10 Things to Make Your DIY Website Suck a Little Less
Despite being a brand and web designer, I’ve actually had my fair share of a bad website design. It’s not the design that is necessarily bad, but I just started and had NO CLUE what I should be putting on my website to keep people readin’ and scrollin’.
After lots of trial and error, countless marketing research and thousands spent on marketing courses—here’s 10 things you can do as a DIYer to make your website suck a little less. (I know, I’m not promising you a website that you’ll love, because truth be told, to nail the website game, you need a website designer…well, or to become one yourself.)
DIY Website Essentials, a checklist:
Before anything, you need a brand — to act as a guide
Color is your best friend — create harmony & recognition
User-friendly navigation is key — don’t make them think
Repeat your content — make it engaging
Responsive designs — size does matter!
Optimize your images — don’t lose your visitors to loading time
SEO basics — let them find you
Add call to action — give your visitors some guidance
Simplify your copy — write it just like how you like to read it
Test and tweak — bye, broken links
Website design for my client, With Love Jaclyn.
1. Before anything, you need a brand to act as a guide
Picture this: You're handed a huge canvas and told to create something.
Most people would be so confused— “WAIT, WHAT? What on earth should I draw?”
But what if I challenged you to sketch your interpretation of a tree, using only a specific palette of colors, in a distinctive abstract style, with a handful of images for reference?
Now, you might not be Picasso, but you'd have a vision for the canvas. You'd have direction.
That's precisely what your branding provides—a roadmap, offering strategic guidance. Therefore, no matter how simple it is, you would still need a brand to act as a guide for your empty canvas, aka. your website.
If you have never hired a brand designer to design your brand before, I would suggest you to hire one (here’s what I offer), but if that is not an option right now, keep reading so that you can DIY better!
2. Colour is your best friend, stick to them!
Okay, let’s address the obvious: websites with mismatched colours are like wearing neon green Crocs with a ball gown. Sure, it’s a choice, but is it the vibe you’re going for?
Colour is a power move for branding. It’s what makes your visitors remember you. Think about brands like Ikea or Farrow & Ball—both have iconic palettes that scream, “This is us!” The same principle applies to your custom website.
When creating your DIY site, choose a palette with 2-4 core colours that work well together and represent your brand’s personality. Use these colours consistently across your pages—buttons, headers, links, etc.—to establish harmony and make everything look intentional (even if you’re winging it).
Designah pro tip: Use tools like Adobe Color or Coolors to test out combinations. Oh, and if you’re unsure, pick neutral tones for the majority and save the bold colours for pops of personality.
3. User-friendly navigation is key, don’t make browsing your website a chore for your visitors!
Have you ever clicked on a website and immediately thought, “Where am I? And why does this feel like I’m lost in IKEA!!” If so, you know how important navigation is.
The golden rule? Keep it simple. Your navigation bar should include only the essentials: (Most likely) Home, About, Shop, and Contact. If you’re running a blog, sure, add “Blog” too. But no more than 5-7 tabs, okay? Okay!
For mobile website design, this is especially critical. A cluttered menu on a phone screen is a fast track to your visitor hitting “back” and checking out your competitor instead.
Hot tip: Make your call-to-action (CTA) buttons impossible to miss—hello, “Shop Now” or “Learn More”! Just like that. Simple and effective.
4. Repeat your content, it’s not a crime (and it’s actually even better)
Wait, what? Repeat content? Yep, you heard me.
Here’s the thing: people don’t read websites like books. THEY SKIM. So, if you’ve got a killer value proposition, a juicy testimonial, or a crucial CTA, don’t just stick it on one page and call it a day. Repeat it.
Let’s say you have a new clay mug collection—don’t just put it on your ‘SHOP’ page. Sprinkle it on your landing page design, add a section in your About page, and drop a CTA in your footer. The more your visitors see the good stuff, the more likely they’ll remember it and take action.
5. Responsive designs: in the world of design, size does matter
Real talk: If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re in trouble. About 60% of web traffic comes from mobile devices, and there’s nothing worse than visiting a site where the buttons are tiny, the text is microscopic, and the images are half off the screen.
Responsive design means your website adjusts to any screen size—desktop, tablet, or smartphone. It’s a must-have for any DIYer aiming for a site that doesn’t scream “amateur”.
Focus on creating a mobile website design layout that’s clean, easy to navigate, and doesn’t sacrifice functionality. Platforms like Squarespace or Showit have built-in tools for this, so there’s no excuse to skip it.
If this is starting to feel like too much (trust me, I get it), I’m here to help. Book a website and brand audit for a 1-1 call with me, and we’ll untangle the mess together. You don’t have to do it alone!
Website design for client, Cannabinista.
6. Optimize your images, we don’t wait for long-loading images anymore
Raise your hand if you’ve rage-quit a site because it took forever to load. (LOOL, same.)
Heavy, uncompressed images are often the culprit. But here’s the fix: before uploading, compress your images using free tools like TinyPNG or Compressor.io. This keeps your website speedy without sacrificing quality.
For DIYers, optimized images are a game-changer, especially if your site is image-heavy (I see you, you just want to put the vibe in!). A website layout that’s visually stunning and loads in a snap? Now that’s how you win.
7. SEO Basics is how you lead people to find you
What’s the point of building a gorgeous site if no one can find it? This is where SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes in.
I know, SEO sounds intimidating, but the basics are easy-peasy. If you found this article, trust me—I did only the basics. If I can do it as a lazy girly, you can do it too!
Use relevant and specific keywords (like “Canadian homeware brands” or “copywriter in Toronto”) in your headings, page titles, and meta descriptions.
Don’t forget alt text for your images—it’s not just for accessibility; it’s an SEO boost (told you, it’s easy). And while you’re at it, start a blog (yep, like this one!) to drive traffic with value-packed content.
8. Add CTAs (call to action) throughout your website to guide your visitors
Without CTAs, your visitors will wander aimlessly around your website and honestly, that’s hurting your sales. We need to be told what to pay attention to.
Your CTAs should guide visitors toward taking action—whether that’s checking out the sale section, signing up for your newsletter, or shopping your latest collection.
Think of CTAs as mini tour guides for your website. Phrases like “Get Your Custom Order Quote” or “Explore The New Collection” can nudge visitors to take the next step. Place these strategically—above the fold, at the end of sections, and in your footer.
9. Simplify your copy, you’re not writing a thesis and your visitors aren’t up for reading one either
Quick question: do you enjoy reading blocks of jargon-filled text that feels like it was written by a robot? (Didn’t think so.)
Keep your website copy short, snappy, and conversational. Use bullet points and headings to break up text, and don’t be afraid to let your personality shine. Your ideal audience wants to hear from you, not a corporate version of yourself.
Write it just like how you like to read it!
10. Test and tweak, say buh-bye to broken links
Congrats! You’ve built your website. Now the work begins.
Test every link, button, and page on both desktop and mobile. Nothing kills credibility faster than a broken link or a “404 Page Not Found” error.
Once you’re live, don’t just set it and forget it. Check your analytics (make it your BFF!) to see where people are dropping off, and tweak accordingly. Small quarterly updates can have a big impact.
Feeling like your DIY site is spiralling into chaos? Don’t sweat it! I offer website and brand audits to help you get back on track. Hop on a 1-1 call with me, and we’ll fix it up together.
Your website glow-up can start today
DIY websites aren’t perfect, but they don’t have to be a total trainwreck. By following these 10 tips, you’ll get closer to a site that’s functional, on-brand, and maybe even a little impressive.
And when you’re ready to take it up a notch? That’s where I come in. As your friendly neighbourhood website designer, I’m here to help you turn your DIY efforts into a masterpiece.
Need help designing a site that stands out and screams YOU? Let’s chat!
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