How to make a website look professional—10 mistakes small businesses must avoid

Bruno Veberis
How to make a website look professional—10 mistakes small businesses must avoid

If you're planning to make a website for your small business, chances are you're considering using a DIY website builder. It’s affordable, quick, and gives you full creative control—what’s not to love? But here’s the catch: just because you can build a website yourself doesn’t mean it will automatically look professional. In fact, certain design and content mistakes are so common that they can make even a well-meaning business website feel rushed, outdated, or untrustworthy.

This guide highlights 10 critical errors to avoid when you create a website—and offers practical advice so you can confidently launch a site that builds trust, engages visitors, and reflects the true value of your business.

10 Mistakes That Make Your Website Look Amateurish (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Poor-Quality Images

Nothing screams "unprofessional" like blurry, pixelated, or off-topic images. Small businesses often use random stock photos that don’t match their brand, or worse, low-res pictures taken with a phone. When you make a website, your visuals must support your message. Always use high-quality images that feel relevant and polished.

Tips:

  • Stick to a consistent visual theme (color, lighting, style).
  • Use a website builder with built-in access to professional stock libraries.
  • Compress large images to avoid slow load times. (TinyJPG)

2. Inconsistent Design & Branding

Your website is your digital storefront. A chaotic or inconsistent layout with multiple font styles, mismatched colors, and random button shapes can confuse visitors and make your business seem untrustworthy.

Tips:

  • Choose one or two fonts and 2–3 core brand colors.
  • Use your website builder’s style presets or templates for design consistency.
  • Apply the same logo, voice, and design style across all pages.

3. Unclear Navigation

If visitors can’t find what they’re looking for within seconds, they’ll leave. A website that’s hard to navigate results in lost customers and frustration.

Tips:

  • Use a simple, predictable menu structure: Home, About, Services, Contact.
  • Avoid dropdowns with too many sub-pages.
  • Include a search function if your site has a lot of content.

4. No Mobile Optimization

Today, more than half of your traffic will come from mobile devices. A beautiful desktop design is meaningless if your mobile site is broken, slow, or unreadable.

Tips:

  • Always preview your site in mobile mode when you create a website.
  • Avoid large elements that don’t scale well.
  • Use mobile-responsive templates available in your website builder.

5. Cluttered Pages

Trying to cram too much into one page makes it overwhelming. It’s tempting to tell visitors everything at once, but simplicity builds trust.

Tips:

  • Break content into sections with clear headers.
  • Use bullet points to summarize features or services.
  • Leave plenty of white space to let content breathe.

6. Weak or Generic Copywriting

Text that feels generic, vague, or filled with buzzwords turns people off. Your message should be clear, benefit-driven, and unique to your business.

Tips:

  • Focus on how you help the customer, not just what you do.
  • Write like a human, not a robot.
  • Read your copy out loud—if it sounds awkward, revise it.

7. Lack of Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

If someone visits your site, what do you want them to do next? Without clear CTAs, you’re missing out on conversions.

Tips:

  • Use strong action verbs like “Book a free consultation,” “Buy now,” or “Start your free trial.”
  • Place CTAs above the fold and at the end of each page.
  • Use buttons that stand out visually.

8. No Contact Information or Trust Signals

A visitor who’s interested might want to call, email, or verify your business details—but many DIY sites hide or forget this info.

Tips:

  • Display contact info in your header or footer.
  • Use a contact form with a human-friendly message.
  • Add trust signals like testimonials, reviews, business hours, and social proof.

9. Slow Load Times

A slow website feels unprofessional and frustrates users. Speed is not just a UX issue—it also affects your Google rankings.

 Tips:

  • Use compressed images.
  • Minimize third-party scripts or popups.
  • Choose a fast, reliable website builder for small business owners.

10. No Plan to Maintain or Update the Site

Launching your site is just the beginning. Outdated content, broken links, and old promotions make it seem like your business is inactive.

 Tips:

  • Create a content update checklist (quarterly or monthly).
  • Regularly test all links and forms.
  • Keep your business hours, pricing, and contact details up to date.

Final Thoughts: Build a Website That Reflects Your Business

When you make a website using a DIY website builder, you have the power to control how your brand is presented. Avoiding the 10 mistakes above will help you build a website that’s not only functional but credible, attractive, and aligned with your goals. Whether you’re just starting to create a website or refreshing an old one, remember that your site is often your first impression—make it count.

With the right mindset and tools, any small business owner can learn how to create a website that looks and performs like a professionally built one.

Ready to make a website that truly represents your business? Choose a reliable website builder for small business owners like Mozello and start building with confidence.