Bad websites are like bad haircuts, hard to look at, impossible to ignore, and unfortunately, way too common. We’ve all landed on a site so visually offensive that we wonder, ‘Did they design this in Microsoft Paint?’ But while ugly websites give us something to laugh (or cry) about, they also hold powerful lessons in what not to do, especially if you care about conversions.
Let’s break down the biggest offenders and what they teach us about turning traffic into actual results.
The “Everything and the Kitchen Sink” Design
- What it looks like
- A homepage cluttered with flashing banners, auto-playing videos, and five different CTAs screaming for attention.
- More font styles than a high school PowerPoint presentation.
- Why it kills conversions
- Information overload is a conversion killer. If users don’t know where to look, they won’t look anywhere. A clean, well-structured layout with a single clear CTA will always perform better than a digital yard sale.
Related read: Your Brand’s Secret Life: What Your Logo Would Say If It Could Talk (because strong branding starts with clarity).
The Slow Loader (a.k.a. The Website That Time Forgot)
- What it looks like
- A page that takes so long to load, you have time to make a coffee (and question your life choices).
- High-resolution images that weren’t optimized, because who doesn’t love waiting for a 5MB file to load?
- Why it kills conversions
- Website speed is directly tied to bounce rates. If your page takes longer than 3 seconds to load, nearly 40% of visitors will leave before they even see your content. No visitors = no conversions.
The “Where Am I?” Navigation Nightmare
- What it looks like
- A menu with vague labels like “Stuff” and “More” (helpful, right?).
- No search function, no logical structure—just vibes.
- Why it kills conversions
- If users can’t find what they need within seconds, they won’t stick around to solve the puzzle. Clear, intuitive navigation builds trust and keeps visitors engaged long enough to convert.
Related read: Check out the top web design trends for 2025.
The “Designed in 1998, Never Updated” Look
- What it looks like
- A fixed-width layout that doesn’t adjust to screen sizes.
- A colour scheme that feels legally questionable.
- Stock photos featuring people in business suits shaking hands like it’s a corporate training manual from two decades ago.
- Why it kills conversions
- Outdated websites scream neglect. If your website looks abandoned, customers will assume your business is too. A modern, responsive design signals credibility and keeps users engaged.
Related read: If you’re interested in knowing what playful micro interactions can make your website wow-worthy, do check out our blog on the same!
The Mobile Disaster
- What it looks like
- A desktop site squeezed onto a phone screen like a bad game of Tetris.
- Tiny buttons that require surgical precision to click.
- Text so small it should come with a complimentary magnifying glass.
- Why it kills conversions
- More than half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re losing customers before they even get the chance to convert.
What Can We Learn From These Digital Crimes?
If your website isn’t clear, fast, and easy to use, it doesn’t matter how good your product or service is, people will leave. Good design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about functionality, trust, and making the path to conversion as smooth as possible.
So, if your website feels like it belongs in an internet museum, maybe it’s time for a redesign. Need help? Let’s talk.
