5 UX details you’ve probably overlooked on your website
When people think about UX, they usually think about design. Layout. Navigation. Buttons. Structure.
And while all of that matters, most of the issues I see on websites are much smaller than that.
They’re the tiny moments where someone pauses, hesitates, or isn’t quite sure what to do next.
Individually, they don’t seem like a big deal. But together, they shape how easy your website is to use.
Here are five that come up all the time 👇
1. Buttons that are technically clear… but not specific
“Get started”, “Learn more”, “Submit” - these aren’t confusing. But they’re not particularly helpful either.
When someone clicks a button, they’re making a small decision. And most people don’t love making decisions without enough information.
So even if the hesitation only lasts a second, it’s still friction.
The issue is that these buttons rely on surrounding context to do the explaining. And that context isn’t always as clear as we think it is.
For example:
“Get started” → what am I starting?
“Learn more” → about which part?
“Submit” → what happens after I do?
That extra moment of uncertainty is often enough to slow someone down or stop them altogether.
Compare that to:
“See pricing”
“Book a discovery call”
“Download the guide”
Now the decision feels obvious. There’s no need to interpret anything.
It’s a small change, but it removes a layer of thinking. And that’s exactly what good UX is trying to do.
2. Forms that ask for information without context
Forms are one of the biggest drop-off points on a website. Not because people don’t want to fill them in, but because they don’t fully trust what’s happening next.
If you ask for:
a phone number
company size
budget
…without explaining why, people start filling in the gaps themselves. And they rarely assume the best.
Am I about to get a sales call?
Is this going to turn into a long back-and-forth?
Do I need to be “qualified” to submit this?
That uncertainty creates hesitation. And hesitation is where people abandon forms.
What’s interesting is how little it takes to fix this.
A single line of microcopy can completely change how it feels:
“We’ll only use this to tailor your quote. No follow-up calls unless you want one.”
Or:
“Optional, but helps us give you a more accurate response.”
Now the user understands the why. And once the “why” is clear, the request feels much more reasonable.
3. Headlines that sound good but don’t actually say much
This is probably the most common UX issue I see.
A homepage headline that’s polished, well-written… and completely unclear.
“Helping you grow”
“Elevating your brand”
“Where ideas come to life”
They set a tone, but they don’t give the reader anything concrete to work with.
From a UX perspective, this is a problem straight away. Because your headline is usually the first thing someone reads. And in that moment, they’re trying to answer one question:
Is this relevant to me?
If they can’t answer that quickly, they have to dig for clarity. And most people won’t. They’ll leave.
A clearer headline doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to anchor the reader:
what you do
who it’s for
or what problem you solve
Even a slight shift can make a big difference: “Helping you grow” → “Copywriting for service-based businesses”
Now the reader doesn’t have to work anything out.
4. Pages that try to speak to everyone at once
This one usually comes from a good place.
You want your website to reflect everything you do. All your services, all your experience, all your different audiences. But from a UX perspective, this creates a different problem. Too much choice.
When a page tries to cover everything, it becomes harder for someone to quickly find what’s relevant to them.
They land on the page with a specific question in mind. But instead of getting a clear answer, they’re faced with multiple directions:
Is this for me?
Do I need this section?
Should I keep scrolling?
That mental load adds friction. And friction slows people down.
The strongest pages usually feel focused. They guide the reader through one idea at a time. They make it clear who the page is for and what to do next. Not by saying more, but by saying less, more clearly
5. Missing the small reassurance moments
This is where a lot of UX lives, and it’s also where it’s most often overlooked. The small lines that sit around your main content:
under a button
beside a form
near a payment step
These are the moments where people hesitate. Not because they’re confused, but because they’re uncertain.
What happens next?
Is this a commitment?
Can I change this later?
If those questions aren’t answered, people either pause… or leave. This is where microcopy does its best work.
Small additions like:
“No credit card required”
“Takes less than 2 minutes”
“You can cancel anytime”
These don’t change the offer. They change how it feels. They remove risk. They build trust. They make the next step feel easier. And often, they’re the difference between someone taking action or not.
