You wouldn’t hire a chef, then barge into the kitchen demanding they cook the steak your way, despite having zero culinary experience. Yet, this happens all the time with web designers. Just imagine for a moment what would happen if you did that with Gordon Ramsay…
Business owners invest in professional web design, only to second-guess every decision, override expert recommendations, and unknowingly sabotage their own website. The result? A cluttered, confusing site that pleases them—but confuses their customers and kills conversions.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- Why micromanaging your web designer leads to bad design.
- The most common mistakes clients make when they don’t trust their designer.
- How to balance your input with the expertise of the person you hired.
Let’s make sure your website works for your customers, not just for your personal preferences.
1. Why Micromanaging Your Web Designer Leads to Bad Design
A great website isn’t just about looking good—it’s about guiding visitors smoothly from interest to action. Good designers understand things like:
✔ How colors, fonts, and layouts influence user behavior.
✔ Where to place calls-to-action for maximum conversions.
✔ What design trends actually work vs. what just looks trendy.
But when business owners override design choices based on personal taste, they often make costly mistakes.
🚫 Example of Bad Client Input:
- “Make the logo bigger.” (Even if it disrupts the layout.)
- “Let’s use 10 different fonts—it looks more creative!” (No, it just looks chaotic.)
- “Can we add 15 more buttons?” (Because visitors love feeling overwhelmed.)
✅ What a Smart Client Says Instead:
- “I trust your judgment, but can you explain why you chose this layout?”
- “My main goal is conversions—does this design help with that?”
- “I prefer blue, but I understand if another color works better.”
The difference? A good client asks for clarity, not control.
2. The Most Common Mistakes Clients Make When They Don’t Trust Their Designer
1. Prioritizing Personal Preferences Over User Experience
You might love neon green text on a black background, but your visitors might hate it (and leave immediately). Your site isn’t for you—it’s for your audience.
✔ Solution: Before demanding changes, ask: “Will this improve the user experience, or is it just my personal taste?”
2. Ignoring Mobile Usability
Many business owners review their site on a desktop but forget that most users browse on mobile. That “cool” layout you insisted on? It might be unreadable on a phone.
✔ Solution: Trust your designer when they say less is more for mobile users.
3. Overloading the Homepage with Too Much Information
Some clients want to cram everything onto the homepage—because “people need to see everything at once.” What actually happens? Visitors get overwhelmed and leave.
✔ Solution: Keep the homepage simple. Focus on one clear message and a call-to-action.
4. Making the Navigation Confusing
If users can’t find what they’re looking for within seconds, they won’t stick around. But many business owners insist on cluttered menus, fancy animations, or quirky names like “The Vault” instead of “Blog.”
✔ Solution: Simple, clear navigation wins every time. Listen when your designer says so.
5. Micromanaging Every Tiny Detail
Good designers make dozens of small decisions (spacing, font sizes, button styles) based on best practices—but some clients nitpick every pixel. This slows the project down and often results in a worse design.
✔ Solution: Give feedback on big-picture goals, not minor details that don’t affect performance.
3. How to Balance Your Input with Your Designer’s Expertise
You shouldn’t be completely hands-off—after all, it’s your business. But instead of micromanaging, collaborate. Here’s how:
1. Be Clear About Your Goals, Not Just Your Preferences
Instead of saying “Make it look cooler,” say:
✔ “I want this page to feel more modern and professional. Any suggestions?”
2. Ask Questions Instead of Making Demands
Instead of “Change the colors to something brighter,” ask:
✔ “Do you think a brighter color would make the call-to-action stand out more?”
3. Trust the Process (and the Contract)
Your designer has a process for a reason. If they recommend a certain layout or structure, there’s probably a good reason behind it.
✔ Solution: Follow the timeline, provide feedback at the right stages, and let them do their job.
Hiring a web designer is an investment—so trust the expert you’re paying. When you override good design principles based on personal preferences, you don’t just waste time—you risk ending up with a website that looks nice but doesn’t work.
Recap:
✔ Trust your designer’s expertise in layout, colors, and user experience.
✔ Avoid common mistakes like cluttered homepages, confusing navigation, and mobile-unfriendly designs.
✔ Give input based on goals, not just personal preferences.
Next step: If you’re working with a web designer, ask yourself: Am I giving useful feedback, or am I micromanaging? If it’s the latter, take a step back—your website (and your designer) will thank you.
