Top 5 UX Mistakes Kiwi Businesses Make (And How to Fix Them)

Is Your Website Driving Customers Away?

Great products and services mean nothing if your website frustrates users. We've audited hundreds of NZ business websites, and these are the most common UX mistakes we see.

Mistake 1: Slow Load Times

The Problem:

53% of mobile users abandon sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load. Many NZ business sites take 5-10 seconds.

Common Causes:

• Unoptimized images
• Too many plugins
• Poor hosting
• Render-blocking JavaScript

The Fix:

• Compress and properly size images
• Use lazy loading
• Upgrade to quality NZ hosting
• Minimize and defer JavaScript

Quick Win: Run your site through Google PageSpeed Insights and address the top 3 issues.

Mistake 2: Confusing Navigation

The Problem:

Users can't find what they're looking for and leave. Complex mega-menus and creative navigation labels confuse rather than help.

Common Causes:

• Too many menu items
• Unclear labels
• Inconsistent navigation patterns
• Hidden important pages

The Fix:

• Limit main navigation to 5-7 items
• Use clear, descriptive labels
• Add search functionality
• Ensure key pages are one click away

Quick Win: Watch 5 real users try to find information on your site. Their struggles reveal the problems.

Mistake 3: Poor Mobile Experience

The Problem:

60%+ of NZ web traffic is mobile, yet many sites are clearly designed desktop-first with mobile as an afterthought.

Common Issues:

• Text too small to read
• Buttons too small to tap
• Horizontal scrolling required
• Forms impossible to complete

The Fix:

• Design mobile-first
• Use minimum 16px font size
• Make tap targets at least 44x44px
• Simplify forms for mobile

Quick Win: Complete your own checkout/contact process on your phone. Every friction point costs customers.

Mistake 4: Weak Calls-to-Action

The Problem:

Users don't know what to do next. CTAs blend into the background or aren't present at all.

Common Issues:

• "Click here" or "Submit" buttons
• CTAs that don't stand out
• Missing CTAs on key pages
• Too many competing CTAs

The Fix:

• Use action-oriented language
• Make CTAs visually prominent
• Include one primary CTA per page
• Place CTAs where users look

Examples:

• Bad: "Submit"
• Good: "Get Your Free Quote"
• Bad: "Learn More"
• Good: "See Pricing Plans"

Mistake 5: No Trust Signals

The Problem:

Users don't trust your business enough to convert. This is especially critical for NZ businesses competing with international options.

Missing Elements:

• Customer testimonials
• Case studies
• Security badges
• Contact information
• Social proof

The Fix:

• Add testimonials near CTAs
• Display client logos
• Show security/payment badges
• Make contact info prominent
• Include real team photos

Quick Win: Add a testimonial with a photo and full name near your main conversion point.

Bonus: How to Test Your UX

Heuristic Evaluation: Expert review against UX principles

User Testing: Watch real users complete tasks

Analytics Review: Find where users drop off

Heat Mapping: See where users click and scroll

Surveys: Ask users about their experience

Need a UX Audit?

We offer comprehensive UX audits for NZ businesses, identifying issues and providing actionable recommendations. Get in touch for a free initial assessment.