Building your own tourism website can be a cost-effective and rewarding experience, but there are common design mistakes that many business owners make when they go the DIY route. These mistakes can make your website look unprofessional, frustrate potential customers, and even hurt your ability to get bookings. In this post, we’ll cover the 10 most common design mistakes tourism businesses make and how you can avoid them.
1. Ignoring Mobile Users
With over half of web traffic coming from mobile devices, not having a mobile-responsive website is a big mistake. Ensure your site adapts well to smaller screens, with easy-to-click buttons and simple navigation. Use responsive templates or work with a platform like WordPress, which automatically adjusts your site for mobile.
2. Using Low-Quality Images
Your website is a visual representation of your business, and blurry, low-quality images can make it look unprofessional. Invest in high-quality photography to showcase your tours, destinations, or experiences. Make sure your images are the correct resolution and optimised for fast loading.
3. Overloading the Homepage
Trying to pack too much information into your homepage can overwhelm visitors. Keep it clean and simple, focusing on the most important elements like a clear headline, call to action, and high-quality images. Your homepage should quickly communicate who you are and what you offer.
4. Confusing Navigation
If customers can’t find what they’re looking for, they’ll leave your site. Make sure your navigation menu is simple and intuitive, with clear labels (e.g., “Tours,” “About Us,” “Contact”). Avoid using more than 5-6 main menu items to keep it streamlined.
5. Lack of Clear Calls to Action
Every page of your website should guide visitors to take the next step—whether it’s booking a tour, signing up for your newsletter, or contacting you. Use clear and compelling calls to action (CTAs) like “Book Now” or “Explore Our Tours” on every page to encourage engagement.
6. Slow Loading Times
A slow website can turn away potential customers and hurt your SEO. Compress your images, reduce unnecessary plugins, and use a fast, reliable hosting provider to ensure your site loads quickly on all devices.
7. Poor Font Choices
Using too many fonts or hard-to-read styles can make your site look unprofessional and difficult to navigate. Stick to 2-3 web-safe fonts that complement your brand and are easy to read on all devices. Avoid using too-small font sizes or excessive italics, which can strain readability.
8. Ignoring SEO
Many DIY websites neglect SEO, which means they aren’t getting the visibility they need to attract new customers. Make sure your site is optimised with relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and internal links. An SEO strategy will help your site rank higher on Google and drive organic traffic.
9. Not Showcasing Customer Reviews
Social proof is a powerful tool for building trust, especially in the tourism industry. If your website doesn’t showcase customer reviews or testimonials, you’re missing out on an opportunity to convince potential customers of your value. Feature reviews prominently on your homepage or booking pages.
10. Lack of Consistency in Branding
A website with inconsistent colours, fonts, and styles can confuse visitors and weaken your brand. Make sure your brand identity—including your logo, colours, and fonts—is consistent across all pages of your site. This helps create a cohesive, professional look that builds trust.
Avoiding these 10 common design mistakes will help you build a website that not only looks great but also delivers results for your tourism business. If you’re ready to create a professional, user-friendly site, check out our Website Prep Pack, where we guide you through the process step by step.
Want to avoid these mistakes? Download our free guide, “5 Steps to Creating a Professional Tourism Website,” and get started today