Owning a small business means there’s always another “should‑do” on the list – file receipts, chase invoices, post on social, remember to drink water.
Giving your website a polish often slides to the bottom as long as the site technically works. But a site that simply exists isn’t the same as a site that keeps closing sales while you sleep.
The fixes below are practical, budget‑friendly, and doable without a 12‑hour overhaul. And I didn’t pull them out my you-know-what. Each web design tip is doable for small business owners, and backed by modern web design best practices.
Sprinkle them in when you’ve got half an hour, and watch how quickly the whole experience feels smoother and more user friendly.
Grab a coffee, crack your knuckles, and let’s get going.
Tip #1 Use headings for fast scanning
Are the headings above your paragraphs just regular text in bold? That’s not gonna do you any good.
Headings are like neon road signs. A punchy H1 stakes the page, H2s break big ideas, and H3s label specifics, creating an airtight visual hierarchy and logical site structure that humans and search engines love.
Keep keywords natural but DO include them for our good friend, search engine optimization (SEO). Match font sizes to importance, and style headings consistently across the user interface.
Extra credit: add anchor links for long posts so skimmers jump straight to the essential elements that matter most.
Tip #2: Don’t write essays on your homepage
Your front page is a teaser for your brand, not its whole life story. Lead with a one‑sentence value prop, a smack‑you‑in‑the‑face featured image, and a tidy website layout that highlights important elements before the fold.
Use bullet points, easy on jargon, and let sub‑pages house the deep details (like company history and service deliverables).
This lean copy keeps the look of your homepage visually appealing, trims load time, and nudges user behavior toward clicking that shiny CTA instead of yawning and bouncing.
Tip #3: Make your forms short and sweet
Long forms equal exit clicks – period. Strip every optional field from user registration or checkout, then add a progress bar and micro‑copy as friendly interactive elements so people feel guided, not interrogated.
Single‑column layouts, inline validation, mobile-first design, and a clear privacy note make the flow extra user friendly. Review form analytics quarterly; if a field isn’t mission‑critical, axe it and watch completions jump.
Tip #4: Don’t autoplay anything
Your website’s purpose is to engage visitors, not scare the crap out of them. Surprise audio at work? Instant rage‑quit. Forced media trashes user expectations, burns data on mobile devices, and tanks time‑on‑page.
Instead, display a crisp thumbnail with a big play icon so visitors choose when (or if) to hit play. You’ll protect dwell time, improve user engagement, and avoid earning a spot on someone’s “never visit again” list.
Tip #5 Use consistent button styles
Buttons are promises. Pick one bold shade for primary actions, a softer one for secondary, and keep those hues locked.
Add subtle shadows and arrow‑style visual cues so every button screams “click me” without confusion. Uniform shapes across the user interface build familiarity and trust, giving your brand image a leg up while steering users exactly where you want them – fast.
Tip #6: Use high‑quality images – Then compress them
From a marketing perspective, fuzzy stock shots say “we tried.” Not the brand identity you’re going for. Curate on‑brand visual elements, make sure they’re tack‑sharp, and squish file sizes with TinyPNG before you upload.
The payoff: instant visual appeal and snappier loads. Alt‑text each image for accessibility, sprinkle captions when context helps, and you’ve just nailed aesthetics, speed, and inclusivity in one tidy move.
Tip #7: Use plenty of white space
Think of white space as a deep breath for the eyes.
Padding around headlines, icons, multiple columns, and paragraphs calms clutter, spotlights CTAs, and works on any screen, including the desktop version.
Double your default margins, then back away and admire how the extra space makes content pop without extra graphics. Minimalism now, longevity later.
Tip #8: Keep navigation dead simple
Good structure = fewer support emails starting with “I can’t find…” A great nav should almost feel invisible. The way to do that?
Cap top‑level links at 7, cluster by task, and place contact details plus social media icons where thumbs naturally tap.
A menu aligned to your website layout slashes confusion and funnels visitors toward revenue pages in fewer clicks. Test quarterly and drop any link that doesn’t earn its keep.
Not sure how to test your web pages’ performance? Check out, “What Are Metrics in Marketing? Your Foolproof Guide.”
Tip #9: Speed things up
Visitors expect speed. Every extra second costs conversions. Compress code, lazy‑load off‑screen media, and run Lighthouse or similar analytics tools to stay up-to-date on bottlenecks.
Even a 100‑millisecond shave can lift sales, and Google openly rewards quick sites. Check performance on both Wi‑Fi and 4G; real users are everywhere.
Tip #10: Put clear, direct CTAs in the right spots
Bland or unclear CTAs aren’t gonna call people to action, are they?
You know the ones: “Learn More.” “Click Here.” Or the worst offender – “Submit.” They’re vague, forgettable, and don’t give your visitor a reason to take action.
Be specific. Make them visually prominent. Speak to real user personas – “Get My Quote.” “Save My Seat!” – and park buttons where excitement peaks: hero strip, mid‑scroll, and near pricing.
Strong verbs and thoughtful placement spark user engagement without sleaze. Track clicks and tweak copy until it’s doing the job.
Tip #11: Stick to 2‑3 fonts
Too many typefaces can hurt your user’s brain (and eyes). Pair one display font with trusty sans serif fonts for body copy and maybe a script accent – no more.
Using fewer fonts trims load time, maintains consistency, and keeps readers locked on the message, not the decoration.
Tip # 12: Add social proof near key actions
They say “don’t trust strangers”, but when it comes to social proof online – people tend to.
Drop reviews, star ratings, or mini‑case studies beside CTAs to crush doubt. Real photos and names add even more credibility. Move modules, measure lift, rinse, repeat. This human touch keeps users happy and bounce rates low – great for both sales and search metrics.
Tip #13: Stick to 1 or 2 main colors
Too many colors is just jarring. Stick to one dominant hue and a single accent to create instant recognition and guide focus to important elements like CTAs.
A disciplined palette strengthens your brand, simplifies updates, and stops the “rainbow‑vomit” look before it starts.
Now it’s time to put those web design tips into practice
Choose one tweak that you’re excited to try. Set a 20‑minute timer and implement. Keep a list and chip away weekly. Over a quarter, even small changes stack into something users feel instantly.If you’d rather hand the wrench to a pro web designer, I’m here to help you out. Whether you need a tune‑up or a full web design project, reach out to me, Cody, at Squeak Media and let’s make your website do the most for your small business.
