How to make your website look trustworthy (and avoid looking like a scam!)

First impressions matter - especially online. If your website looks outdated, clunky, or just a little… off, visitors might not stick around long enough to see what you offer. 

But don’t worry! With a few smart design choices, you can create a site that feels polished, professional, and, most importantly, trustworthy.

Simple design tweaks that build trust

1. Clear, easy navigation
   Ever landed on a website and had no idea where to click? A confusing menu makes visitors feel lost. Keep it simple with clear labels like Home, About, and Contact. Squarespace makes this easy with customisable menus that guide users effortlessly.

2. A design that works on all devices
   If your website doesn’t look good on mobile, visitors won’t think twice before leaving. Luckily, Squarespace makes it easy to optimise your site for mobile devices, so your pages look sleek no matter where they’re viewed. Just double-check everything loads smoothly on phones and tablets.

3. Consistent branding
   Your website should feel like an extension of your brand. Stick to a cohesive colour palette, use the same fonts throughout, and choose high-quality images that reflect your business (but keep them below 250KB for SEO!). Squarespace makes it easy to customise your site’s look so everything feels professional and put together.

4. Readable fonts and clean layouts
   Hard-to-read fonts and cluttered pages send visitors running. Stick to clear, easy-to-read typography and plenty of white space to keep things clean and inviting.

5. Fast load times
   A slow website is a red flag. Visitors associate speed with reliability, so optimise images, avoid unnecessary plugins, and let Squarespace’s built-in performance tools keep your site running smoothly.

Red flags that make your site look suspicious

1. Outdated or messy design
   If your site looks like it hasn’t been updated since the early 2000s, visitors may assume your business is inactive (or worse, not legit). A fresh, modern design makes all the difference.

2. No contact details
   Would you trust a business with no way to get in touch? At minimum, include an email address or contact form. A clear ‘Contact’ page makes your site instantly more credible.

3. Broken links and missing pages
   Clicking on a link only to get an error page is frustrating—and it makes your site seem unreliable. Regularly check for broken links and outdated content to keep everything running smoothly.

4. No clear calls to action (CTAs)
   If visitors don’t know what to do next, they’ll leave. A strong call to action—like ‘Get in Touch’ or ‘Shop Now’—helps guide them towards taking action.

Why Squarespace is a great choice for building trust

A trustworthy website isn’t just about looks—it’s about functionality, too. Squarespace makes it easy to build a sleek, professional site with built-in security, mobile-friendly design, and custom branding options. It’s an all-in-one solution for creating a site that feels reliable from the start.

We're here to help

Need help bringing your website to life? At olio creative, we design custom Squarespace websites that look great, work seamlessly, and build trust with your audience. Whether you’re starting fresh or need a refresh, we’d love to help.