3 Common Website Design Mistakes That Can Hurt Your SEO (+21 point checklist)
Website Design and SEO Go Together Like…
Peanut butter & jelly. Or chocolate & peanut butter (mmm… Reese’s). Or a Wendy’s Frosty and French fries. Or… or… you get the idea. But can website design mistakes that hurt SEO? YES!
Designing a website isn’t just about making it look pretty. You’re creating an experience that seamlessly blends functionality with purpose all while, hopefully, making your browser feel seen, felt, and heard. When design and SEO work together, they drive traffic, engagement, and conversions.
SEO is the front porch light that makes sure you’re found, and a well thought out design is like an open floor plan that keeps visitors engaged. Together, they create the foundation for online success, building a digital presence that both looks and performs exceptionally.
A website with strong SEO but poor design might attract visitors, only to lose them immediately to a frustrating user experience. Similarly, a beautifully designed site that search engines can’t find is like a masterpiece locked away from view. Finding the balance where design & SEO dance together gracefully can transform your site from average to outstanding, giving you an edge in today’s digital landscape.
Let’s look at 3 design mistakes that hurt SEO. Ready? Set GO!
Common Design Mistake #1: Overuse of Pop-Ups and Intrusive Ads
Question. How many pop-ups have to appear before you say ‘See ya later’ on a website? For me, more than two within a few seconds and I’m gone.
While pop-ups can be effective marketing tools, overuse disrupts the user experience. Google penalizes sites with intrusive pop-ups, making moderation crucial.
Use pop-ups strategically and make them easy to dismiss. Time delayed or scroll depth are ideal for keeping users engaged on the page. Provide genuine value through discounts or exclusive content, and time them thoughtfully to avoid disrupting the user’s journey.
My favorite pop-ups (and I use it loosely) are the ones that happen when you start to exit a page ONLY WHEN you’ve scrolled to the bottom. I’ve seen some clever ones that talk about coming so far and to give them another chance.
Common Design Mistake #2: Inconsistent or Poor Navigation
Poor navigation creates hurdles to jump for users exploring your site. When visitors can’t find what they need, they leave. Browsers need a clear path that can be repeated every time they visit. Much like when your best friend pops by; they know exactly where to fin your.
Search engines need logical structure to index content effectively, so confusing navigation hurts your rankings.
A well-organized & simple menu with clear labels enhances usability and helps search engines crawl your site. Group related content logically and add breadcrumb navigation to improve user orientation.
Common Design Mistake #3: Ignoring Accessibility Standards
What is accessibility? It’s the quality of being reached or entered, easy to obtain or use, and easily understood or appreciated.
Accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s a powerful SEO strategy. Making your site accessible to everyone improves engagement and signals quality to search engines.
Ways you can ensure your website is accessible to all are — include alt text for images, sufficient color contrast, and use descriptive link text. Using tools like WAVE and accessiBe enable you to identify and resolve accessibility issues.
BONUS Common Design Mistake: Bigger Isn’t Always Better
Not taking the time to optimize your images and video files could be hurting your SEO! High-resolution visuals can enhance your site, but they come at a cost. Large files slow down loading times, hurting both user experience and SEO.
Using tools like TinyPNG and ImageCompressor help reduce file sizes while maintaining quality. Implement lazy loading, use proper file names, and embrace modern formats like WebP to optimize performance without sacrificing visual appeal.
For my WordPress friends, there are lots of plugins that can help you with the best practices above. Some of my favorites are WP Rocket, WP-Optimize, and Performance Lab.
So, What Can You Do?
Performing regular audits, practicing thoughtful design (templates help), and a user-first approach ensures that your site will thrive. When you prioritize clarity, performance, and accessibility you create an experience that resonates with users and search engines alike.
Now that you’re armed with three (plus one) common design mistakes that can hurt your SEO, let’s take it to the next level! Grab my Website Level Up Checklist.
This 21 point checklist takes you through the set up, ramp up, & check up of that dance that is design and SEO. From making sure you’re gathering data to giving you things to think about when you’re creating your content.
