Are your websites optimized for maximum visitor satisfaction? An optimized website is one that drives your business goals and provides a convenient experience for anyone who clicks on it – no matter how they’re using it.

You’ll want to use trial and error to figure out the best system for your website – because not every optimized website is the same, but most will have some things in common. More purchases, better customer service, and a higher ranking in search results.

Of course, today optimizing any site isn’t as simple as just figuring out what works for you. It involves ensuring your site meets Google’s standards, which determines your search engine ranking. You’ll want to determine your website’s objective, determine which areas it may be lacking in, and avoid key mistakes that could result in the opposite effect.

Here are the key trouble spots you should be looking out for when optimizing your website.

Mistake #1: Not Knowing Your Audience

A website can’t be everything for all people, and many try to find themselves struggling to attain an audience. No matter the focus of your website, it’s important to do proper audience research before revamping your website.

Websites that create content without knowing their target audience often find themselves putting a lot of effort into material that doesn’t boost their brand and can wind up with a reputation as a confused company. One of the best ways to get a better idea of your core audience is to research the keywords people are using when they find your site.

Tools like Ahrefs Tool Guide: Keyword Explorer for e-commerce makes it easier to find your own site’s keywords and those used by your competitors as well.

Mistake 2: Making It Hard To Find Content On Your Site

This is an especially big problem for any site with lots of pages, such as a shopping website. It’s easy for someone to come onto the site, get overwhelmed with the amount of content, and navigate away rather than explore it. User-friendliness is a big ranking factor in Google’s metric, so think carefully about what you want your front page to look like.

The key links should be displayed clearly, and looking into page views can help you decide what you want to prioritize. You often only have seconds to grab a potential customer’s attention and convert a click into a sale, so make sure your website is instantly engaging and user-friendly.

Mistake 3: Loading Too Many Ads and Popups

How many times have you come to a website and immediately found it overwhelmed by third-party ads? If that doesn’t cause the browser to crash, it certainly makes it annoying to navigate past the extra content to find what you’re there for. But while ads and popups can be part of an advertising strategy when used carefully, they can ruin a user experience quickly.

Ideally, any ads you use should be placed to the side of the screen, so they’re always visible but not getting in the way of your content. Too many ads can slow down a page; optimizing that element is key to a good user experience. You want the focus to be on what you’re trying to sell, not anyone else.

Mistake 4: Writing Terrible Copy for Your Page Title and Headings

You might only have a few seconds to grab the attention of potential customers, and a poorly-written introduction on the page or in your website’s meta description can lose them fast. You should be striving for well-written, authoritative content that conveys confidence in your product and comes off as engaging.

You’ll also want to ensure your formatting is correct, with your headlines being sized correctly to emphasize what you want your audience to see first. There are going to be people who only read one or two sentences on your site, so make them count.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Mobile Compatibility

If your website has been running for a long time, the odds are it was built for a completely different audience than your primary audience today. There are now billions of mobile users around the world, and what works on a desktop doesn’t necessarily work on a tablet or smartphone.

A website that’s optimized for mobile will take the smaller screen size into account. Make sure you know how your website appears in both formats. A mobile-friendly website will have less clutter and make the key links easy to see and click on in seconds.

Optimize for Success

How long has it been since you gave your website a once-over? It may be lacking some key factors to put you at the top of the search rankings. If any of these five mistakes fit your site, it’s time for a refresh.

Do you know your audience? Is your site easy to navigate – both on desktop and mobile? Is your copy well-written and engaging? If these describe your website, you’re already well on your way to an optimized online presence.