Starting your website is exciting—but also kind of scary, right? There are so many choices, buttons, colors, and pages… it’s easy to get lost and end up with a site that looks pretty but doesn’t do much.
Good news? You don’t need to be a tech pro or spend a ton of money to get it right. You just need to avoid a few common mistakes that many new business owners make (I made most of them too when I was starting out!).
So let’s walk through the top five website mistakes beginners make—and how you can fix them.
Mistake #1: Making It All About You (Instead of Your Audience)
What happens:
You spend hours writing about your journey, your services, your goals… but when someone visits your site, they don’t see how you can help them.
You spend hours writing about your journey, your services, your goals… but when someone visits your site, they don’t see how you can help them.
Why it’s a problem:
People are usually asking one big question when they land on your website:
“Can this person help me with what I need?”
People are usually asking one big question when they land on your website:
“Can this person help me with what I need?”
If they can’t see that answer right away, they’ll bounce.
How to fix it:
- Start your homepage with a clear headline that speaks to your ideal client.
- Use phrases like “I help [who] do [what result].”
- Focus your words around the problems your audience is facing and how you solve them.
Example:
Instead of “Welcome to my website, I’m Jane, a life coach,” try:
“Feel stuck? I help women create calm, confidence, and clarity—one step at a time.”
Instead of “Welcome to my website, I’m Jane, a life coach,” try:
“Feel stuck? I help women create calm, confidence, and clarity—one step at a time.”
Mistake #2: Trying to Do Too Much on One Page
What happens:
You try to cram everything into one page—your services, your story, testimonials, blog, contact form, maybe even a recipe.
You try to cram everything into one page—your services, your story, testimonials, blog, contact form, maybe even a recipe.
Why it’s a problem:
Too much information = brain overload. People get confused and leave.
Too much information = brain overload. People get confused and leave.
How to fix it:
Keep each page focused and clean. These are the main pages most new websites need:
Keep each page focused and clean. These are the main pages most new websites need:
- Homepage: A quick overview of what you do and who you help
- About Page: Your story—but make it connect to your audience
- Services Page: What you offer, how it helps, and how to get started
- Lead Magnet Page: A freebie that helps grow your email list
- Sales Page: For your paid offers
- Contact Page or Form: So people can reach out easily
Start simple. You can always grow later.
Mistake #3: Not Giving People a Next Step
What happens:
Your website visitor is interested, but… now what? There’s no clear button to click, offer to grab, or direction to go.
Your website visitor is interested, but… now what? There’s no clear button to click, offer to grab, or direction to go.
Why it’s a problem:
People need guidance. If they don’t know what to do next, they’ll just close the tab.
People need guidance. If they don’t know what to do next, they’ll just close the tab.
How to fix it:
Add a clear call-to-action (CTA) on every page. That just means a button or link that tells people what to do.
Add a clear call-to-action (CTA) on every page. That just means a button or link that tells people what to do.
Examples:
- “Grab the Free Guide”
- “Book a Free Call”
- “See My Services”
- “Get the Checklist”
Make it obvious and easy!
Mistake #4: Choosing the Cheapest Platform (and Then Regretting It)
What happens:
You pick a free or super cheap website builder… only to realize it doesn’t let you grow. Now you’re stuck upgrading, paying for multiple tools, or rebuilding everything later.
You pick a free or super cheap website builder… only to realize it doesn’t let you grow. Now you’re stuck upgrading, paying for multiple tools, or rebuilding everything later.
Why it’s a problem:
You end up wasting more time, money, and energy trying to patch things together.
You end up wasting more time, money, and energy trying to patch things together.
How to fix it:
Choose a beginner-friendly platform that’s built for business growth, not just pretty pages.
Choose a beginner-friendly platform that’s built for business growth, not just pretty pages.
My favorite tool: AttractWell
It’s all-in-one—you get a website, email marketing, lead magnet delivery, CRM (contact manager), membership features, Zoom integration, payment options, and more. It saves so much time and headache.
It’s all-in-one—you get a website, email marketing, lead magnet delivery, CRM (contact manager), membership features, Zoom integration, payment options, and more. It saves so much time and headache.
Choose a platform that fits where you’re going, not just where you are right now.
Mistake #5: Waiting Until Everything Is “Perfect” to Launch
What happens:
You keep tweaking your fonts, rewriting your about page, picking the perfect photo… and you never actually launch the site.
You keep tweaking your fonts, rewriting your about page, picking the perfect photo… and you never actually launch the site.
Why it’s a problem:
Your website can’t help you grow your business if no one sees it.
Your website can’t help you grow your business if no one sees it.
How to fix it:
Done is better than perfect. Your site is meant to grow and evolve over time. Launch with the basics and improve as you go.
Done is better than perfect. Your site is meant to grow and evolve over time. Launch with the basics and improve as you go.
Set a deadline, hit publish, and celebrate that first step.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple, Keep It Clear
Your website doesn’t have to be complicated, fancy, or “perfect.” It just needs to do three main things:
- Let people know how you can help them
- Make it easy to work with you or learn more
- Help you grow your audience (with an email list or free offer)
Avoid these five common mistakes, and you’ll be way ahead of the game.
You’ve got this—and your website is just one tool (a powerful one!) to help you grow your dream business from the ground up.
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