If you invest your hard-earned money in a professional website, you'll want to know that it's attracting eyeballs and boosting sales. Otherwise, it’s not helping to grow your business.

One thing to consider is that some common website mistakes can drive away, rather than attract, the very customers who are your bread and butter. If your site doesn't have intuitive navigation, isn't mobile-friendly, or has too many pop-up ads, take notice.

It doesn't take much to turn off consumers these days – especially since they can find another company.

Keep on reading to learn about 3 website mistakes that are potentially turning off your clients.

1. Directionless Navigation

Can customers who visit your website easily find what they're looking for? If the way your website is organized leaves people scratching their heads, you have a problem on your hands. One source states that 88% of online customers are less likely to revisit a website after a poor experience. If you go to a brick-and-mortar store and can't find what you're looking for, you're not likely to patronize that retailer. You'll want to find a retailer that makes shopping easier. The same principle applies to people who visit your website.

Are you wondering what to do to make your site easier to navigate? Here are some tips:

• Be Consistent: Don't change how people navigate from one page to another. Each page should have navigation links in the same areas so people know where to find them.
• Employ Accurate Navigation Headings: Your customers should know where each link will take them. They shouldn't have to click to be sure if the page they're going to is relevant to them.
• Make Every Navigation Element a Clickable Link: Headings and drop-down menus should be clickable links. Visitors will be able to go exactly where they wish.
• Offer Accurate Search Engine: Ensure your search engine offers recommendations if customers misspell search queries. It'll make it easier for them to find what they want.

2. Unfriendly to Mobile Device Screens

Did you know that 48% of online traffic in the U.S. stems from people using mobile devices like smartphones and tablets? If your website isn't customized to work on smaller screens, you're going to lose out on a lot of potential business. It's not enough that your website displays well on larger screens like computers, laptops, and notebooks. You also need to ensure that people can easily access your online storefront via mobile devices. They need to view your page properly, navigate without any difficulty, locate the products and services they want, and then pay for the items in their virtual shopping cart.

QR codes are an important factor for any business wanting to make use of technological developments. Read more about the QR code generator by TRUiC and how it allows entrepreneurs to create their very own QR codes.

3. Pop-Up Ads Ruining the User Experience

First off, pop-up ads do work. The conversion rate is enough to justify using them strategically. But that doesn't mean your customers like them. In fact, many of your customers find them annoying. The most invasive type of pop-up ad is the "new window" pop-up where a new window opens up on top of the one your customers were initially on. If you want to use pop-up ads but wish to do so tastefully, you'll want to consult with a web design agency.

Unfortunately, these are not the only web design mistakes that you might very well be making. Do you want to know how to get a website that helps your business? Find a web design company with experience in all aspects of the web development process. These days, having a website is a must since many of your customers won't shop at a company that lacks a website. But you also need to ensure that your website meets the demands of consumers.