Top 5 Website Design Mistakes Maltese Small Business Owners Should Avoid to Get More Customers Online
Introduction
Running a small business in Malta or Gozo is no small task. You’re managing stock, serving customers, handling bookings—and probably trying to grow all at the same time. Somewhere along the way, someone tells you, “You need a website.”
They’re right. But just having a website isn’t enough anymore.
In fact, many Maltese businesses have a website that looks decent—but isn’t bringing in customers. Why? Because it’s not designed with your business goals in mind. It’s just… there.
In this guide, you’ll learn the top five website design mistakes that local businesses make—and how to fix them. We’ll also share extra tips to help you build a site that works harder than you do.
Key Points to Note
A website should help you attract customers, not confuse or lose them.
Design is not just about looks—it’s about how well your website performs.
You don’t need to be “techy” to have a website that works. You need the right guidance.
Fixing a few common issues can make a big difference in sales and visibility.
Your website is your digital shopfront. Let’s make it count.
1. Confusing Layout That Makes Visitors Click Away
When people land on your website, they make a decision in seconds.
They ask: “What is this? Is this for me? What should I do next?”
If your layout is messy, cluttered, or overloaded with too many things, they won’t stay long. A clean, well-structured layout makes it easy for visitors to move around, read your content, and take action.
What to do instead:
Use clear menus and short sections
Focus each page on one goal or message
Keep plenty of space between elements so the page doesn’t feel crowded
Remember: Simple = effective.
2. No Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
A Call-to-Action is what tells your visitor what to do next.
If your website doesn’t ask people to do anything, they’ll do nothing.
CTAs like “Book a Free Quote,” “Buy Now,” or “Call Us” guide your visitors. Without them, even the best-looking site can underperform.
Fix it by:
Adding one main CTA on every page
Making buttons bold and easy to see
Using action-focused language like “Get Started” or “Request a Callback”
Don’t assume people know what to do—tell them clearly.
3. Not Mobile-Friendly
Most people in Malta use their phone to browse online.
If your website is hard to use on a small screen, you’re losing customers.
Some signs your site isn’t mobile-friendly:
Text is too small to read
Buttons are too close together
Images don’t scale properly
Pages take forever to load on mobile data
The fix: Ask your web designer to make your site fully responsive. This means it will adjust automatically for phones, tablets, and desktops.
Mobile-friendly design is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s a must.
4. Slow Load Time That Drives People Away
We all hate waiting—and your website visitors are no different.
If your website takes more than 3 seconds to load, people will leave. They won’t wait. They’ll just click on the next business.
Slow load times are often caused by:
Oversized images
Poor hosting services
Too many scripts running in the background
What you can do:
Compress your images before uploading
Choose a reliable, local hosting provider
Minimise heavy features that aren’t necessary
Speed matters—not just for people, but also for search engines.
5. Using Technical Jargon Instead of Clear Language
Your customers are not web developers. They’re not marketers either. So don’t speak to them like they are.
Websites full of industry jargon, complex words, or “corporate speak” only confuse people. And confusion doesn’t lead to sales.
A better way:
Write like you speak to a customer face-to-face
Use short, simple sentences
Avoid acronyms or explain them if you must use them
Being clear is not “dumbing down”—it’s being smart.
6. No Local SEO for Better Visibility
Your ideal customer is probably just a few kilometres away. But if you’re not showing up in local search results, they won’t find you.
Local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) helps people in Malta and Gozo find you when they search online.
Get started with:
A Google Business Profile
Your location and service areas listed on your site
Local keywords like “online shop Malta” or “website design Gozo”
Local SEO is simple, powerful, and often overlooked.
7. Poor Images or No Real Photos
People want to know who they’re doing business with.
Low-quality or generic stock photos don’t help. Real images of your shop, team, or product build trust and make your site feel authentic.
What to include:
A photo of your storefront or workspace
Happy customers (with permission)
Clean, clear shots of your products or services
You don’t need a fancy camera. A smartphone and good lighting are enough.
8. No Easy Way to Contact You
If someone wants to ask a quick question, book a service, or place an order—they should be able to do it fast.
Too many websites hide their contact info or make visitors fill long forms. That’s a mistake.
Make it easy by:
Putting your phone number and email in the header and footer
Adding a simple contact form
Offering chat or WhatsApp for quicker replies
Make sure your customers know you’re easy to reach.
9. Missing Trust Signals
Even if your service is excellent, visitors who’ve never heard of you will hesitate—unless you give them a reason to trust you.
Trust signals are small details that say, “We’re real. We’re reliable.”
Add things like:
Google reviews
Short testimonials
Industry certifications or awards
Client logos (with permission)
These little signs go a long way in making someone feel confident to buy or contact you.
10. No Tracking or Analytics
If you’re not tracking how people use your website, you’re missing key insights.
Without data, you’re guessing what works and what doesn’t.
Set up tools like:
Google Analytics to track traffic and behaviour
Hotjar to see how people click and scroll
Facebook Pixel if you run ads
These tools help you improve your website over time, based on real behaviour—not guesswork.
Conclusion: A Good Website Doesn’t Just Look Good—It Performs
As a business owner in Malta or Gozo, your time is valuable. You want your website to work for you, not become another thing to worry about.
By avoiding the mistakes in this guide, you’ll:
Give your visitors a better experience
Build more trust with your customers
Convert more leads into real business
At SmartMalta, we help local businesses create websites that are fast, clear, mobile-friendly, and built to generate results.
If you’re thinking about improving your current site—or starting from scratch—we’re here to help.
Book a free consultation with our team. No jargon. Just honest advice and smart solutions.