5 Things to Remove from Your Website Immediately
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INTRODUCTION
In the world of web design, the phrase "less is more" couldn’t be more accurate. When building a website, especially for beginners, it’s tempting to include every possible feature, widget, and flashy design element. After all, the more you have, the more impressive your site will be, right?
Wrong.
Unfortunately, that’s a common beginner mistake. In reality, overcrowding your website with unnecessary elements can do more harm than good. For those using platforms like Squarespace, understanding the importance of simplicity is key to creating a professional web design that truly resonates with visitors.
Websites serve as the digital face of your brand. They need to communicate your message clearly and quickly. If your site is cluttered, difficult to navigate, or slow to load, you risk driving potential customers away. The cost of keeping a busy, over-designed website can be significant, leading to higher bounce rates, lower search engine rankings, and ultimately, lost revenue.
In this post, we’ll explore why less is more in web design and the dangers of making beginner mistakes on your Squarespace website. By embracing simplicity, you’ll not only enhance your site’s user experience but also strengthen your brand’s online presence.
#1: OVERUSED DESIGN OPTIONS
Squarespace 7.1 unleashed a plethora of design elements. Which is both good...and bad.
Design elements should just add a touch of a flourish. Choosing 10 out of 10 design options is never a good call. It'd be like painting each one of your fingernails a different shade of pink. Or hanging a different pattern of wallpaper on each wall.
It's too chaotic.
Take this website for example:
There's SO much going on....
A border around the top navigation
Drop shadow from top navigation
Various types of underlines
Slanted angle/line at the bottom
Odd pairing of fonts
On their own, none of these are technically bad to use. But all together? Ew. It's like mixing every spice in the cabinet together. It just doesn't work.
I say this phrase a lot: Just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD.
Just because a design element is available, doesn't mean you should use it :)
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD:
Less is more. Choose one or two design elements and stick with that. Be consistent throughout your site. Don't use a swirl at the bottom of one section and a hard angled line at the bottom of another section. If you go with the squiggle underline, then just use that type of underline on your site. Don't be a circus :)
#2. Social Media Icons
Going on the premise of "just because you can, doesn't mean you should"... Squarespace gives you the option of including your social media links in your top navigation. Why wouldn't you, right?!
I'll tell you why.
Because your top navigation is the first thing people see when they land on your site. They're sizing you up by your logo, seeing what links they can choose from, and considering clicking on that call to action button in the navigation.
You want them to take action from this point and turn them into a customer. However, your social media links are an open door for them to leave and never come back.
You want people on your website. Plain and simple.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD:
Move your social media links to the footer. They're still important, so I'm not saying that you should remove them from your site completely. But the footer tends to be where people go when they're looking for contact information.
Your social media links are an extension of you (i.e. where they can go to reach you) - so move them to your footer and you'll be good to go.
Oh - and be sure the links open up in an external tab!
#3. Confusing text
If you take nothing else away from this blog post, let this be the one thing that you hear...
If people cannot identify in .05 seconds who you are and what you do, they will immediately go somewhere else.
That means you can't have paragraphs of text in the opening section or use jargon that no one understands.
Here are some examples from real websites:
"Strong branding opens new doors." - Are you a tattoo artist or a marketing agency?
"Empowering learners & leaders by providing personalized learning strategies that cultivate confidence and performance excellence." ... I have no idea what that means. Do you sell courses? And what's a "personalized learning strategy"?
"Maximize your lodging's revenue" - Sooo, do you manage money or do you advertise for hotels?
You can see how these are confusing. And if I'm confused, so is someone else.
Visitors shouldn't have to do any guess work when they land on your site. It should be SUPER clear who you are and what you do. Like, so clear that you feel like you're explaining something to an elementary student.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD:
Simplify your message in the simplest terms using this formula:
Benefit of Your Service/Product + Service/Product You Offer
For example: "Protect your cabinets from scratches, stains, and spills with durable shelf liners; saving you time and money."
In one sentence you've quickly explained who you are and what you do. Without even seeing that website, you know that they sell durable shelf liners.
Do this simple test: Once you write your one liner, ask someone who knows nothing about your business to guess what you do.
If they can't instantly tell you, then it needs some tweaking.
#4 A Testimonial page
I know, I know... nothing feels better than a pat on the back! So why would I be telling you to remove your Testimonial page?
Testimonials are definitely needed... the problem is where you put them. Most people won't seek out testimonials. While they'll go to other pages, like About or Services, they likely aren't going to click on a page called Testimonials.
The other issue is that Testimonial pages tend to be quite long... they're nothing but text. And as we know, people don't read paragraphs of text. They skip right over it.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO INSTEAD:
Instead of having testimonials in just ONE place, sprinkle them throughout your site. The home page is a great place to start. If you offer several services, add testimonials to those pages that pertain to that service.
Carousels are a great way to display testimonials. Will Myers has a great tutorial to make the carousel automatically rotate. Another option is to use Elfsight's free plugin to pull in Google Reviews.
The content of testimonials matters too... A lot of people think testimonials that way "Molly was great to work with!" are effective... and while they ARE nice, they don't move the needle for customers.
If you want to turn someone into a customer, then you need testimonials that show a transformation in the client.
Why?
Because your potential customer that's reading it is seeking that same before/after transformation. If you can show that you've done it for someone else, then they think that you can do it for them too.
Testimonials like, "I was so overwhelmed as a new mom and didn't have the time or the energy to clean my house. But Molly came in and saved the day by cleaning my house in record time and giving me my sanity back" go a LOT further than "Molly was so nice".
I'm sure by now you're thinking, how do I get testimonials like that?
You ask for it.
Don't be afraid to guide your customers through the testimonial process and let them know what kind of answer you're looking for.
For me, I have a short questionnaire that clients fill out. From there, I can take their answers and pull out the meat to use on my website.
Just asking people for a testimonial is too vague and can be intimidating for people because they don't know where to start. By giving them a questionnaire, you're helping both them and you.
#5 Empty 404 Pages
Using the default 404 page that Squarespace gives you is a missed opportunity, in my opinion. If someone types in a URL incorrectly or clicks a broken link, the page they land on simply says "We couldn't find the page you're looking for."
Not helpful!
Some people redirect their 404 page to their home page so that visitors are at least landing on an actual page, but again - this isn't super helpful.
When you don't have a custom 404 page, you leave your visitors at a complete dead end. And you know where they go from there? To someone else's website.
Bad user experience leads to bad SEO.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO INSTEAD:
Instead, create a custom 404 page that guides people towards the information they're looking for.
If you have a blog, use a summary block to show your most popular blog posts. Another good thing to include are links to your services. Or if you have a store, direct people there. Whatever the goal of your website is, include links on the 404 page for people to achieve that goal.
CONCLUSION
In web design, the principle of "less is more" isn't just a saying - it's a critical strategy for creating a successful and professional website.
For beginner web designers, it can be tempting to load up a site with every feature and design element available, especially on platforms that have lots of design options like Squarespace.
However, as we've discussed, these beginner mistakes can lead to a cluttered, confusing, and ultimately ineffective website that risks driving visitors away.
By stripping away unnecessary elements and focusing on simplicity, you can create a more user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing, and effective website. This not only improves the user experience but also strengthens your brand's credibility and professionalism.
Remember, your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business—make sure it's a good one by keeping it clean, clear, and concise.
*This post may contain affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on this site at no additional cost to you.
