4 Costly Website Mistakes You Might Be Making (and How to Fix Them!) - by Rianna Hijlkema founder of Sleep Consultant Design

4 Costly Website Mistakes You Might Be Making (and How to Fix Them!)

I totally get that hiring a web designer can feel like a big investment, especially if you don’t have a steady flow of clients yet. So, let me help you avoid some of the most common mistakes I see Sleep Consultants make when they DIY their website. That way, you can either avoid them or fix them if they’ve already slipped through the cracks!

And don’t worry—I’ll keep this simple, let’s dive in..

❌ MISTAKE #1: Uploading Pictures in the Wrong Format

This one’s small, but trust me—it matters.

You know when you click on a website and it takes forever to load? That’s usually because of huge image files slowing everything down. And let me tell you—tired, sleep-deprived parents looking for help are not going to sit around and wait for your site to load. They’ll just click away.

So, here’s the fix. Make sure your images are JPGs (not PNGs unless you really need a transparent background). And even better? Compress them before you upload. There are free tools like TinyPNG that shrink your file size without ruining the quality.

Faster site = better experience = more parents sticking around to learn about your services = win-win!

❌ MISTAKE #2: Using Stock Photos Without Checking Licensing

Okay, I see this one a lot. You find a gorgeous image on Canva, upload it to your site, and move on. But did you actually check the licensing rules?

Not all stock photos can be used on websites, especially if you’re using a free Canva account. Some images require attribution, and others can’t be used for promotional purposes at all. And the last thing you want is a legal headache because of an innocent mistake.

Here’s my advice—whenever possible, use your own photos. Parents connect so much more when they see you and your business, not just a generic stock image.

But if you need stock photos, here’s a hack: Inside Canva, go to ‘Apps’ on the left-hand menu, search for Pexels or Pixabay, and boom—tons of free, royalty-free images you can use without worrying about licensing issues.

❌ MISTAKE #3: A Weak “Above the Fold” Section

Okay, this one is a biggie.

The “Above the Fold” section is what people see before they even scroll. And this section? It makes or breaks your website. Because if a parent lands on your homepage and isn’t immediately clear on who you are, what you do, and how you can help them—they’re gone.

So, let’s make it crystal clear.

Right at the top of your website, you need:

✅ A strong, clear tagline that explains what you do in one sentence.

✅ A call-to-action (CTA)—whether it’s “Book a Free Call” or “Download My Free Guide,” make it obvious what they should do next.

✅ A testimonial or quick win to build trust immediately.

✅ An announcement bar at the top for any promos or updates.

The goal? Make it impossible to miss why you’re the perfect fit for them.

(Take a look here to learn more about the Above-The-Fold section of your website with visual examples)

❌ MISTAKE #4: Not Making Your Website Mobile-Friendly

Did you know that over 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices? On my own site, it’s over 70%!

That means if your site looks great on a desktop but is a mess on a phone… you’re losing potential clients.

Here’s how to check—grab your phone right now and pull up your website.

– Does it load fast?

– Is the text easy to read?

– Are the buttons big enough to tap easily?

If anything feels off, fix it ASAP. This isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Okay…

Here’s what I want you to do—pick ONE thing from this list and fix it THIS WEEK.

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