Building a website is an exciting step for any business, but it can also be overwhelming. Whether you’re launching a new brand or updating an existing site, there are several pitfalls that can harm your online presence and performance. For homeware brands, health and wellness businesses, and retail entrepreneurs, avoiding these errors ensures your site works as hard as you do.
This guide highlights five key mistakes to avoid during a website build, helping you create a professional site.
Ignoring the User Experience
One of the most damaging mistakes in any website build is neglecting user experience (UX). Your visitors should instantly understand how to navigate your site. Confusing layouts, unclear menus, or slow loading times can drive users away before they even see what you offer.
An effective website should guide users naturally—using clear headings, consistent colours, and well-organised content. Your call-to-action buttons should stand out, and your site should be fully responsive for both desktop and mobile users. A positive user experience builds trust and keeps visitors engaged, encouraging them to browse longer and convert into paying customers.
Skipping the Planning Stage
Many businesses rush into making a website without proper preparation. This often leads to design inconsistencies, missed opportunities, and wasted resources. Before development begins, it’s essential to define your goals, audience, and messaging.
Ask yourself key questions: What are your customers looking for? What actions do you want them to take? What sets your business apart? By planning your sitemap, branding, and content in advance, you’ll streamline the design process and reduce costly changes later on. A well-thought-out plan also ensures your website accurately reflects your brand identity and business objectives from day one.
Overlooking Functionality and SEO
Focusing too much on design while overlooking performance is a mistake many businesses make during a website build. While visuals are important, a beautiful site is useless if it doesn’t load quickly, function properly, or appear in search results.
To avoid this, combine strong design with technical optimisation. Compress images, fix broken links, and ensure your content follows basic SEO principles such as clean URLs, relevant headings, and structured metadata. If you decide to build your own website, learn how to implement SEO-friendly practices from the start. It’s much harder to fix these issues after launch.
Choosing the Wrong Platform
Selecting the right platform is one of the most important early decisions when creating a website for business. Opting for a limited or outdated system can restrict your growth, integrations, and customisation options.
Consider your long-term goals: do you need an e-commerce setup, booking functionality, or a content-heavy layout? The best website builders offer flexibility, scalability, and ease of management while maintaining professional quality. Investing in the right platform early on prevents costly migrations later and ensures your website can evolve as your business grows.
Neglecting Ongoing Maintenance
Launching your website isn’t the end—it’s the beginning. A common mistake is treating your site as a one-time project rather than a long-term asset. Regular updates, performance monitoring, and security checks are vital for keeping your site relevant and safe.
Many businesses underestimate how often technology, design trends, and search algorithms change. Set aside time each month to review performance analytics, refresh content, and ensure plugins or themes are up to date. Regular maintenance not only improves user experience but also protects your investment.
Avoiding these common mistakes during your
website build helps ensure your site becomes a strong asset that reflects your professionalism and brand values. With careful planning, the right tools, and consistent maintenance, you can create a digital space that engages visitors and turns them into loyal customers.
At
ETA Web Design Chorley, we specialise in creating bespoke websites that combine beauty with performance. Our expert team understands the unique needs of homeware, health and wellness, and retail businesses. We craft websites that are visually appealing, easy to navigate, and optimised for growth.
We handle every stage of development—from strategy and design to SEO and ongoing maintenance—ensuring your website works seamlessly and delivers measurable results. Whether you’re starting fresh or upgrading an existing platform, we provide scalable, future-ready solutions tailored to your brand.
Update on X: Business
website build – the biggest mistakes to avoid for success!
