15 Bad Website Examples and How to Fix Them

See 15 bad website examples and learn how to fix confusing navigation, weak copy, poor mobile design, slow pages and broken conversion paths.

Bad websites are not always ugly.

Some look modern but hide the contact button. Others load slowly because of large videos, use vague copy or force visitors through confusing menus. A website can win design awards and still fail to generate calls, bookings or sales.

The clearest bad website examples share one problem: they make visitors work harder than necessary.

Below are 15 common examples, why they fail and how to fix them.

What you’ll learn

• What makes a website bad
• Which design problems reduce trust and conversions
• How poor navigation affects usability
• Why attractive websites can still perform badly
• How to fix mobile, speed and accessibility issues
• Which mistakes hurt local business websites
• How to decide between repairs and a full redesign

What makes a bad website?

A bad website prevents visitors from completing the task that brought them there.

That task may be:

• Finding a service
• Checking a price
• Booking an appointment
• Calling the company
• Buying a product
• Reading an article
• Getting directions
• Requesting support
• Making a donation

Common signs of a bad website include:

• Unclear messaging
• Confusing navigation
• Slow loading
• Weak mobile design
• Broken forms
• Outdated content
• Poor accessibility
• Too many pop-ups
• Missing contact details
• No clear call to action

The problem is not only appearance.

A plain website can work well when it is fast, clear and easy to use. A polished website can fail when its design gets in the way.

1. A homepage that does not explain the business

A visitor arrives and sees:

Building better futures.

or:

Solutions that move you forward.

The wording may sound professional, but it does not explain:

• What the company sells
• Who it serves
• Where it operates
• What the visitor should do next

This forces people to search through the navigation or scroll through several sections.

Why it fails

Visitors decide quickly whether a page is relevant.

A vague headline creates uncertainty and increases the chance that they leave.

How to fix it

Use a headline that identifies the service and audience.

Weak:

Transforming possibilities.

Stronger:

Commercial cleaning services for offices across Denver.

Supporting copy can add more detail:

Schedule recurring office cleaning, floor care and post-construction cleanup with a local team.

The homepage should answer the basic question before introducing the brand story.

2. A website with too many menu items

A bad navigation menu may include:

• Home
• About
• Our Story
• Our Mission
• What We Do
• Solutions
• Services
• Industries
• Resources
• Insights
• Blog
• News
• Media
• Contact
• Get Started

Some menus also use several nested dropdown levels.

Why it fails

Visitors must compare several similar labels before choosing.

They may not understand the difference between:

• Services and Solutions
• Resources and Insights
• About and Our Story

On mobile, a large menu can become even harder to scan.

How to fix it

Group pages into a smaller number of clear categories.

For example:

• Services
• Industries
• Projects
• About
• Resources
• Contact

Use labels that match the words customers use.

Keep important services accessible without forcing visitors through three dropdowns.

3. A website that hides the contact information

Some websites place the phone number only on the Contact page.

Others use a generic contact icon with no label or hide details inside the footer.

This is particularly damaging for:

• Electricians
• HVAC companies
• Plumbers
• Restaurants
• Salons
• Medical practices
• Local professional services

Why it fails

Visitors may already be ready to contact the business.

Every extra step adds friction.

How to fix it

Place the primary contact option in the header.

Useful elements include:

• Clickable phone number
• Book Now button
• Request a Quote button
• Clear Contact link
• Location and opening hours where relevant

On mobile, consider a visible call or booking button.

Do not hide the main conversion behind a hamburger menu when it can remain visible.

4. A website with no clear call to action

Some pages end without telling the visitor what to do next.

Others show several equal buttons:

• Learn More
• Discover
• Explore
• Read More
• Get Started
• Contact Us
• See Solutions

Why it fails

Visitors may understand the offer but remain unsure which action fits their situation.

Generic labels also provide little context.

How to fix it

Match the call to action with the page.

Examples:

• Request a roofing estimate
• Book a salon appointment
• View restaurant menu
• Start a free trial
• Donate to the campaign
• Download the pricing guide
• Talk to a commercial HVAC specialist

Use one primary CTA and a limited number of secondary actions.

5. A website overloaded with pop-ups

A visitor opens the page and immediately sees:

1. Cookie banner
2. Newsletter pop-up
3. Chat window
4. Discount offer
5. Browser notification request

On mobile, these layers may cover almost the entire screen.

Why it fails

The visitor cannot read the content or complete the intended action.

Multiple overlays also make the site feel aggressive and difficult to trust.

How to fix it

Prioritize.

Use only the messages that serve a clear purpose.

Possible improvements include:

• Delay the newsletter prompt
• Avoid showing it on high-intent pages
• Keep chat minimized
• Do not request browser notifications immediately
• Make close buttons visible
• Test the complete experience on a phone

A contact form page does not need a pop-up asking the visitor to join the newsletter.

6. A website that loads slowly because of large media

Common causes include:

• Autoplay background video
• Full-resolution photographs
• Large animations
• Several font files
• Unused scripts
• Social media embeds
• Chat widgets
• Advertising tools
• Heavy page builders

Why it fails

Visitors may leave before the main content or buttons appear.

Slow pages are especially frustrating on mobile connections.

How to fix it

Start with the largest and most visible issues.

• Compress images
• Use modern image formats
• Resize images before upload
• Remove unnecessary video
• Limit third-party scripts
• Load embeds only when needed
• Remove unused apps and plugins
• Test several page types

Do not optimize only the homepage.

Product, service and article templates may be slower.

7. A desktop website squeezed onto mobile

A responsive template can still produce a poor mobile experience after customization.

Common problems include:

• Tiny text
• Horizontal scrolling
• Buttons too close together
• Tables wider than the screen
• Forms that do not fit
• Sticky bars covering content
• Images with important text cropped out
• Menus that do not close

Why it fails

Mobile visitors cannot complete simple tasks.

A local service website may lose calls because the phone number is too small or not clickable.

How to fix it

Test the site on a real phone.

Complete real tasks:

• Find a service
• Open the menu
• Submit the form
• Book an appointment
• Add a product to cart
• Call the business

Adjust each section rather than trusting the builder preview.

8. A website built around stock photography

The homepage shows anonymous people shaking hands, smiling in an office or holding tools.

The same images appear on dozens of other websites.

For local service businesses, stock photographs may even imply that unknown models are employees.

Why it fails

The site feels generic and provides no proof of the actual business.

Visitors cannot see:

• The team
• The premises
• The vehicles
• The work
• The products
• The client experience

How to fix it

Use real photography where trust is important.

Useful images include:

• Team members
• Work in progress
• Completed projects
• Office or store
• Branded vehicles
• Products
• Events
• Customer spaces with permission

Stock images can support the design, but they should not pretend to show real work.

9. A website with outdated information

Examples include:

• Old prices
• Former team members
• Closed locations
• Expired promotions
• Past event dates
• Discontinued services
• Incorrect opening hours
• Old certifications
• Broken social links
• A copyright year from several years ago

Why it fails

Visitors may question whether the business is still active.

Outdated information can also create operational problems, missed appointments and customer complaints.

How to fix it

Create a regular review schedule.

Monthly:

• Test forms
• Check contact details
• Review opening hours

Quarterly:

• Review services
• Update team pages
• Check prices and offers

Annually:

• Audit the full website
• Review policies
• Replace old content
• Remove unused pages

See website maintenance cost for typical maintenance tasks and pricing.

10. A website with broken forms

The visitor completes a contact form and sees a success message.

The business never receives the submission.

Other form problems include:

• Error messages that do not explain the issue
• Required fields not marked
• File uploads failing
• Spam blocking legitimate users
• Confirmation emails not sending
• Forms too long for mobile
• Leads reaching an unused inbox

Why it fails

The website appears to work while losing real opportunities.

This can continue for weeks because nobody tests the full process.

How to fix it

Submit every important form regularly.

Check:

• On-screen confirmation
• Email notification
• CRM record
• Reply address
• Mobile submission
• Spam handling
• Confirmation email

Assign one person responsibility for lead routing.

11. A website with one page for every service

Some businesses list all their services inside one long Services page.

For example:

We offer plumbing, boiler repair, drainage, bathroom installation, leak detection and commercial maintenance.

Each service receives one sentence.

Why it fails

Visitors do not get enough detail to understand:

• What the service includes
• Who it suits
• How the process works
• What affects the cost
• What proof supports it

The structure also provides weak entry points for search.

How to fix it

Create separate pages for important services.

A service page can include:

• Clear explanation
• Common customer situations
• Process
• Cost factors
• Proof
• FAQs
• Relevant CTA

Do not create a separate thin page for every minor task. Prioritize meaningful services.

12. A website with dozens of copied location pages

The business creates pages for 50 cities.

Each page uses the same paragraphs with only the place name changed.

Example:

We provide professional landscaping services in City A.

becomes:

We provide professional landscaping services in City B.

Why it fails

The pages offer little local value and create a poor experience for visitors.

The business may also target places it barely serves.

How to fix it

Create fewer, stronger location pages.

Useful local information may include:

• Services available there
• Genuine project examples
• Local reviews
• Coverage boundaries
• Appointment information
• Relevant property or market context
• Local office details when one exists

Do not publish a location page unless the business can support its claims.

13. A website with unreadable design

Examples include:

• Light gray text on white
• Text over busy images
• Small font sizes
• Long centered paragraphs
• Several decorative fonts
• All-capital body text
• Low contrast buttons
• Animated text that moves before it can be read

Why it fails

Visitors must work to read basic information.

The design may also exclude users with visual, cognitive or motor disabilities.

How to fix it

Use:

• Readable font sizes
• Strong contrast
• Short paragraphs
• Left-aligned body copy
• Clear heading hierarchy
• Consistent button styles
• Stable text
• Adequate spacing

Decorative typography should support the brand without becoming the main body font.

14. A website with fake trust signals

Examples include:

• “Trusted by thousands” without evidence
• Unnamed awards
• Fake customer counters
• Invented testimonials
• Certification logos with no explanation
• Client logos used without permission
• “100% satisfaction guaranteed” with no terms

Why it fails

Trust elements can have the opposite effect when they look manufactured.

Visitors may question every other claim.

How to fix it

Use specific and verifiable proof.

Examples:

• Named professional license
• Genuine review
• Actual project case study
• Specific warranty
• Named award and year
• Real client logo with permission
• Current certification
• Clear years-in-business statement

A smaller amount of credible proof is stronger than a large wall of unexplained badges.

15. A website that prioritizes animation over usability

The page may include:

• Long intro animation
• Custom cursor
• Horizontal scrolling
• Text appearing only after movement
• Buttons moving away from the pointer
• Unexpected sound
• Complex transitions between pages
• Hidden navigation

Why it fails

The website becomes an experience to decode rather than a tool to use.

Animation can also cause:

• Motion discomfort
• Slower loading
• Mobile problems
• Keyboard navigation issues
• Delayed content access

How to fix it

Use motion to support understanding.

Good uses include:

• Showing that a section opened
• Confirming a form submission
• Drawing attention to a current state
• Explaining a process
• Providing subtle feedback

Visitors should not need to wait for a visual sequence before finding the price or contact button.

Bad website examples by industry

Different industries produce different usability problems.

Bad local service website

Common problems:

• Phone number hidden
• Service area missing
• No individual service pages
• Fake project images
• No license information
• Long quote form
• 24/7 claim that is not accurate

Better structure

• Clear service and city in the hero
• Click-to-call button
• Priority services
• Genuine reviews
• Credentials
• Service area
• Short form

Bad restaurant website

Common problems:

• Menu available only as a PDF
• Opening hours hidden
• Several Order Now buttons leading to different systems
• Large food videos slowing the site
• Wrong reservation link
• Outdated prices
• No location information

Better structure

• HTML menu
• Current hours
• One reservation path
• One ordering path per location
• Address and directions
• Mobile-friendly photography

Compare platform options in our restaurant website builder guide.

Bad salon website

Common problems:

• No prices
• No booking button
• Outdated stylist profiles
• Instagram used as the only portfolio
• Unclear deposit policy
• Several booking systems
• Services not assigned to the right staff

Better structure

• Service menu with prices or starting prices
• Clear booking flow
• Stylist profiles
• Real gallery
• Visible cancellation policy
• One active calendar

See our salon website builder comparison for booking-focused options.

Bad nonprofit website

Common problems:

• Mission hidden behind a slogan
• Donate button sends visitors to an unrelated-looking page
• Outdated impact statistics
• No annual reports
• Inaccessible PDFs
• Expired campaigns
• Application forms not working

Better structure

• Specific mission statement
• Clear program pages
• Transparent impact information
• Simple donation journey
• Current leadership and reports
• Accessible forms and documents

Review the best website builders for nonprofits for donation, event and membership tools.

Bad ecommerce website

Common problems:

• Weak product photographs
• Missing shipping information
• Unclear returns
• Hidden fees
• Broken filters
• Forced account creation
• Difficult mobile checkout
• Out-of-stock products still promoted
• Coupon pop-ups covering the cart

Better structure

• Complete product information
• Clear price and stock
• Shipping estimates
• Accessible returns
• Guest checkout
• Working search and filters
• Simple mobile payment

Bad portfolio website

Common problems:

• Project thumbnails with no explanation
• No role or scope
• Huge images with slow loading
• No contact information
• Work organized only by date
• Client names without permission
• No indication of availability

Better structure

• Selected work
• Project context
• Individual contribution
• Outcomes
• Services
• Contact path

Bad website copy examples

Design is not the only source of confusion.

Generic homepage copy

Weak:

We deliver innovative solutions that empower businesses to succeed.

Stronger:

We build Shopify stores for independent fashion brands selling in the US and Europe.

Empty service copy

Weak:

Our professional team provides high-quality solutions tailored to your needs.

Stronger:

Our monthly bookkeeping service includes transaction categorization, account reconciliation and management reports for small businesses.

Unsupported claim

Weak:

We are the leading agency in the industry.

Stronger:

Our team has completed 85 ecommerce migrations since 2021.

Use the second version only when the number can be supported.

Vague CTA

Weak:

Discover more

Stronger:

View commercial landscaping projects

Overcomplicated policy copy

Weak:

Pursuant to the aforementioned circumstances, users may initiate a cancellation process through the designated communication channel.

Stronger:

Cancel at least 24 hours before your appointment through the link in your confirmation email.

Signs your website may be bad

Your website may need attention when:

• Visitors ask questions answered on the site
• Leads decline without a clear market reason
• Staff avoid sending people to the website
• Nobody knows how to update it
• Forms have not been tested
• Mobile pages are difficult to use
• Important services have no pages
• Search traffic has declined
• The site represents an old version of the company
• Several tools control conflicting information
• The business does not own all important accounts

A complete website audit can help separate quick fixes from structural issues.

How to fix a bad website

Step 1: Identify the main website goal

Choose the primary action.

Examples:

• Call
• Book
• Buy
• Request a quote
• Donate
• Apply

Step 2: Test the action

Complete it on desktop and mobile.

Record every point of friction.

Step 3: Review the homepage message

Check whether the first screen explains:

• What the business does
• Who it serves
• Where it works
• What to do next

Step 4: Simplify navigation

Remove duplicate labels and low-value top-level links.

Step 5: Fix broken functions

Prioritize:

• Forms
• Checkout
• Booking
• Phone links
• Payment
• Login

Step 6: Update important information

Correct:

• Services
• Prices
• Hours
• Team
• Locations
• Policies
• Contact details

Step 7: improve mobile pages

Test real tasks on a phone.

Step 8: improve priority pages

Start with the pages generating the most:

• Traffic
• Leads
• Sales
• Support requests

Step 9: remove unnecessary elements

Delete unused:

• Pop-ups
• Apps
• Plugins
• Animations
• Widgets
• Empty pages

Step 10: measure the result

Track:

• Calls
• Forms
• Bookings
• Purchases
• Bounce or engagement changes
• Search visibility
• Page speed

Do not redesign every page before fixing the conversion path.

Quick fixes vs full website redesign

A full redesign may not be necessary.

Quick fixes may be enough when

• Contact details are hidden
• Forms are broken
• Navigation needs simplification
• Copy is vague
• Images are too large
• Important pages are missing
• Mobile spacing needs work
• Pop-ups create friction

A redesign may make sense when

• The platform cannot support required features
• The site structure is fundamentally wrong
• Most templates are difficult to use
• Content is scattered across incompatible systems
• The brand has changed substantially
• Technical debt makes every edit risky
• The website cannot support growth
• Mobile problems affect the whole site

Review website redesign cost before deciding to rebuild.

How much does it cost to fix a bad website?

The cost depends on the scale of the problem.

A bad contact form may take one hour to fix.

A site running on unsupported custom software may require a complete migration.

Audit before requesting redesign quotes.

Bad website checklist

Homepage

• The offer is unclear
• The audience is not named
• The location is missing
• No primary CTA exists
• Important proof is hidden

Navigation

• Too many menu items
• Similar labels compete
• Important pages are buried
• Mobile menu is difficult to use
• Buttons lead to unexpected pages

Content

• Services are vague
• Prices are outdated
• Team information is wrong
• Claims are unsupported
• Location pages are copied
• No next step appears

Design

• Text is difficult to read
• Contrast is weak
• Stock imagery dominates
• Animation delays content
• Visual styles are inconsistent

Mobile

• Text is too small
• Forms do not fit
• Phone links are not clickable
• Pop-ups cover content
• Pages load slowly

Conversion

• Forms fail
• Booking links are wrong
• Checkout is confusing
• CTAs are generic
• Confirmation messages are missing

Trust

• Reviews look fake
• Certifications are unclear
• Contact details are missing
• Policies are hard to find
• The business does not control important accounts

Technical health

• HTTPS warnings appear
• Pages return errors
• Redirects are broken
• Search engines are blocked
• Analytics is missing
• Backups are unknown

A good website reduces effort

A bad website asks the visitor to:

• Decode the headline
• Search for the right page
• Wait for media to load
• Close several pop-ups
• Read vague copy
• Guess the next step
• Retry a broken form

A good website removes those obstacles.

It explains the offer, presents credible proof and makes the next action obvious.

Start with the visitor’s task. Then use design, content and technology to make that task easier.

WebsiteInABoxPro provides a ready-made planning structure that helps businesses define pages, content and conversion paths before building or redesigning a website.

Turn this idea into a website box

Start with homepage, pricing, proof, FAQ and blog-ready sections in one editable system.

Start building →

Article by John Fondant

John Fondant is the creator of Website in a Box Pro. He writes about practical website systems, template strategy, SEO-friendly page structure and launch-ready small business websites.

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