4 Reasons Websites Lose The Trust of Their Users
A website can’t survive if visitors are leaving after only a few minutes of being on the site. After all, true success comes from having as many repeat visitors as possible, not one-time visitors.
And for business, the impact of having visitors hit the X button within moments of landing on a site can be catastrophic. It’s hard to make sales if your visitors aren’t giving you an opportunity to showcase why they should buy from you.
Of course, no website intentionally puts off its user base. With that said, it often happens more than you might think, all because of easily avoidable issues that serve as red flags to users.
In this post, we’ll run through some of the most common ways that can make a visitor think twice about spending more time on a site.
Image source: pexels.com
Outdated Information
Things move in the online world, and users expect that the websites they visit and buy from will keep up with that momentum. Websites that feature outdated information and just simply don’t appear to have been updated in a while can be unappealing to users. For example, alarm bells will ring if there are outdated offers, the website still says wishing our customers a happy 2024, or if the website’s blog hasn’t seen a new post in many years.
Unoriginal Content
Your website’s content is a fantastic way to showcase the best of your business and build a relationship with your audience — but only if it’s done correctly.
Simply having content won’t bring those benefits, and in some cases, it can actually harm how your visitors view your site. That’s the case when content is unoriginal, boring, or, worse, copied from elsewhere.
It’s often best to use an online plagiarism checker to check that the content you’re publishing on your website for all the world to see is genuine, especially if you’ve hired a third-party content writer to produce the text for you. In addition to producing one-of-a-kind content, it’s also important to publish content that your visitors will find genuinely helpful and useful, since non-relevant content can raise eyebrows.
If you’re someone who sells digital products through your website, you may also want to consider investing in premium-level product mockups. Mockups are photographic templates that allow you to easily insert an image of whatever product you want to showcase. Rather than generic Canva mockups, we’d recommend using a premium mockup creator if you want to elevate your product’s visuals so they look more realistic and refined.
We personally use premium mockups from Moyo Studio for all of our digital products, and have been a loyal customer for years due to their clear high-end, artistic, and beautifully refined aesthetic. Pictured above are some examples from our astrology-inspired Squarespace website template collection. If you’re looking for quality images to increase the perceived value and trust behind your products, explore all of the premium product mockups by Moyo Studio. Use our exclusive affiliate link to get 15% off your first purchase, plus four free mockups that you can use for your brand right away.
Slow Loading Pages
Did you know that both search engines and web users hate slow-loading pages? If it takes more than three seconds to load, then it’s likely that your visitor will simply click the X button. In an age when there’s more competition than ever, they simply don’t need to waste their time waiting for a webpage to load. Google, too, punishes slow-loading sites. Checking your website’s speed across various devices and browsers is an easy way to keep Google and your users onside.
Generic Stock Imagery
Having photos and videos on your website can do wonders for helping to boost engagement and making your site more visually enticing. However, there’s a catch — that’s only true for original, high-quality imagery. Sites that have been stuffed with generic stock imagery look a little suspicious, since it looks like the site is trying to simply present a surface-level image of professionalism.
Try using a mix of both premium-level stock photography along with your own brand photography, i.e. photos of you as the founder/creator/entrepreneur that help to put a face to the brand and show your audience there is a real human being behind the website.
The more the audience can connect with you on a personal level through your photos, the more this helps to deepen trust with them without you even having to say a word. That’s the power of intentional branding.
If you’re looking for an elevated website with an intentional human touch, here’s a look at The Humanista Co.’s Goddess collection of astrology-inspired Squarespace website templates. Every template purchase gives you access to curated stock photo collections of over 1,000 premium images that you can use freely for your own brand and website, saving you countless hours trying to find images on your own.
Image source: Premium product mockups by Moyo Studio to showcase your products in an elevated way (GET 15% OFF + 4 free mockups using our affiliate link).
Intentional Branding on Your Website Deepens Trust (without feeling pushy or sleazy)
Branding That Feels Aligned Builds Trust Naturally
If you want to build trust without sounding salesy, your brand needs to feel like a true reflection of you. When your messaging and visuals are steady, clear, and consistent, people can sense that alignment right away. This is where aligned conscious branding make a meaningful difference. They translate what you believe, how you serve, and what you want to be known for into a cohesive brand presence that actually matches your energy and values.
When your branding feels grounded and intentional, potential clients do not have to question your credibility. Instead of guessing whether you are the real deal, they feel it. Aligned branding creates a sense of calm confidence that makes trust easier and decisions simpler.
Some of the most practical benefits include:
A clearer brand voice and defined values that help the right people recognize you quickly
Greater consistency across your website, social media, and offers, which reduces confusion and mixed signals
A stronger emotional connection with your audience without relying on hype or pressure
Clear differentiation that helps you stand out instead of blending in with generic templates
When your brand is aligned, trust becomes a natural outcome rather than something you have to push for.
If that’s the kind of support you’re looking for, check out our high-end collection of astrology-inspired Squarespace website templates to revamp your brand from the inside out.
