10 Common Web Design Mistakes Perth Businesses Make (and How to Avoid Them)

For many Perth businesses, a website is the very first touchpoint with potential customers. Whether you’re a café in Fremantle, a tradie in Willetton, or an ecommerce shop selling nationwide, your website needs to do more than just look good - it needs to work.

Unfortunately, we see the same mistakes over and over again. These errors don’t just make your site look unprofessional; they cost you customers, sales, and Google rankings.

Here are the 10 most common web design mistakes Perth businesses make - and how you can avoid them.

1. Not Mobile-Friendly

More than half of Perth’s web traffic now comes from mobile devices, and for many industries, it’s closer to 70%. If your website doesn’t resize properly for phones and tablets, you’re losing customers.

Mobile users faced with tiny text, broken layouts, or buttons that are impossible to tap will abandon your site in seconds. Worse still, Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily looks at your mobile site when deciding rankings.

👉 How to fix it: Always use a responsive design that adapts to screen sizes. On Wix, responsiveness is built in; on WordPress, make sure your theme is mobile-optimised. Don’t just rely on previews — test your site on iPhones, Androids, and tablets.

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2. Slow Loading Times

We’ve all clicked away from a website that took too long to load. Research shows that if your site takes more than 3 seconds, most visitors will leave. For a Perth business, that could mean the difference between gaining a new client and losing them to your competitor.

Slow websites also suffer in Google rankings because page speed is a ranking factor. Common culprits include oversized images, too many plugins, and poor hosting.

👉 How to fix it: Compress your images, limit unnecessary plugins, and choose reliable hosting. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can show you exactly what’s slowing your site down.

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3. Missing SEO Basics

We often see Perth business sites with no proper title tags, meta descriptions, or heading structures. These aren’t optional extras — they’re the foundation of being found in Google.

Without them, your site is essentially invisible to search engines. You could have the best café in Cottesloe, but if your site isn’t optimised, people searching for “café in Cottesloe” won’t find you.

👉 How to fix it: Make sure every page has:

• A keyword-rich title tag

• A clear meta description

• Properly structured H1, H2, H3 headings

Wix and WordPress both allow you to edit these easily.

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4. Confusing Navigation

Your customers don’t want to solve a puzzle to find your services. If your menu is cluttered, hidden, or inconsistent, visitors will bounce.

A Perth electrician’s website, for example, should clearly show “Services”, “About”, and “Contact” — not bury them under vague labels.

👉 How to fix it: Keep menus simple and logical. Use dropdowns only when necessary. Aim for 2–3 clicks max to reach any key page.

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5. Weak Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

You might be surprised how many Perth business websites forget to tell visitors what to do next. A page that ends without a clear button or prompt is a missed opportunity.

CTAs like “Learn More” are too vague. Instead, use direct language:

• “Book a Free Consultation”

• “Get a Quote Today”

• “Order Now”

👉 How to fix it: Add strong CTAs to every page. Use contrasting colours for buttons so they stand out. Place them strategically at the top, middle, and end of pages.

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6. DIY Gone Wrong

DIY website builders have made it easy for anyone to create a website. But without design knowledge, the results often look unprofessional.

We’ve seen Perth sites with six different fonts, clashing colours, and blurry photos. While DIY saves money upfront, it can hurt your brand credibility long-term.

👉 How to fix it: Keep branding consistent. Use professional images. Better yet, work with a web designer to polish your DIY start into a professional site.

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7. No Security (HTTPS)

If your website still shows “Not Secure” in the browser bar, customers won’t trust you — especially if you’re asking for contact details or payments.

Google also penalises non-HTTPS sites in rankings.

👉 How to fix it: Install an SSL certificate. Wix includes SSL automatically. WordPress sites should get SSL via their hosting provider.

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8. Outdated Content

We’ve come across Perth business websites with news updates from 2015 or team photos of staff who left years ago. Outdated content sends the message that your business isn’t active.

👉 How to fix it: Update your blog or news section at least quarterly. Refresh staff bios and service details. If you don’t have time, consider outsourcing content updates.

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9. No Local Optimisation

Perth customers want to know you’re local. Yet many business websites leave out their suburb or don’t include a map.

If you’re a physio in Bull Creek but don’t mention it, Google won’t connect you with local searchers.

👉 How to fix it: Add your suburb to page titles, headings, and body copy. Embed a Google Map on your Contact page. Optimise your Google Business Profile.

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10. Ignoring Accessibility

Accessibility isn’t just about compliance — it’s about making your website usable for everyone.

Without alt text, high-contrast colours, or keyboard navigation, you may exclude customers with vision or mobility impairments.

👉 How to fix it: Add alt text to all images, use strong colour contrast, and ensure your site can be navigated by keyboard. Both Wix and WordPress have accessibility tools to help.

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Conclusion

Your website is your digital shopfront. By avoiding these 10 mistakes, you’ll create a site that not only looks good but also builds trust, improves SEO, and converts more visitors into paying customers.

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FAQs

What is the most common web design mistake Perth businesses make?

Not being mobile-friendly. With over half of traffic in Perth coming from mobile, this is critical.

How can I speed up my website?

Compress images, use reliable hosting, and simplify your design.

Do I need an SSL certificate?

Yes. Without HTTPS, your site shows “Not Secure” and can lose customer trust.

How often should I update my website?

At least once a quarter to keep content fresh and relevant.

At Wolf Web Designs, we help Perth businesses create fast, mobile-friendly, and professional websites that avoid these common pitfalls. Don’t let simple web design mistakes cost your business customers. At Wolf Web Designs, we build fast, mobile-friendly, SEO-optimised websites designed for Perth businesses.

👉 Book your free consultation today and get a professional review of your website.