Website features that are killing your sales

When “fancy” features cost you customers

It’s tempting to add flashy features to your website—moving animations, pop-ups, and auto-playing videos—but these often frustrate visitors rather than impress them. If you’re wondering why conversions are low, consider that website features that are killing your sales are likely the culprit.

Even small distractions or unnecessary elements can stop users from engaging, exploring, and ultimately taking action. Let’s break down the biggest offenders.

Auto-playing videos

Unexpected audio is a major turn-off for visitors. Auto-playing videos create a jarring experience, particularly if users are in a quiet environment or browsing on mobile. Instead of engaging visitors, they often click away immediately.

Best practice: Use videos sparingly and allow users to start playback manually. Ensure they add value rather than distract.

Pop-ups everywhere

A pop-up here and there can capture attention, but multiple intrusive pop-ups frustrate visitors. When every page triggers a modal or newsletter signup, users feel bombarded and are more likely to leave than subscribe or convert.

Best practice: Limit pop-ups to one or two high-value triggers per user session and keep messaging relevant.

Huge blocks of text

Long paragraphs that aren’t broken up by headings, bullets, or visuals are skipped by most visitors. If users can’t quickly understand your offer, they’ll leave before finding the information they need.

Best practice: Use concise, scannable text. Break content into headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs to improve readability.

How the highest-converting websites do it

The most effective sites avoid flashy distractions and instead focus on clarity, speed, and user guidance.

Simplicity

No clutter, just clarity. Every element should serve a purpose. Remove unnecessary graphics, redundant sections, and overwhelming effects. The goal is to direct attention to the main message and primary call-to-action.

Speed

Load in under 3 seconds. Slow websites frustrate visitors and reduce conversions. Optimize images, minimize scripts, and leverage Squarespace’s built-in performance tools to improve page load speed. Fast sites not only perform better in search results but also keep users engaged.

Ease

One clear action per page. Visitors shouldn’t have to guess what to do next. Each page should feature a single primary CTA—signing up, purchasing, or contacting you. Clear guidance reduces friction and increases the likelihood of conversions.

Short recap

A high-performing website isn’t about how many “fancy” features you can add—it’s about guiding visitors toward action. Website features that are killing your sales—like auto-playing videos, pop-ups, and large blocks of text—can silently sabotage your conversions.

Focus on simplicity, speed, and ease of use to ensure your site keeps visitors engaged and encourages them to take the next step. Evaluate your Squarespace website today: what feature can you remove to make it more effective?