.png)
You invested in a slick Webflow site. It looks beautiful. But sales are flat, users are confused, and you’re constantly fielding “where do I find…” emails.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the issue: great design isn’t just how it looks. It’s how it works. And many Webflow sites, even expensive ones, fall short where it matters most.
This guide breaks down the most common Webflow design mistakes we see, why they matter, and how to fix them. No fluff. No code. Just clear, practical advice for business owners who want their website to work harder.
Why this matters: Your site is your hardest working salesperson
A well-built site should:
- Build trust instantly
- Guide users to act
- Back up your brand promise
- Reduce friction in your sales process
If it looks great but confuses people, loads slowly, or buries the good stuff, it’s doing the opposite. And that costs real money in lost leads, wasted ads, and frustrated users.
Key Tip: Design is a business tool, not a personal expression.
This might sting: your website isn’t for you. It’s for your customers. What you like doesn’t always match what works. We’ve seen clients fall in love with their own ideas (abstract layouts, cryptic copy, slow video) only to find conversions tank.
The best-performing sites prioritise clarity over creativity. Personality is great. Confusion is not.
The top Webflow design mistakes (and how to fix them)
1. Designing for desktop only
Over 70% of traffic is mobile. Yet we still see sites where the mobile version feels like an afterthought: cramped, broken, or half-baked.
Fix it: Design mobile-first, or at least give it equal attention. Use Webflow’s breakpoints to adjust spacing, font sizes, and flow.
Example: A luxury skincare brand had a beautiful desktop site. On mobile, the product images were cropped and the CTA button was barely visible. After a mobile-focused redesign, mobile conversions jumped 38%.
2. Overloading the homepage
Trying to say everything at once? You’re not alone. Many homepages are bloated with multiple CTAs, carousels, awards, testimonials, and a 12-scroll intro.
Fix it: Focus on one clear message and one next step. Use supporting content below the fold, not all at once.
Example: A B2B SaaS client cut homepage content by half and focused on a single lead gen CTA. Lead quality improved immediately.
3. Hiding key information
Users shouldn’t have to guess what you do, who you help, or how to take the next step. If your value prop is buried under video or vague headlines, you’re losing people.
Fix it: Use clear, front-loaded copy. Put your main message in the first few seconds of the user experience.
Example: A creative agency led with poetic copy about “breaking boundaries”. We rewrote it to say exactly what they do, who for, and the value they bring. Bounce rate dropped.
4. Using design trends with no strategic reason
Marquees, brutalist grids, scroll jacking. Cool if used well, painful if used badly. Many sites follow trends without considering usability.
Fix it: Only use trends if they support your goals. Test with real users or your internal team. Ask, “Does this help or distract?”
Example: A fashion retailer had a glitchy scroll experience that felt on-brand but confused users. A simplified layout with subtle flair performed better.
5. Slow load times
Big images, background videos, and unoptimised assets are Webflow killers. They look impressive but can slow your site to a crawl.
Fix it: Compress images. Lazy-load where possible. Limit autoplay video. Use Webflow’s built-in tools to audit performance.
Example: An architecture studio had a beautiful site full of videos. Mobile users were bouncing fast. We swapped video headers for image fallbacks. Load speed improved, and time on page increased.
6. Ignoring structure and accessibility
If your headings aren’t ordered properly, buttons aren’t labelled, or contrast is poor, your site becomes hard to use. Especially for assistive tech.
Fix it: Use semantic HTML tags (Webflow makes this easy). Check colour contrast. Label buttons clearly. Test with tools like WAVE.
Example: An ecommerce brand cleaned up its structure and improved colour contrast. Not only was it more inclusive, it ranked better in search.
7. Poor CMS setup
Webflow’s CMS is powerful, but only if set up correctly. Many sites use static pages where CMS collections would save hours.
Fix it: Structure your site with Collections for blogs, case studies, products, or team members. Use CMS filters and sorting to simplify updates.
Example: A law firm was manually updating 30+ service pages. We rebuilt using CMS collections with filters by topic and region. Updating now takes minutes.
8. Weak call-to-actions
“Learn more” is vague. “Click here” is worse. CTAs should be clear, specific, and aligned with user intent.
Fix it: Use action-led language. Think about what your user wants, not what you want.
Example: A digital product studio changed their homepage CTA from “Let’s talk” to “Book a 15-min intro call”. Clicks doubled.
Common pushback: “But we already paid for this site”
Yes, and it probably worked at the time. But your business has evolved, and your site needs to keep up.
Websites aren’t one-off projects. They’re living assets. The best brands revisit and refine them regularly.
Avoiding change because of sunk costs means missing out on better results.
What to do now
1. Test your site on mobile today
Scroll like a customer. What’s annoying? What’s unclear?
2. Revisit your homepage
Can a new visitor understand what you do in 5 seconds?
3. Check your CTAs
Are they specific and useful, or vague and safe?
4. Run a speed test
Use tools like PageSpeed Insights or Webflow’s audit panel.
5. Pick one thing to fix
You don’t need a full redesign. Start with your biggest friction point.
Need a hand spotting issues? We help NZ businesses make their Webflow sites more effective, with design that earns its keep. If you want a fresh set of eyes, we’re here.
