But I get it. You’ve got vision, you’ve got passion, and you’ve got folks in your ear telling you Canva and a cute font is all it takes. It’s not. And no shade to Canva, but she is in fact convenient to use!

Here’s the thing. Most DIY websites I see aren’t bad because you don’t care. They fall short because nobody taught you what actually matters when it comes to building a site that feels aligned, builds trust, and makes working with you undeniable.

And because I actually want you to win, not just sell you something you don’t need, I’m breaking down the five most common mistakes I see and showing you exactly how to fix them with love, clarity, and intention.

Let’s go, girlsss!

#1: No Clear Message or Purpose

A lot of DIY websites are cute… but getting to the point of what actually do or who it’s for can be a challenge for website visitors because in this case, cute was prioritized over strategic and efficient. Cute fonts and nice colors won’t save a website that isn’t clear.

• Why it’s a problem: If folks land on your site and don’t get why you exist, they’re gonna bounce. People don’t buy confusion. They buy clarity and connection.
• How to fix it:
  • → Start with one clear sentence that says who you help, what you help them with, and how. Use this as your moment to brag about the transformation you’ll provide!
  • → Put that sentence at the top of your homepage. Don’t make people search for it.
  • → Example: “I help Black women entrepreneurs build brands that drive social change through intentional design and strategy.”
  • → If you’re stuck, start with: “I help [who] [do what] so they can [result].”
• Real talk: If your site can’t pass the “what do they do?” test in 5 seconds, it’s time to tighten up!

#2: Trying to Say Too Much at Once

DIY websites love to give you the whole life story on the homepage. I’m talking every offer, every service, your whole resume, and a photo dump of your last three launches. It’s a lot, and ain’t nobody got time for that!

• Why it’s a problem: When you try to say everything at once, nothing actually sticks. People don’t know where to look or what to do next, and that means they’ll probably do nothing at all.
• How to fix it:

• • → Focus on one clear goal for your homepage. Do you want people to book a call? Sign up for your newsletter? Start there.

  • → Think of your homepage as Meg Thee Stallion & her knees—strong, full of confidence, and impossible to ignore.

  • → Use clear headings to break things up, and save the deep dives for your inner pages (like About or Services). P.S. Your About page isn’t actually meant to be about you, it’s about what your services have already done for others. We can dive into this soon, but for now focus!

• Real talk: Clarity removes the guesswork. When people have to work to figure out why they’re here, it becomes a matter of how long they’ll start at the party!

#3: Disorganized Navigation

You know what’s beneath me? Having to go on a scavenger hunt on someone’s website. Menu names that don’t make sense. Broken links. Pages hiding like they owe somebody some money. We’re retiring that!

• Why it’s a problem: If people can’t easily find what they need, they’re gonna dip. Confusion costs you clicks, inquiries, and coins.

• How to fix it:

  • → Keep your navigation simple. Aim for 4–6 main menu items max.

  • → Use clear words that actually mean something. Think: “About,” “Services,” “Work With Me,” “Contact.”

  • → If you have multiple offers, group them under one dropdown like “Ways to Work Together.”

  • → Double-check every link. If it’s broken, fix it or delete it. There are even websites like Dead Link Checker that check for broken links.

• Real talk: Your site should guide people like you would guide your homegirl to the cookout. Clear, direct, with love.

Mistake #4: Inconsistent Visuals and Vibes

Your site is looking like a remix nobody asked for—five different fonts, colors all over the place, buttons that don’t match. That DIY feel but in the “messy and confusing” way, not the “creative and intentional” way.

• Why it’s a problem: When your visuals don’t match, it’s hard for people to trust that you’re professional or that you pay attention to detail. Inconsistent vibes can make your brand feel scattered.

• How to fix it:

  • → Pick 2–3 brand colors and 1–2 fonts max. Keep those consistent across your site.

  • → Use your brand colors strategically—for buttons, links, and highlights.

  • → Make buttons and design elements consistent in shape, size, and style.

  • → If you’re not sure, study brands you admire and notice how they repeat the same visuals in different ways, not how many styles they’re using at once.

• Real talk: Consistency builds trust. Your site should feel like a full outfit, not a pile of clothes on the bed (but no judgement, because I’ve left clothes in the dryer on purpose… plenty times!)

#5: No Clear Next Step or Call to Action

Your people landed on your site, and they love what they see, but then… crickets. No buttons, no invites, no clues on what to do next. It’s like giving someone a gift but not telling them how to use it.

• Why it’s a problem: If people don’t know how to take the next step, they won’t take it. You miss out on bookings, sign-ups, and connections.

• How to fix it:

  • → Add clear buttons with action words: “Book a Call,” “Join the Newsletter,” “Start Your Project.”

  • → Put a call to action (CTA) above the fold—meaning, it shows up right away without scrolling for both mobile and desktop users.

  • → Repeat your CTA in a few spots on the page but don’t go overboard.

  • → Make it easy for people to get in touch or say yes to working with you.

• Real talk: Don’t be shy. Spell it out for your people like you’re texting your bestie the play-by-play of that cute date your man planned for y’all!

Building your website doesn’t have to feel like the struggle bus cruising on vibes. When you focus on clarity, simplicity, and making sure people know what you’re about, that’s when your site starts working for you, not just sitting there looking cute and NOT busy.

And if you’ve been reading this like, “Whew, I’ve done all 5 of these”… breathe. You’re not behind. You’re just learning. And now you’ve got some tools to clean it up.

If you want help bringing it all together in a way that feels like you and honors the work you’re here to do, I got you.

[Submit your inquiry form here, today (or one day soon!)]

Let’s build something that looks good and gives results AKA keeps the girls booking your services. Period.