Luke Duff

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5 Common Website Design Mistakes Sunderland Businesses Make (And How to Fix Them)

After talking about why a professional Sunderland website designer matters and how to choose the right one, I want to cover something just as important: five mistakes that are easy to make on a local business website. The good news is, every one of these can be fixed.

Slow load times

It’s simple: if your site is slow, people can leave before it loads. The fix is usually straightforward: compress images, use proper hosting, and make sure caching is set up. You can test a page for free with Google PageSpeed Insights (opens in a new tab), which suggests how it can be improved.

Poor mobile experience

Many customers will check your site on their phone before deciding whether to call or visit. If the menu is hard to use or the text is too small, they may not stick around. The solution is responsive design tested on different devices, not just a desktop monitor, and I explain why responsive design matters. If your site can’t cope with a phone, a redesign that fixes them is the answer.

Weak SEO

It’s not enough to have a nice-looking site. If it doesn’t include proper headings, meta titles, descriptions, and internal links, it’s harder for Google to understand what each page is about. If you’re not sure about your own site, ask me for a free website check, which looks at your own site for these mistakes.

No clear calls to action

Your site should make it easy for people to take the next step. Whether that’s calling you, booking a service, or visiting your shop. Too many local sites bury their contact details or forget to include call-to-action buttons. Fix this by having your phone number and contact button visible on every page.

No maintenance plan

Websites aren’t set-and-forget. Without updates, they can become insecure and break. The fix is either learning the basics yourself or asking someone to look after the updates and backups for you. That’s what my Care+ plan covers for websites.

Wrapping up

Avoiding these mistakes makes your site easier for customers to use. If you want me to take a look at your site, ask for the free website check, or message me. I reply the same working day, in UK hours. I can also help with Sunderland web design more widely. And if you missed the earlier parts of this series, check out Why Sunderland Businesses Need a Professional Website Designer and How to Choose the Right Website Design Company in Sunderland.

Not sure where to start?

If you've read a post and want a second pair of eyes on your own site, send me your web address.

I reply the same working day, in UK hours.

Or ring 07935 996850. If I can't pick up, leave a message or WhatsApp me.

Or get a free website check. I look at it myself, and your report arrives within 2 working days.

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