Starting a website on Wix seems like a breeze—just drag, drop, and publish, right? But as many website owners soon realize, there’s a lot more to creating a successful site than meets the eye. From hidden SEO settings to design pitfalls, and mistakes that cost time and money, first-time users often find themselves saying, "I wish I had known this before I started!"
In this blog, we’ve gathered insights from real Wix website owners who have been through the trial and error of building and growing their sites. Whether you're launching an online store, a personal blog, or a business website, these lessons will save you frustration and help you create a website that not only looks great but also performs well and attracts visitors.
Let’s dive into the things they wish they had known before clicking that "Publish" button! 🚀
Choosing the right template is more important than you think
One of the biggest mistakes Wix beginners make is choosing a template based on looks alone. While a beautiful design is important, not all templates offer the same level of flexibility, customization, or functionality. Many website owners realize too late that they’ve picked a template that doesn’t support the features they need—forcing them to start over or struggle with workarounds.
Why Your Template Choice Matters
Not all templates are built for all purposes – Some are optimized for e-commerce, others for blogging or portfolio sites. Picking the wrong one can make adding essential features more difficult.
Once you choose, you can’t switch easily – Unlike WordPress or Shopify, Wix does not allow you to simply switch templates without rebuilding your site from scratch.
Design structure affects user experience – The layout, navigation, and responsiveness of a template impact how visitors interact with your site. A poor structure can lead to higher bounce rates and lost customers.
How to Choose the Right Wix Template
✅ Start with your goal in mind – Are you creating an online store, a blog, a business portfolio, or a service-based website? Choose a template that aligns with your needs.
✅ Check the mobile version – Some templates don’t translate well to mobile devices, leading to awkward layouts and poor usability. Always preview the mobile version before committing.
✅ Make sure it supports essential features – If you plan to use a blog, an online booking system, or a contact form, check if the template supports those features without too much customization.
✅ Consider customization flexibility – Some templates are highly customizable, while others are rigid. If you want total design freedom, consider using Wix Studio or a blank template.
✅ Think long-term – Will this template still work for you as your website grows? Choose a design that can evolve with your business or personal brand.
💡 Pro Tip: Instead of diving in blindly, create a Wix free account and explore different templates
before committing. Take your time to experiment and ensure your choice is the right one.
By choosing the right Wix template from the start, you’ll save yourself countless hours of redesigning and avoid frustration down the road! 🚀
Wix SEO: not as automatic as it seems
Many people assume that because Wix offers built-in SEO tools, their website will automatically rank well on Google. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. While Wix does provide helpful features like SEO Wiz, meta tags, and structured data, getting your site to appear on the first page of search results requires more effort than just setting up a website.
Common Wix SEO Mistakes Beginners Make
🚫 Not customizing title tags and meta descriptions – Wix auto-generates these, but they’re often not optimized for clickability or keywords.
🚫 Ignoring alt text for images – Search engines can’t “see” images, so without alt text, your visual content won’t help with SEO.
🚫 Overlooking proper URL structures – Wix assigns default URLs, but they should be customized to be short, descriptive, and keyword-rich.
🚫 Relying too much on Wix SEO Wiz – This tool is a great starting point, but it doesn’t cover advanced tactics like backlinking, content marketing, and technical SEO.
How to Improve SEO on Your Wix Website
✅ Use keyword-rich, engaging meta titles and descriptions – Make sure every page has a compelling meta title (50-60 characters) and a description (150-160 characters) that includes relevant keywords.
✅ Optimize images with descriptive alt text – This not only helps search engines but also improves accessibility.
✅ Create a strong content strategy – Regularly publish blog posts, guides, and landing pages with valuable, keyword-optimized content.
✅ Set up Google Search Console and Google Analytics – These tools will help you track your SEO performance and uncover issues that need fixing.
✅ Use Wix’s structured data (Schema Markup) – This helps Google better understand your content, improving how it appears in search results.
✅ Get high-quality backlinks – Reach out to relevant websites, blogs, and directories to build authority in your niche.
💡 Pro Tip: While Wix has improved its SEO capabilities over the years, it’s still up to you to fine-tune your website for maximum visibility. SEO is an ongoing process, not a one-time setup!
Mobile optimization: why your site looks different on phones
You’ve spent hours perfecting your Wix website on desktop, only to check it on your phone and realize… it looks completely different! Texts are misaligned, images are cropped, buttons are too small, and suddenly, your beautiful design isn’t so user-friendly anymore.
Why does this happen? Because desktop and mobile screens function differently, and if you don’t optimize for mobile, your website may not offer the best experience to visitors.
Why your Wix site looks different on mobile
📲 Different screen sizes: Mobile screens are smaller, so elements may shift, shrink, or stack unexpectedly.
📲 Font and image scaling issues: Large fonts and high-resolution images that look great on desktop may appear oversized or cut off on mobile.
📲 Hidden or repositioned elements: Some elements may automatically adjust or disappear based on how the Wix mobile editor interprets your layout.
📲 Touchscreen navigation vs. mouse clicks: Small buttons or links that work fine on desktop might be too small for mobile users to tap easily.
How to optimize your Wix website for mobile
✅ Use Wix’s mobile editor – Wix gives you a dedicated mobile view, where you can adjust elements without affecting your desktop design.
✅ Resize fonts and images manually – Make sure your text is readable and images display correctly across devices.
✅ Enable mobile-friendly menus – Use Wix’s mobile menu feature to ensure easy navigation. Avoid complex dropdowns that can be frustrating on smaller screens.
✅ Check button sizes – Ensure buttons are large enough to tap (at least 44x44 pixels) and spaced properly to avoid accidental clicks.
✅ Optimize page load speed – Compress images and avoid too many animations that can slow down mobile performance.
✅ Test on multiple devices – Don’t rely solely on Wix’s mobile preview. Check your site on real phones and tablets to see how it actually looks and functions.
💡 Pro Tip: Mobile visitors make up over 60% of web traffic, so ensuring a smooth, responsive experience can directly impact your website’s success!
Understanding Wix’s limitations before you scale
Wix is an excellent platform for building beautiful, functional websites without coding. However, as your business or website grows, you may start to hit certain limitations that can impact scalability and performance. Understanding these challenges ahead of time will help you plan smarter and avoid surprises down the road.
Key Wix limitations to consider before scaling
🚧 You can’t switch templates once your site is liveUnlike some other platforms, Wix doesn’t allow you to change your template after publishing. If you outgrow your current design, you’ll need to manually rebuild your site.
🚧 Limited flexibility for large-scale e-commerceWix eCommerce works well for small to medium-sized stores, but it lacks advanced inventory management, multi-channel selling, and deep customization found in platforms like Shopify.
🚧 Customization has its limits (unless you use Velo by Wix)If you need highly custom features, you may find Wix’s drag-and-drop editor restrictive. While Velo by Wix (formerly Corvid) allows for coding custom functionality, it requires developer knowledge.
🚧 Performance can slow down with too many elementsAdding too many high-resolution images, animations, or third-party apps can affect site speed, leading to a poor user experience and lower SEO rankings.
🚧 SEO is improving but not as robust as WordPressWhile Wix has improved its SEO tools, it still doesn’t match WordPress in terms of deep optimization. Advanced users may find URL structuring, site speed optimization, and schema markup somewhat limiting.
🚧 Site ownership and migration challengesWix is a closed system, meaning you can’t export your site and move it to another platform like WordPress. If you ever want to migrate, you’ll need to start from scratch.
How to work around Wix’s limitations
✅ Choose a scalable template from the start – Pick a design that can grow with your brand so you don’t have to rebuild later.
✅ Use Wix Studio for greater design flexibility – If you need more control, Wix Studio offers a more advanced design experience than the standard editor.
✅ Keep your design clean and lightweight – Avoid unnecessary elements that can slow down performance.
✅ Consider using Velo by Wix if you need advanced functionality – If your website requires unique features, learning some basic Velo coding can help unlock more possibilities.
✅ Plan for long-term SEO strategies – Follow best SEO practices, optimize your content, and use external tools like Google Search Console for better insights.
💡 Pro Tip: Wix is fantastic for small businesses, creatives, and entrepreneurs, but if you plan to scale into a large enterprise-level website, carefully assess whether it can meet your long-term needs.
The importance of a well-structured navigation menu
Your navigation menu is the backbone of your website’s user experience. It’s the first thing visitors use to find their way around, and if it’s not intuitive, they may leave before even exploring your content. A well-structured menu improves user engagement, SEO, and conversion rates, making it a crucial element of your Wix website.
Why a good navigation menu matters
🧭 Enhances user experience – Visitors should be able to find what they need within seconds. A confusing menu can frustrate users and lead to high bounce rates.
🔍 Boosts SEO – Search engines use navigation structures to understand your site’s hierarchy. A well-organized menu improves crawlability and ranking potential.
📈 Increases conversions – Clear and logical navigation guides visitors toward important pages like product listings, contact forms, or service details.
Best practices for structuring your Wix navigation menu
✅ Keep it simple and concise – Limit top-level menu items to the most essential pages (Home, About, Services, Shop, Contact, etc.). Too many links can overwhelm users.
✅ Use clear and descriptive labels – Avoid vague terms like "More" or "Stuff." Instead, use specific names like “Our Services”, “Shop Now”, or “Contact Us.”
✅ Group related pages under dropdowns – If you have multiple service offerings, use dropdown menus to keep things organized rather than cluttering the main navigation bar.
✅ Ensure mobile-friendly navigation – Wix allows you to customize your mobile menu separately. Use a hamburger menu (☰) and check that text and buttons are easily tappable.
✅ Highlight key actions – Use CTA (Call-to-Action) buttons like "Get a Quote" or "Book Now" in the menu to drive engagement.
✅ Check for consistency across pages – The navigation should remain the same on all pages to avoid confusion and create a seamless browsing experience.
💡 Pro Tip: Use Wix’s anchor links if you have a long homepage, allowing users to jump to different sections without scrolling endlessly.
A well-structured navigation menu not only improves usability but also helps visitors take the right actions on your website—whether it's making a purchase, booking a service, or learning more about your brand.
Site speed matters: how to keep your Wix website fast
A slow website can frustrate visitors, hurt your SEO rankings, and reduce conversions. Studies show that 53% of users will leave a page if it takes more than 3 seconds to load! While Wix makes website building easy, improper setup and excessive design elements can slow down your site.
Here’s how to keep your Wix website fast and provide a seamless experience for your visitors.
Why site speed is important
🚀 Better user experience – Visitors expect a smooth, fast-loading website. A slow site can lead to higher bounce rates.
📈 Higher SEO rankings – Google considers page speed as a ranking factor. A slow website may struggle to rank well in search results.
💰 More conversions & sales – Faster websites lead to higher engagement, more sales, and better retention rates.
How to improve your Wix website speed
✅ Optimize images before uploading
Use compressed images to reduce file size without losing quality.
JPG files are smaller than PNGs—use PNG only when transparency is needed.
Use Wix’s built-in image optimization or external tools like TinyPNG.
✅ Minimize animations and effects
Animations, parallax scrolling, and excessive video backgrounds increase loading time.
Use effects strategically rather than all over the page.
✅ Reduce the number of installed apps
Wix offers many third-party apps, but too many can slow down performance.
Uninstall any apps you don’t actively use.
✅ Enable caching and browser optimization
Wix automatically caches your site, but clearing and republishing periodically helps refresh performance.
✅ Use fewer fonts and styles
Stick to 2-3 font types max. Using too many fonts forces the browser to load extra data.
✅ Limit the use of high-resolution videos
If using videos, embed from YouTube or Vimeo instead of uploading directly.
Reduce autoplay videos or use optimized, lightweight video formats.
✅ Avoid long, complex pages
Break long pages into multiple sections or separate pages.
Use anchor links to help users navigate faster.
✅ Check your mobile performance
Mobile users expect even faster loading times.
Test on real devices and use Google PageSpeed Insights to see what needs improvement.
💡 Pro Tip: Run your Wix site through Google Lighthouse or GTmetrix to check speed scores and get specific recommendations.
A fast Wix website ensures better rankings, happier visitors, and more conversions—making speed optimization a must-have, not a luxury!
Regular maintenance is a must
Building a Wix website is just the beginning—keeping it updated, secure, and optimized is what ensures long-term success. Many website owners make the mistake of launching their site and then forgetting about it, only to face issues like broken links, outdated content, slow loading speeds, and declining SEO rankings over time.
A well-maintained website not only provides a better user experience but also helps in search engine rankings, security, and business credibility.
Why regular maintenance is important
🔍 Keeps your content fresh and relevant – Outdated content can make your website look inactive or unreliable.
⚡ Improves site speed & performance – Regularly updating images, cleaning up unused elements, and optimizing pages helps keep your site fast.
📈 Boosts SEO rankings – Google favors fresh, well-maintained websites. Updating blogs, metadata, and fixing errors can improve visibility.
🔒 Enhances security – Even on Wix, security updates and monitoring help prevent issues like spam and broken forms.
💰 Increases conversion rates – A properly maintained website ensures that visitors always have a seamless experience, leading to higher sales or engagement.
Essential Wix website maintenance tasks
✅ Check for broken links and errors
Use tools like Google Search Console to identify broken pages or links.
Ensure all contact forms, buttons, and checkout processes work properly.
✅ Update content regularly
Refresh old blog posts, product descriptions, and FAQs.
Add new testimonials, case studies, or service updates.
✅ Optimize images and media
Remove unnecessary high-resolution images that slow down loading speeds.
Use compressed images for faster performance.
✅ Monitor site speed and performance
Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to identify slow-loading pages.
Minimize animations and large media files.
✅ Review mobile responsiveness
Test your site on different devices to ensure mobile-friendliness.
Adjust any design elements that look off on smaller screens.
✅ Check Wix apps & third-party integrations
Uninstall unused apps that may slow down your site.
Keep essential apps updated for better security and functionality.
✅ Perform SEO audits
Update meta titles, descriptions, and keywords for better search rankings.
Check for duplicate content or missing alt text on images.
💡 Pro Tip: Schedule a monthly website check-up to keep things running smoothly. A little maintenance now can prevent major problems later!
By making website maintenance a habit, you’ll keep your Wix site performing at its best, providing an excellent experience for visitors and ensuring your online success.
Final thoughts: making the most of your Wix experience
Building a website with Wix is a great choice for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and creatives who want a professional online presence without the need for coding. With its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, customizable templates, and built-in tools, Wix makes website creation accessible and efficient. However, as we’ve explored, launching a site is just the first step. To truly maximize your Wix experience, you need to focus on proper setup, SEO optimization, mobile responsiveness, speed, and regular maintenance.
As your website grows, it’s important to keep scalability in mind. Whether you’re running an eCommerce store, a portfolio, or a business website, staying updated with Wix’s latest features and best practices will ensure your site remains competitive. A well-structured navigation menu, fast-loading pages, and fresh content all contribute to higher engagement and better conversion rates. Additionally, investing time in SEO and performance optimization will help your site rank better on search engines, attracting more visitors organically.
If you’re looking to take your Wix website to the next level, Adicator’s marketing services can help. From SEO optimization and content strategy to social media marketing and advertising, our team specializes in boosting website visibility and engagement. Whether you need help fine-tuning your site for better performance or crafting a digital marketing plan to reach your audience, we have the expertise to support your online success. 🚀 Contact Adicator today and let’s grow your website together!