If your website isn’t helping you get more customers, it’s probably hurting you. Many businesses in Philadelphia are beginning to recognize this. Whether it’s a restaurant in Fishtown, a shop on South Street, or a service provider in Center City, a strong website can make a huge difference. But many local businesses are still making simple mistakes and paying the price.
At Rise, we’ve worked on enough website development in Philadelphia to spot the patterns. Some issues tend to arise repeatedly. The good news? These problems are easy to fix, especially during a website redesign. In this blog, we’ll walk through five common website mistakes and how to correct them so your site actually supports your business.
1. Slow Load Times That Push Visitors Away
Let’s be honest, no one likes waiting. If your site takes longer than a few seconds to load, people will bounce. This is particularly relevant for mobile users, as most web traffic in Philadelphia comes from mobile devices.
What causes slow websites? Often it’s oversized images, too many plugins, or outdated code. These are all things a good website development team in Philadelphia can help you fix quickly.
How to fix it:
Start with a performance check. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights will show where your site is slowing down. Then work with a local developer to compress images, remove bloat, and make your site leaner and faster.
2. Confusing Navigation That Loses Visitors
Your website should be easy to use. If people can’t find what they’re looking for within a few clicks, they’ll leave, and probably not come back. We see this mistake all the time, especially on older local business websites.
Menus that are too crowded, missing contact info, or poor mobile layouts all make it harder for people to trust your business.
How to fix it:
Stick to simple, clear menus. Use direct labels like “About,” “Services,” and “Contact.” Keep the structure flat and mobile-friendly. A smart website development approach in Philadelphia should focus on user-first navigation that works for both locals and visitors.
3. Outdated Design That Hurts Credibility
First impressions count, especially online. If your website looks like it hasn’t been updated since 2010, visitors may assume your business isn’t active or modern either.
This doesn’t mean you need flashy animations or trendy features. But clean layouts, fresh fonts, mobile-friendly pages, and a modern feel go a long way in building trust.
How to fix it:
If your site looks outdated, it’s time for a redesign. Collaborate with a team that specializes in website development in Philadelphia and understands your target audience. Ask for a design that’s not just stylish, but functional, fast, and made to convert.
4. Missing or Weak Calls-to-Action
If your website doesn’t clearly tell people what to do next, they probably won’t do anything. That’s a problem. Every page should guide users toward a simple action, call, book, buy, sign up, or visit.
Many Philly businesses have websites that give good information, but forget the next step. If you don’t have a strong call-to-action (CTA), you risk losing potential leads.
How to fix it:
Make sure every page has one clear, visible CTA. Use buttons that stand out. Whether it’s “Book a Table,” “Get a Free Quote,” or “Call Now,” make it easy for visitors to act. Good website development in Philadelphia always includes thoughtful CTA placement.
5. No Local Optimization
Your site might look great, but if it’s not helping you show up in Philly search results, it’s not doing its job. Many local businesses forget to include location-specific keywords or map listings. That means they miss out on people searching for their services nearby.
How to fix it:
Use city-based phrases naturally throughout your site. For example, instead of just “website design,” say “website design in Philadelphia.” Include your address, add a Google Map, and make sure your site is linked to a Google Business Profile. Location-focused website development in Philadelphia should always support local SEO.
Final Thoughts
Your website is often the first place potential customers discover your business. If it’s slow, confusing, or outdated, you’ll miss opportunities to build trust and gain customers. Luckily, the most common website mistakes are easy to fix with the right team and a smart plan.
At Rise, we focus on website development in Philadelphia that blends clean design, fast performance, and smart strategy. We build websites that help local businesses do more, book more, sell more, and grow more. If you’re ready to stop losing leads and start making your website work harder for you, we’re here to help.