6 Website Copywriting Mistakes That’s Costing You Money and How to Fix Them
If your website isn’t working as your sales tool 24/7, then it’s costing you money every single day!
Every visitor who lands on your site is a potential customer, but most small business owners unknowingly push them away with confusing copy, weak calls-to-action (CTA), and content that talks at customers instead of to them.
The good part?
We can undo these mistakes. So let’s dive into the 6 most expensive website copywriting mistakes that could be killing your sales conversions right now, and of course, how to fix them.
The Hidden Cost of Bad Copy And Why It Matters Right Now
Note: You can skip this part if you don’t like numbers or hard facts.
The average website conversion rate ranges from 2% to 5%, depending on the industry (source). But with the right copy, that jumps to 4-7% or higher.
Do the math: Say you get 500 visitors monthly and boost conversions from 2% to 5%; that’s 15 extra customers instead of 10. At $500 per customer, that’s an extra $2,500 every single month.
Over a year? That’s $30,000 in lost revenue because your website doesn’t know how to sell.
Your competitors with better copy are capturing sales while you wonder why your “amazing” website isn’t working.
6 Copywriting Mistakes Costing You Sales Every Day
Mistake 1: Talking About Your Product/Service Instead of Customer Problems
This is the #1 conversion killer, and 90% of businesses do it.
❌ Wrong Copy:
“I’m a certified nutritionist passionate about helping people achieve their wellness goals.”
✅ Right Copy:
“Exhausted from trying every diet, only to gain the weight back within months?”
Why This Works: People don’t care about your credentials until they know you understand their pain. Lead with their problem, not your pedigree.
Mistake 2: Weak Headlines That Don’t Stop the Scroll
80% of people read your headline. Only 20% read anything else. If your headline sucks, game over.
❌ Wrong Copy:
“Welcome to ABC Consulting.”
✅ Right Copy:
“Save $5,000+ on Taxes This Year, Legally!”
Here’s a Shortcut For You: Problem + Promise + Specificity = Headlines that convert
And, keep them short!
Mistake 3: Confusing Call-to-Actions (or Missing Them Entirely)
Clear CTAs can triple your conversion rate. Vague ones kill it.
❌ Wrong Copy:
- “Submit”
- “Get Started”
✅ Right Copy:
- “Get My Free 30-Minute Strategy Call”
- “Download the Tax Savings Guide”
- “Start My 7-Day Risk-Free Trial”
- “Book My Breakthrough Session (Worth $297)”
Here’s what I suggest: Tell people exactly what they get and what happens next. Remove their guesswork.
Mistake 4: Don’t Lose Your Customers To Jargon
In short, write like a human for humans.
Corporate language kills trust faster than a used car salesman’s pitch. Even if you’re selling B2B solutions, it’s important to keep the copy clear and concise.
❌ Wrong Copy:
“Leverage our scalable SaaS solution to optimize operational efficiency through automated workflow integration.”
✅ Right Copy:
“Stop wasting time on boring admin work. Let our software handle it so you can focus on growing your business.”
The Rule: If you wouldn’t say it at a coffee shop, don’t write it on your website.
Mistake 5: Writing Copy That Search Engines Can’t Find
What’s the point of a perfect copy if nobody can find it, right?
You could have the world’s best sales message, but if you’re not ranking for what your customers actually search for, you’re invisible.
To be specific, on-page SEO and keyword research are a must! Unless (FREE) organic traffic is something that you don’t want!
❌ Wrong Copy:
Health coach: “I provide holistic wellness solutions” (nobody searches for this)
Tech company: “Innovative business solutions” (too vague, no search volume)
Accounting firm: “Professional financial services” (generic, high competition)
✅ Right Copy:
Health coach: “I help busy professionals lose weight without restrictive diets” (targets “weight loss for busy professionals”)
Tech company: “Project management software for small teams” (specific, searchable keywords)
Accounting firm: “Small business tax preparation services in [Your City]” (local + specific service)
The Reality: Your customers aren’t searching for “innovative solutions”—they’re searching for specific problems and services. Write copy that matches their actual search intent.
Mistake 6: Ignoring Mobile Readers (At least 60% of Your Traffic)
Most websites are impossible to read on phones. That’s 6 out of 10 potential customers gone.
Here’s what ticks these visitors:
❌ Wrong:
- Paragraphs longer than 3 lines
- Tiny text that requires zooming
- Buttons too small to tap easily
- Dense blocks of text
✅ Right:
- Short paragraphs (1-2 sentences max.)
- Plenty of white space
- Large, thumb-friendly buttons
- Scannable bullet points and subheads
The Reality: If your mobile experience sucks, over half your visitors will bounce immediately. I suggest you check your analytics for the proof.
Recommended Read
Prompts to Write Landing Pages Like A Pro
Landing Page Statistics Every Marketer Should Know
Your 15-Minute Website Copywriting Audit Checklist
Before we get into the website copy audit, here’s my simple formula for attracting more sales and visibility to your website.
Smart SEO + Persuasive Copy + Intentional Design = A Website That Converts!
Take these steps right now to identify what’s costing you visibility and conversions:
1. The Clarity Check: Show your homepage to someone unfamiliar with your business. Can they explain what you do and who you help within a few seconds? If not, your messaging is too complex.
2. Mobile Readability Check (Optimization) Pull up your site on your phone. Can you easily read everything without zooming? Are buttons easy to tap with your thumb? This is a best practice that we always do once the site/page is ready to go live. If not, ensure you optimize the design and copy accordingly.
3. CTA Effectiveness Assessment: Count your call-to-action buttons. Do they clearly state what happens next? Would you click them if you were a potential customer?
4. Headline Power Test: Read your headlines out loud. Do they grab attention and promise a specific benefit? Or do they sound like corporate fluff?
5. Customer-Centric Language Review: Highlight every “we,” “our,” and “I” on your homepage. Now highlight every “you” and “your.” Which list is longer? It should be the second one.
6. SEO Review: To be specific, there is a whole list of things you need to do for an SEO audit, like page speed, technical SEO, on-page optimization, title, tags, meta description, etc. For your clarity, please check GA4 and Google Search Console to identify if your website or pages are ranking for keywords that match potential customers’ search intent.
The ROI of professional copywriting isn’t just good—it’s game-changing!
Most businesses see their investment returned within 30-60 days through increased conversions alone. Also, do try an A/B test with different titles and images where necessary.
Common Questions About Website Copywriting
Q: How much is bad website copywriting actually costing me?
A: If you’re getting 500+ monthly visitors but fewer than 10 inquiries, bad copy is likely costing you $1,000-$5,000+ monthly in lost revenue. The math is simple: better copy = higher conversions = more customers.
Q: Can I fix the website copy myself, or do I need professional help?
A: If you think the website sales or conversions are stuck, you definitely need a fresh pair of eyes. Nonetheless, you can tackle basic fixes like clearer CTAs and shorter paragraphs.
However, strategic messaging that consistently converts requires understanding psychology, market positioning, and proven conversion principles. Most DIY attempts improve things slightly—professional copywriting transforms results dramatically.
Q: How quickly will I see results?
A: Most businesses see improved engagement within two weeks. Conversion improvements often happen within days of publishing better copy.
Q: How do I know if my website/landing page is working well?
A: Track these metrics: time on page, bounce rate, conversion rate, and inquiries. A good copy keeps people reading longer, reduces bounces, and increases actions taken.
