The best websites aren’t the ones with more features; they’re the ones with less noise. Learn why your busy website is losing visitors and 3 ways to fix it.
I used to think good design meant adding more sections, more animations, and more content. But after building dozens of websites, I realised the opposite is true. Great design is about removing everything that doesn’t serve your user’s purpose.
Think about Apple’s product pages. Minimal text. Bold visuals. Clear CTAs.
You don’t scroll forever, yet you leave knowing exactly what the product does and why you might want it. That’s intentional design.
Here’s something that changed how I approach web design:
Most people decide whether to stay on your website in 10 seconds or less. Not 30 seconds. Not a minute. 10 seconds. And in that time, they’re not reading paragraphs; they’re scanning. They want to know what you do, why it matters to them, and why they should or should not do business with you.
If your homepage looks like a blog post, there is a high chance you’ve already lost them.
So instead of adding five more sections explaining your process, ask yourself, “What’s the one thing I want them to know?” Put that front and centre. Everything else can live one click away (maybe a pop-up showing more information or a link leading them to other pages).
Now, here’s where some people get it wrong:
They think minimal scroll means boring. It doesn’t. Less scrolling doesn’t mean less engagement; it means smarter engagement. Add section snapping so transitions feel smooth. Use micro-animations that respond to hover or click. Build interactions that feel alive, not static. The aim isn’t to make people scroll less because you’re lazy. It’s to respect their time while keeping them interested.
Look at Microsoft’s homepage. Hardly any scrolling, but packed with subtle animations and interactive elements that make you want to explore.
I also followed this guideline when I was building increasechisom.com. I have noticed visitors spend more time on it now than before, not because there’s a lot to see, but because everything they need is right there—no endless scrolling, no confusion. People appreciate it when you respect their time.
Do this also with portfolios, landing pages, and even product sites. Instead of trying to show everything, focus on what truly matters: what problem you solve, who you solve it for, and why they should care.
Here are 3 things you can do today to make your site more focused:
- Open your homepage and count how many sections you have. If it’s more than 5, start combining or cutting. Ask yourself: “Does this section help my visitor make a decision, or is it just nice to have?”
- Test the 10-second rule. Show your site to someone who’s never seen it. Give them 10 seconds, then ask what you do. If they can’t answer clearly, your messaging is buried.
- Replace one long scrolling section with an interactive element. Instead of listing 10 features in a column, try a tabbed interface or a carousel. Make them click, not scroll.
Your website isn’t a novel. It’s a conversation. And the best conversations get to the point without wasting time.
NB: If you’re looking to create a website for your business, brand, or product, or you’d like to revamp your existing website into a modern one, you can reach out to us, and together we will build something amazing.
