The most common web design mistakes are a slow site, poor mobile design, hidden contact details, no SSL, no WhatsApp button, huge photos, copied content, a domain not in your name, no backups and no Google Business Profile link. Fixing these usually brings more enquiries without a full redesign.
Open your own website on your phone right now. Be honest. Is the number easy to find? Does it open fast? Do the buttons work? Many of the problems below take only a few hours to fix, and fixing them can change how many people call you.
Here are the 10 mistakes we see most often on Chennai business websites, with simple fixes for each.
What goes wrong: Photos straight from a camera are often very large. As a result, the page takes a long time to open, especially for visitors using mobile data.
Fix: Compress images before uploading them, use modern image formats such as WebP, and ask your developer to check hosting speed. Remove plugins or scripts that your website does not use.
What goes wrong: Text is tiny, buttons overlap, menus do not open and visitors must pinch and zoom to read the content. These problems make your business look unprofessional.
Fix: Test every page on a real phone, not only on a computer. Ask your web company for a mobile-first design that works across different screen sizes.
What goes wrong: Your phone number sits in small grey text at the bottom of the page or appears only on the Contact page. Visitors who want to call quickly may leave instead.
Fix: Display your phone number and WhatsApp contact prominently at the top of every page. Make the phone number clickable so mobile visitors can tap it to start a call.
You can also add a clear WhatsApp contact button to make enquiries easier.
What goes wrong: The browser shows a "Not secure" warning when someone visits your website. This can make visitors uncomfortable and cause them to leave.
Fix: Install an SSL certificate and make sure every page opens using HTTPS. Check that HTTP pages redirect correctly to HTTPS, and monitor certificate expiry so it can be renewed on time.
What goes wrong: A visitor lands on your home page and does not know what your business offers or what to do next. A page without a clear next step can lose potential customers.
Fix: In the first screen, explain what you do in one clear line. Add a visible button such as "Call Now", "WhatsApp Us" or "Get a Quote". Choose an action that matches your business goals.
What goes wrong: Text copied from other websites and photos taken from Google can reduce trust and may create copyright problems. Duplicate or unhelpful content can also weaken your website's search visibility.
Fix: Write website content in your own words using simple language. Use photographs taken for your business or images you have permission to use. Make sure the content accurately describes your products and services.
What goes wrong: If you and your developer part ways, you may face difficulties managing your web address or transferring it to another provider.
Fix: Register your domain in your own name or your business's name. Keep the registrar login details safe and make sure you can access the domain settings. If you are unsure who controls your domain, check the available registration information using a WHOIS lookup tool.
If you need help with your domain or hosting arrangements, explore our domain and hosting services.
What goes wrong: Your website gets hacked, files are accidentally deleted or an update breaks the site. Without a usable backup, restoring the website can become difficult and costly.
Fix: Ask for automatic backups stored separately from the main server. Confirm how frequently backups run, how long they are retained and how to request a restore if something goes wrong.
Read our guide to website maintenance plans to understand the importance of ongoing website care.
What goes wrong: Your website shows one phone number while your Google Business Profile shows another. Different business details can confuse potential customers and make it harder for them to verify your business information.
Fix: Keep your business name, address and phone number consistent across your website and Google Business Profile. Add your website URL to your profile and provide a clear link from your website to your Google business listing where appropriate.
What goes wrong: You choose a company because it replied first or sounded confident, without checking whether it has delivered good websites for real clients.
Fix: Ask for live website links. Open those websites on your phone, test their buttons and contact forms, and review how quickly the pages load. If possible, speak with one or two previous clients about their experience.
Before hiring a provider, read our 12 questions to ask a web design company and our guide on how to choose a web design company in Chennai .
If you can fix only one thing today, fix your contact details. A visitor who cannot find your number is a potential customer you could lose. Make sure your phone number, WhatsApp button and enquiry form are easy to find and work correctly.
After that, prioritise these improvements:
You do not need to change everything at once. Start with the problems that prevent customers from contacting you, then work through the remaining improvements.
Use this simple checklist to find common problems before contacting your developer.
Write down every problem you find and give the list to your developer. Ask them to explain which issues can be fixed on your current website and which ones may require a larger change.
A Chennai service business thought it needed a new website because nobody was calling. A closer check revealed two simple problems: the phone number was displayed in tiny grey text at the bottom of the page, and the contact form was not sending emails.
After those two issues were fixed, customers could find the number more easily and website enquiries could reach the business. A complete redesign was not needed to address those problems.
The lesson is simple: before investing in a new website, check whether your existing site has basic problems that are preventing customers from contacting you.
Not every website problem can be solved with a small adjustment. If your website is very old, cannot be edited, has a broken layout or uses outdated technology that blocks important improvements, a redesign may be the better option.
Before making that decision, read our guide to website redesign signs . It can help you decide whether your current website needs a few corrections or a more complete update.
You can also review our website design cost in Chennai guide to understand the factors that can affect the cost of a new website.
Want to know what is stopping your website from getting enquiries? Send your website link to Sanishsoft on WhatsApp at +91 90801 46764. We will review your website on mobile and help you identify what to fix first.
Explore our website design services to learn more about creating or improving your online presence. If you want to discuss your website requirements directly, contact Sanishsoft.
What is the biggest website mistake small businesses make?
Hiding or breaking the contact details. If visitors cannot call, message or send a form easily, they leave. Also check mobile view and speed.
Why is my website not getting enquiries?
Common reasons are slow loading, poor mobile design, hidden contact details, broken forms, no SSL and weak content. Check these first.
How do I know if my domain is in my name?
Use a WHOIS lookup tool or ask your developer for the registrar login. The owner name should be you or your business.
Do I need a new website to fix these mistakes?
Not always. Many of these can be fixed on the current site. A full redesign is needed only if the site is very old or hard to edit.
How often should I check my website?
Check it on your phone every week, test the contact form every month and review the content every three months.
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