Landing pages have become critical tools for driving sales, capturing leads, and promoting offers. By focusing attention on a single call to action (CTA), they are designed with one goal in mind: conversions.


But poorly designed pages make that harder. Landing page mistakes like unclear messaging or slow load times can cost you conversions and hurt your marketing efforts. These problems can be especially costly if you’re running a small business and your website drives most of your revenue.


In this article, we’ll explore the most common 13 landing page mistakes we’ve noticed people make, provide real examples of what goes wrong, and show how Edicy can help you fix them and maximize your results.


Let’s get started.

The cost of bad landing pages

As previously mentioned, poorly optimized landing pages don’t just frustrate users — they can hurt your bottom line. The numbers speak for themselves: better-designed pages lead to more leads, higher conversions, and greater revenue opportunities.


Here’s what recent data indicate.

  • Conversions drop 7% for every one-second delay in page load times.

  • After a bad user experience (UX), 88% of users are unlikely to revisit a site.

  • Only 17% of marketers currently use A/B testing to increase conversion rates.

  • 53% of mobile site visitors abandon a page that takes longer than three seconds to load.

  • Including multiple offers on a single landing page can reduce conversions by up to 266%.

  • Landing pages written for 5th to 7th-grade readers convert at 11.1%. This is 56% better than 8th or 9th-grade level writing and over twice the conversion rate of pages with professional-level text.

13 common landing page mistakes that hurt conversions

From our experience of powering websites for almost 20 years, these are the mistakes you should avoid at all costs.

1. Too few or too many landing pages


Many businesses struggle with this issue. So, if you're wondering, "How many landing pages should I have?" the answer might surprise you. Companies with multiple landing pages (in the range of 10-15) attract 55% more leads than those with less than 10. At the same time, having at least 40 landing pages can increase conversions by 500%.


So, you’ll need to find that sweet spot based on your audience’s needs. Just make sure you don’t follow the example of some event planners who stick to one general landing page that combines all their services. Otherwise, you may be missing out on opportunities to target each audience individually.


In the example below, although the website groups events like birthdays, weddings, and corporate gatherings, it doesn’t have separate landing pages for them. Customers may struggle to locate focused information relevant to their interests.

Wedding Planners - example of landing page mistakes
Image source: weddingplanners.es

Edicy’s fix: Scaling landing page creation without losing quality

✅ Start by identifying your key audiences

✅ Choose a professional template from our gallery

✅ Customize the template to create a page for each audience, keeping your branding consistent

2. No clear target audience

Trying to appeal to everyone often means failing to connect with anyone. A landing page without a clear target audience feels too generic, leaving users unsure if it’s relevant to them. This disconnect can undermine trust and engagement.

The landing page below, intended for a jewelry business, fails to connect with a clear target audience due to its chaotic design and lack of focus.

The overwhelming background distracts from the jewelry, making it hard to determine who the products are for or what style they represent. Rather than highlighting the elegance and appeal of the items, the cluttered visuals and scattered text confuse users regarding the brand’s identity or purpose.

Yvette's jewelry - example of landing page mistakes
Image source: yvettesbridalformal.p1r8.net

Edicy’s fix: Analytics and segmentation features to refine targeting

✅ Use the analytics dashboard to understand visitor behavior

✅ Leverage our segmentation tools to target specific audiences


✅ Adjust page layout based on insights


3. Poorly defined goals


When a page tries to address multiple objectives — like promoting unrelated products, services, or features — it becomes overwhelming for users. This creates confusion, making it harder for users to find what they need or take action. Customers want clarity, not a long list of choices.


The landing page below combines various categories while also including promotional messages, sales advice, and customer reviews. This can make it difficult for visitors to understand the page’s primary purpose or locate what they’re really looking for.
Officefurniture online - example of landing page mistakes
Image source: web.archive.org

Edicy’s fix: Building pages with a single goal in mind

✅ You need to guide your visitors toward one clear action

✅ Create dedicated pages for each product or service (for example, an office furniture company should have pages just for chairs, desks, and home accessories)

✅ Organize information clearly by using well-structured content


4. Weak or overwhelming CTAs


Confusing or overwhelming CTAs make it harder for visitors to take action on your landing page. Users won’t know what to do if a CTA is unclear. Too many CTAs, on the other hand, can overload users with options, leading to hesitation or leaving the page.


AppSumo’s landing page shows exactly how too many CTAs can create confusion. The pop-up offers a 10% discount, but there are other competing CTAs behind it. All elements demand attention at the same time, so users may feel unsure about which action to prioritize.

AppSumo - example of landing page mistakes
Image source: appsumo.com

Edicy’s fix: Streamlined CTAs that align with page objectives

✅ A strong CTA is action-oriented and tied to your page’s primary goal

✅ Customize your CTA buttons, forms, and layouts to lead visitors to take action

✅ You can also start by choosing a pre-designed template and then personalizing it to reflect your brand


5. Overloaded design


Some landing pages suffer from cluttered design. Inconsistent fonts, excessive visuals, and a messy layout can ruin the user flow.


Users have limited attention spans, and when they are faced with too many choices or visuals, they tend to miss key information. A minimal, user-centric design encourages content engagement.

SME quote on overloaded landing page design

Edicy’s fix: Templates with clean layouts to avoid visual overload

✅ Our neat layouts help eliminate clutter, making content easy to read and navigate


✅ You can start with a template that fits your brand, then adjust settings like font pairings, page width, and color schemes in the themes section

Edicy themes

6. Ignoring mobile optimization


Mobile users dominate landing page traffic with 82.9%, while desktops make up just 17.1%. If your landing page isn’t responsive, you risk frustrating a large portion of your audience. Tiny buttons, misaligned text, or hard-to-read layouts on smaller screens can drive users away.


The design of the landing page below fails to meet essential mobile optimization standards. Oversized text forces excessive scrolling, and the visual isn’t properly scaled, making it look cut off.

ICPCN - example of landing page mistakes
Image source: icpcn.org

Edicy’s fix: Mobile-first templates and real-time preview tools

✅ Our platform offers responsive templates that adjust to smaller screens to help you create mobile-ready landing pages


✅ You can adjust fonts, layouts, and colors to match your brand


✅ You can also use the live preview to finalize your mobile setup


7. Misleading headlines


A headline that doesn’t match what was advertised in an ad or search link sets the wrong tone for your landing page. Users arrive on your landing page expecting specific information or offers but instead find something unrelated or vague. This can leave them feeling disappointed or tricked.

SME quote on misleading landing page headlines
In the example below, the headline, "Advanced Hair Studio’s World of Cricket," doesn’t seem to align with user intent. Someone clicking on a hair restoration ad or search result would expect clarity about treatments, benefits, or credibility. A better headline should be more direct, such as "Regain Your Confidence with Advanced Hair Restoration Solutions."
Advanced Hair Clinic - example of landing page mistakes
Image source: advancedhair.uk

Edicy’s fix: Editing tools that ensure consistent messaging

✅Log in, add a title, and select a pre-designed template


✅ Stick to a clear structure by organizing your content, choosing layouts, and updating page settings


✅ You can quickly edit anything from headlines to images to keep your messaging aligned


8. Unclear value proposition


If you’re wondering, “Why is my landing page not converting?” one major culprit could be its unclear value proposition. If visitors can’t immediately grasp what you’re offering and why it matters to them, they’ll quickly move on. Your value proposition should clearly explain what you offer, who it’s for, and why it benefits them.


If your headline is too vague, like "The Best Solution for Your Needs," visitors will leave without understanding what makes your offer valuable or unique.

Edicy’s fix: Content management tools to craft compelling value propositions

✅ Start with a headline that immediately communicates your offer’s benefit


✅ Use subheadings or bullet points to break down the key features and benefits


✅ Preview your page draft and ask for feedback on your value proposition

Edicy get started page

9. Slow page load times


Is your landing page driving users away before they take action? Slow page load times could be the reason. Large, uncompressed images, heavy JavaScript files, and inefficient hosting often cause these delays. Slow pages don’t only frustrate users; they also risk algorithmic penalization and reduced traffic.
SME quote on website performance scores
The Xfinity example illustrates this problem in Google’s PageSpeed Insights. The Largest Contentful Paint metric is at 5.7 seconds — more than twice the recommended time. Other metrics, like First Contentful Paint and Time to First Byte, also show delays. A slow page makes a bad first impression and costs you potential conversions.
Xfinity.com metrics in Google PageSpeed Insights

Edicy’s fix: Built-in image optimization and fast hosting options

✅ Our platform automatically compresses images for fast loading while keeping them high-quality

✅ Landing pages hosted on Edicy load faster thanks to our optimized servers

10. Skipping A/B testing


Skipping A/B testing for landing pages means relying on guesses instead of real data. This often leads to leaving conversions to chance.


For example, you might choose a CTA button color that doesn't convert well without testing it. A red button may feel energetic, but it could overwhelm certain users, while a blue button could induce calmness and build trust. The psychology of colors shows how design decisions align with user preferences, while A/B testing helps you see which colors resonate and drive clicks.

Color psychology in UX
Image source: tru.agency

Edicy’s fix: Easy A/B testing tools to improve performance

✅ In the Pages section, you can compare different page versions

✅ The Overview tab shows key stats like visitors, views, and conversions

✅ There’s even a graph that shows how each version is doing, making it simple to spot which design choices work better


11. Missing trust signals


A trust symbol on a landing page is often what convinces users to stay and take action. If your site doesn’t establish credibility, users may hesitate to interact with it. Missing trust signals — like testimonials, guarantees, or client logos — make people doubt your business.


This landing page lacks essential trust signals, making it weak in conversion potential. There are no testimonials, reviews, or case studies to reassure visitors that the company delivers results. Also, the "Get in touch" section is too plain and doesn't offer any proof that the business is reliable, making it harder to convince people to take action.

Effective Marketing Company - example of landing page mistakes
Effective Marketing Company - example of landing page mistakes
Image source: effectivemarketingcompany.co.uk

Edicy’s fix: Blocks for showcasing trust elements

✅ Our platform provides pre-designed layout categories like testimonials and features, allowing you to quickly insert visually appealing blocks that suit your brand

✅ Once added, you can customize the section to align with your style by adjusting alignment, spacing, and background images through the Settings menu


12. Poor navigation or no exit strategy


As we’ve mentioned throughout this article, landing pages are supposed to be minimalistic and focused on conversion. They shouldn’t have a navigation menu, as it provides users with exit paths, which defeats their whole purpose.


However, some creators wish to give visitors more control over their navigation experience, so they opt to include links to their main website or other relevant pages. But they do it poorly, creating a “dead-end” experience that often leads users to leave and makes their business look less trustworthy.


If you’re considering an exit strategy, you can add a button leading to your homepage. Avoid adding navigation menus that encourage users to leave; instead, use clear buttons or links to guide them toward conversion. For example, a “Contact us” or “Discover our products” button can encourage visitors to stay engaged.

Edicy’s fix: Smart navigation links or exit offers

✅ Our platform allows you to add navigation links and exit offers directly into your page design

✅ You can include links to key sections like your homepage, product pages, or contact form


13. Not tracking performance metrics


When you skip tracking metrics, you lose insight into your landing page’s performance. If you want to optimize a landing page for lead generation on a small business website indeed, then data is your best tool. Without it, you’re just hoping for results instead of building a strategy to achieve them.


Imagine spending on Google ads without knowing if your landing page converts. If you don’t track relevant metrics, you risk wasting money on underperforming campaigns. So it’s best to start tracking data to identify mistakes and make improvements that matter.
SME quote on tracking landing page performance metrics

Edicy’s fix: Analytics dashboard to simplify tracking and improvement

✅ You can access your stats in the analytics dashboard by opening any page and viewing the Overview tab

✅ You’ll discover key metrics like visitors, views, and conversions


✅ With these insights, you can see what drives results and make informed changes

Edicy analytics

Turn landing page mistakes into opportunities with Edicy

Don’t let landing page mistakes hold you back. Issues like confusing layouts, weak messaging, or cluttered designs can actually become opportunities to boost engagement and UX.


Start with clear messaging and a clean design. Prioritize headlines that grab attention, visuals that support your message, and CTAs that guide users toward action. Keep every part of the page intentional and user-friendly to prevent navigation issues.


Use Edicy to create or refresh your pages, whether for lead generation, sales, or content promotion. Our platform is designed to help you get results, no matter your goals.