5 Most Common Landing Page Mistakes And What To Do Instead

Chad Faith
Chad Faith

Director of Content

Landing Page Mistakes

When creating a landing page, the smallest mistakes can impact your conversion rates. A landing page is often the first point of contact for potential customers, making it one of the most essential elements in your digital marketing strategy.

In this article, we will cover common landing page mistakes and what you can do to design a landing page that works for your business.

Mistake 1: Too Many Conversion Goals

One of the biggest mistakes in landing page design is trying to achieve too many things at once. Landing pages work best when they focus on a single goal. This can be anything from filling out a contact form to making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter. Adding multiple conversion goals confuses visitors and decreases their chances of achieving them.

Design your landing page around one clear objective. Keep the call to action (CTA) direct and straightforward so visitors understand what you want them to do next. For example, if your goal is to get sign-ups for a free trial, focus solely on that. Remove other distracting offers to keep the page uncluttered.

Mistake 2: Poor Mobile Optimization

In today’s world, more users access websites from mobile devices than from desktops. If your landing page is not mobile-friendly, you risk losing a significant portion of your potential audience. A poorly designed mobile page with slow load times or difficult navigation can drive users away quickly.

Make sure your landing page is optimized for mobile users. Use responsive design so the page adapts to any screen size. Ensure that text is legible without zooming and that buttons and forms are easy to interact with on smaller screens. This improves the user experience and boosts conversion rates.

Mistake 3: Lack of Clear Value Proposition

Your landing page needs a compelling value proposition. If visitors cannot quickly understand what’s in it for them, they will leave. A common mistake is using jargon or vague messaging that does not clearly communicate the benefit of your offer.

Clearly state the value you offer at the top of the page. This could be in the form of a headline or subheading. Use simple language and focus on your product or service’s specific benefit. A good value proposition is customer-focused, directly addressing their needs or pain points.

Mistake 4: Slow Page Load Time

A slow-loading landing page can kill your conversions. Research shows that 40% of visitors will abandon a page if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. Slow pages frustrate users and reduce the likelihood of completing the desired action.

Optimize your landing page’s load speed by compressing images, reducing the number of elements on the page, and utilizing caching techniques. Tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights can help identify areas for improvement. A fast-loading page will keep visitors engaged and improve your conversion rates.

Mistake 5: Weak Call to Action (CTA)

Your call to action is one of the most critical elements of your landing page. A weak or unclear CTA can result in missed opportunities. Whether it’s “Submit” or “Learn More,” the CTA must stand out and encourage visitors to take immediate action.

Create a CTA that is specific, action-oriented, and offers value. For example, “Get Your Free Trial” or “Download Now” is much more compelling than a generic “Submit.” Use contrasting colors to make the button pop and place it prominently on the page to guide the user’s next steps.

SmartSites Can Help You Create a High-Converting Landing Page

At SmartSites, we specialize in designing optimized landing pages for conversions. Our team understands the nuances of effective landing page design, including A/B testing, mobile optimization, and user-centered design.

If you want to create landing pages that drive results, contact us to learn more about our services.