Prioritize the most important sections and arrange them logically.
   • Group related content together and use clear headings to guide visitors.
3. Incorporate white space
   • White space (negative space) helps separate elements and improves readability.
   • A well-balanced layout with ample white space makes content easier to digest.

6. Lackluster call to action (CTA) buttons

Calls-to-action (CTAs) guide visitors to take action, like signing up for a newsletter, following on social media, or booking an appointment.

Calls-to-action (CTAs) are essential for guiding visitors and members toward taking action—whether it’s encouraging them to become a member, signing up for a newsletter, following your social media, or booking an appointment. A well-designed CTA can boost engagement and drive conversions, while a poorly executed one may go unnoticed.

Common CTA Mistakes

1. Lack of CTAs – Not placing clear CTAs throughout your website.
2. Unclear or weak wording – Using vague phrases like “Click Here” instead of action-driven commands.
3. Visually unappealing – Failing to make CTAs stand out through design and colour contrast.
4. No indication of clickability – Buttons that blend in with text or don’t appear interactive.
5. No value proposition – Not communicating the benefits of taking action.

How to create high-converting CTAs

If your CTAs aren’t driving results, consider these improvements:

1. Make CTAs actionable & compelling
   • Use strong, direct language (e.g., Start Your Membership Today, Unlock Exclusive Member Perks).
   • Highlight benefits users will gain by clicking.
2. Use eye-catching design
   • Choose contrasting colours that stand out from your website’s background.
   • Add hover effects to reinforce interactivity.
3. Position CTAs strategically
   • Place them above the fold, at the end of key sections, and within engaging content.
   • Ensure they’re easy to find and click on both desktop and mobile devices.
4. Test & optimize CTAs
   • Conduct A/B testing to compare different CTA versions.
   • Analyze click-through rates (CTR) to determine what resonates with your audience.

7. Difficult-to-read fonts

Hard-to-read text can make it difficult for visitors to engage, leading to higher bounce rates and lower conversions.

Choosing the right font for your website is just as important as selecting a colour scheme. If your text is hard to read, members may struggle to engage with your content, leading to higher bounce rates and lower conversions.

Common font mistakes

1. Font size issues – Text that is too small or too large can be difficult to read.
2. Overly decorative fonts – While stylish, script or decorative fonts can be overwhelming for large sections of text.
3. Too many font styles – Using more than three different fonts can make your website look cluttered and unprofessional.
4. Poor colour contrast – Fonts with low contrast against the background can strain the eyes, making it harder for members to read.

How to fix font readability issues

1. Choose an optimal font size
   • Body text should be at least 16px for readability.
   • Headings should be larger, ensuring they stand out without overpowering the page.
2. Use sans serif fonts for body text
   • Sans Serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Roboto, Open Sans) are clear, modern, and easy to read across different screen sizes.
   • Decorative fonts should only be used sparingly for headlines or branding elements.
3. Limit font variations
   • Stick to one or two primary fonts—one for headings and one for body text.
   • Use bold and italics strategically instead of adding extra font styles.
4. Ensure high contrast between text and background
   • Black or dark gray text on a white/light background is best for readability.
   • Avoid saturated colours or neon hues for large text sections.

8. Walls of text

Large blocks of text can overwhelm visitors, making content hard to read and less engaging

One of the biggest website design mistakes is overwhelming visitors with walls of text. While members want information, large blocks of text can be intimidating, difficult to read, and unappealing.

Online readers prefer scannable content, allowing them to quickly find what they need without feeling overwhelmed.

How to improve readability

1. Use headings to organize content
   • Break up sections with clear, relevant headings.
   • This improves both user experience and SEO, making it easier for search engines to understand your content.
2. Break up text into short paragraphs
   • Keep paragraphs no longer than 2-3 sentences to improve readability.
   • Utilize bullet points, numbered lists, and line breaks to make content easier to scan.
3. Incorporate visual elements
   • Use images, videos, and infographics to add visual interest.
   • Graphics help explain concepts faster and more effectively than text alone.

9. Incomplete website design

An incomplete web design can make your site appear untrustworthy and unprofessional, leading to higher bounce rates. Visitors may perceive your site as broken or poorly maintained if:

• Text is misaligned or wrapped awkwardly around images.
• The layout looks disorganized.
• Links lead to missing or incorrect pages.

How to fix an incomplete website design

1. Verify navigation links
   • Check that all navigation links lead to the correct pages.
   • Fix any broken links to avoid user frustration and improve SEO.
2. Maintain a consistent design
   • Use a uniform colour scheme, typography, and layout across all pages.
   • A cohesive design helps visitors feel more confident and engaged.
3. Use white space effectively
   • White space is a crucial design element, not just empty space.
   • Strategically placed white space makes pages cleaner, more readable, and visually balanced.
4. Verify all elements are functional
   • After publishing a page, check that:
     • Images display correctly and load quickly.
     • Text formatting looks organized and professional.
     • Buttons and interactive elements work properly.

10. Unsecure site

With increasing concerns about online privacy and data security, ensuring your website is secure is crucial. If your site lacks proper security measures, visitors may feel unsafe and leave immediately. 

Security is especially critical for eCommerce websites—customers won’t risk entering payment details on an unsecured platform. Even if you’re only collecting basic information like names and email addresses, a secure website reassures members and increases trust.

How to fix an unsecure website

1. Obtain an SSL Certificate
   • An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate encrypts data exchanged on your site.
   • It changes your URL from HTTP to HTTPS, signaling a secure connection to visitors.
2. Keep software & plugins updated
   • Regularly update your CMS, themes, and plugins to patch vulnerabilities.
   • Outdated software can expose your site to cyberattacks and data breaches.
3. Implement strong authentication measures
   • Enforce strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.
   • Limit admin access to only essential personnel.
4. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
   • A firewall helps block malicious traffic, bots, and hacking attempts.
   • Many hosting providers offer built-in firewall protection.
5. Monitor for security threats
   • Use security tools like Sucuri, Wordfence, or Cloudflare to detect and prevent threats.
   • Regularly scan your site for malware and vulnerabilities.

11. Outdated web design and content

An outdated website can hurt your credibility and user trust. If your design looks old-fashioned, visitors may assume your content is also outdated—making them less likely to trust the information you provide. Members may feel your association is not doing a lot to help support them and could lead to membership cancellations.

Why outdated content & design are problematic

• Loss of trust – Members might believe your site is abandoned or unreliable.
• High bounce rates – Visitors may leave quickly in search of more updated information.
• Missed conversions – An outdated design can make your organization appear unprofessional.

How to fix an outdated website

1. Refresh your website design

• Research modern web design trends to ensure your site looks current and engaging.
• Check popular brand websites to see what design elements they use.
• Consider a website redesign or using a responsive, mobile-friendly theme.

2. Update old content

• Regularly review and refresh outdated blog posts, articles, and web pages.
• Ensure information reflects current industry standards and trends.
• Add a “Last Updated” date to let visitors know the content is recent and relevant.

3. Focus on evergreen content

• Create evergreen content that remains relevant over time (e.g., “How-To” guides, FAQs, and industry best practices).
• Minimize reliance on trendy topics that become obsolete quickly.
• Optimize evergreen posts with updated stats, examples, and case studies.