10 common mistakes above the fold
The ten mistakes that most often ruin the first screen of a website, from vague headlines to cookie banners, with a quick fix for each.
Updated October 1, 2026
The first screen of your website, everything visible above the fold, decides whether visitors scroll on or leave. These ten mistakes come back again and again. Most take minutes to fix.
1. A headline that doesn't say what you do
"Welcome" or "Passion for quality" could be on any site. Fix: say what you offer and for whom, in plain words. See writing a homepage headline.
2. A slider instead of one message
Rotating banners split attention between messages that most visitors never see. Fix: pick one message and one image.
3. No visible next step
If the main button is below the fold, especially on mobile, many visitors never find it. Fix: put one clear call to action on the first screen of both desktop and phone.
4. Too many buttons
Four buttons of equal weight means no clear choice. Fix: one primary button, at most one quieter secondary option.
5. A cookie banner that covers everything
On a phone, a large banner can hide the whole first screen. Fix: a compact banner, with an equally visible option to refuse. See the guide to cookie banners.
6. A pop-up before anything else
Asking for an email address before visitors know what you do is asking for trust you haven't earned. Fix: delay pop-ups, or drop them.
7. A generic stock photo
A photo that could be on any website says nothing about yours. Fix: show your product, your place or your people. See stock photos or real photos.
8. Text that's hard to read
Light grey text, thin fonts or a headline over a busy photo. Fix: enough contrast and a solid background behind text. See readability and contrast.
9. No sign of trust
Nothing on the first screen shows that a real, reliable business is behind the site. Fix: a short line of proof: a rating, a few client logos, a name and face. See trust signals.
10. Designed only for a laptop
A layout that works side by side on a laptop is stacked on a phone, pushing the button and proof out of view. Fix: design the first screen on mobile first.
Check your own first screen
The free above the fold checker shows your first screen on a laptop and a phone side by side. To find out which of these mistakes actually costs you visitors, let strangers score it on StayOrBounce.