Sign 1: Poor Communication
Loss of Time and Money
Poor communication with your website designer isn’t just an annoyance—it can torpedo your entire project. Let’s talk brass tacks—time is money.
The Never-Ending Game of Tag
Ever waited days for a simple email reply? Or worse, ever found your messages stuck in a black hole, never to be returned? Every hour of waiting adds delays to your project’s timeline. While you twiddle your thumbs, opportunities are lost.
Follow-Ups: The Sequel Nobody Asked For
The first follow-up email feels like a nudge, the second one a push, and by the third, it’s a shove into a pit of frustration. Continuously having to follow up means you’re doing part of their job for them. That’s not why you hired a website designer.
Mixed Messages and Confusing Feedback
Have you ever received contradicting messages or unclear feedback from your designer? Mixed messages can cause you to waste time making unnecessary revisions or going in circles. It’s like getting lost without a GPS.
How We Do It Better at North Star
At North Star Design Studio, we believe in full transparency, regular updates, and clear, prompt communication. You’ll never be left wondering what’s next. In fact, we make our entire proposal process transparent so you know exactly what to expect—see how we break it down here.
Sign 2: Outdated Design Techniques
Stats Don’t Lie
Still using Flash in 2023? Are you kidding me? Adobe officially buried Flash at the end of 2020. Using outdated tech is not just ‘old school,’ it’s a giant red flag screaming, “We’re stuck in the past!”
The Tragedy of Non-Responsive Design
In an age where smartphones are practically an extension of the self, a non-responsive design is a slap in the face to user experience. Google’s own stats show that over 50% of website traffic comes from mobile. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re essentially saying goodbye to half your audience.
Keyword Stuffing: The “Spray and Pray” Method
Remember when keyword stuffing was a thing? Well, not anymore. Google’s algorithm now penalizes this outdated SEO practice. At North Star, our Keyword Research service ensures that your content is as relevant as it is readable.
One-Page-Wonders and The Missing Privacy Policy
Sticking all your services on one page? Come on, each service is special and deserves its own spotlight! Not to mention, a missing privacy policy page can affect your SEO and trustworthiness.
Where’s the Map, Testimonials, and FAQ?
No Google Map on your contact page? Testimonials and FAQs crammed onto single, overloaded pages? These are not just bad practices—they’re missed SEO opportunities. With our Competitor Analysis, we strategically place testimonials for social proof and create SEO-boosting FAQ sections on the right pages.
The North Star Way
We’re not about that outdated life. At North Star Design Studio, we stay ahead of the curve by continually updating our practices. From keyword research to UX optimization, we come prepared with data even before we speak—check out the tools we use to understand your website before our first call.
Sign 3: Ignoring SEO Best Practices
The Impact on Rankings
A lousy website designer could plummet your search engine rankings. HubSpot reports that 58% of consumers discover new products via online search, and 44% have done so in just the past three months.
H-Tags: The Hierarchy of Confusion
H-tags guide Google through your content like a roadmap. Use them wrong, and you send search engines on a wild goose chase. Multiple H1s on a page? SEO sin.
Sluggish Slugs
URL slugs should match your H1 tag. A mismatch can confuse search engines and users alike. This is SEO 101.
The Image Conundrum
Skipping images or uploading massive, unoptimized files? Both are bad. Unoptimized images slow down your site, hurting SEO and user experience.
Metadata and Image Optimization
Metadata is free SEO juice—and yet, so many designers ignore it. At North Star, we optimize every image with proper alt text, compression, and metadata to improve speed and rankings.
How We Raise the Bar
Here at North Star Design Studio, we treat SEO like a science. With technical audits, clean H-tag structures, optimized slugs, and SEO-smart content writing, your site will do more than just show up—it will stand out.
Sign 4: Hidden Costs
The Unexpected Invoice
Talk about a mood-killer. You’re already stretching your budget, and boom—an invoice shows up for a “minor change” you assumed was included. If you’re afraid to update your site because of mystery fees, you’re bleeding money in lost conversions and trust.
Downtime Disasters
If your site crashes and your designer has no recent backup, you’re not just offline—you’re out of luck. Downtime erodes both revenue and credibility.
Contact Form Fiascos
A broken form is like a locked front door during business hours. If plugin updates aren’t tested properly, clients can’t reach you—and that’s unacceptable.
Transparency at North Star
We don’t play those games. Our Monthly Maintenance is truly transparent. No surprises, no “gotchas,” just dependable support. Here’s what we include—you’ll know exactly what’s covered and what’s not, upfront.
Sign 5: Lack of Customization
Why It Matters
Picture this: You’re a high-end construction company, but your website looks like it’s ready to book spa appointments. That’s brand confusion. A cookie-cutter design can tank engagement by making you look like every other site.
Unwanted Features
Nothing says “template site” like a shopping cart icon on a site that doesn’t sell anything. These generic leftovers confuse users and undermine your brand.
Personalized Design at North Star
Say goodbye to template tyranny. Our conversion-focused website development is fully customized to your brand, your audience, and your goals. Every detail—from layout to functionality—is made to serve your business, not someone else’s.
Time to Swipe Right on a New Website Designer
Looking for a sign to switch? This is it.
Your website is more than a digital business card—it’s your salesperson, brand ambassador, and first impression. Don’t let bad communication, outdated design, poor SEO, surprise costs, or cookie-cutter templates hold you back.
Choosing a designer isn’t a Tinder swipe—it’s a business decision that impacts your future. So when you’re scrolling through your options, don’t settle. Find a partner who values your time, your goals, and your business.
✅ Ready to make the leap?
Start here with a transparent proposal and smart tools to get it right from the start.
Need speed and support, too?
Check out our Website Design Maintenance and Speed Optimization services.
