Thinking of Hiring a Web Design Agency? Watch for These 4 Traps

Imagine hiring a chef for your wedding who claims to be a culinary expert but only knows how to make instant noodles. You end up with a dish that looks gourmet on the outside, but tastes awful and leaves your guests both hungry and disappointed. Website design agencies can be just like that. They might deliver a visually stunning site, but if it takes too long to load, 88.5% of visitors will bounce before they even see what you offer. From broken features to clunky user experiences, picking the wrong web design agency can become a costly — and frankly embarrassing — mistake. That “cheaper” option often ends up requiring expensive fixes later, blowing your budget out of the water. And here’s the kicker: 94% of first impressions are based on design. Once your site is live, you’ve got one shot to impress new visitors. If your website is buggy or confusing, you’ll lose potential leads faster than you can say “404 error.” Luckily, you don’t have to repeat the mistakes other businesses have made. Keep an eye out for these four red flags to strike the perfect balance between smart budgeting and a successful online presence.

1. The Agency Was the Cheapest

Here’s what usually happens when you choose the lowest-priced option:

• Design Disasters: Your website ends up looking outdated — like something built in the early 2000s — with no thought given to user experience.

• Functionality Failures: Broken or missing features leave visitors frustrated and quick to exit.

• Support Silence: When things start breaking down, the agency suddenly becomes unreachable.
  

That initial "savings" often ends up costing you more in the long run. We’ve worked with many clients who first went with budget agencies, only to come to us later needing rescue missions.

Start with a reliable, professional agency like Liv X Media from the beginning. We’ll build you a site that not only looks sharp but actually works — and we’ll always be there when you need us.

2. The Agency Relied on an Accessibility Overlay

In the UK and across Europe, accessibility isn’t just best practice—it’s a legal requirement. Under laws such as the Equality Act 2010, websites must be accessible to people with disabilities. This applies to public sector organisations and increasingly to businesses serving the general public. If your website doesn’t comply, you’re not only excluding users—you could also face legal consequences.

But here’s the issue: many web design agencies claim to deliver accessible websites, yet they cut corners by using accessibility overlays. These tools use JavaScript to modify how your site appears on the surface, without touching the core code. Agencies pitch them as a quick fix for compliance.

That’s like claiming a pair of £250 trainers will make you run a six-minute mile without ever hitting the gym. If the foundation isn’t there, no gimmick will get the job done. And if accessibility isn’t considered from the beginning, an overlay won’t solve the problem.

In reality, an overlay isn’t a shortcut—it’s like trying to run a marathon in heavy boots. Here’s why they fall short:

• False Confidence: You may think your site is compliant, but the reality says otherwise.

• Risk of Legal Action: These tools won’t shield you from accessibility-related claims.

• Frustrating Experience: Overlays can interfere with screen readers & keyboard navigation.
  

True accessibility starts at the foundation. Choose a web agency that integrates inclusive design from the very beginning. At Liv X Media, we ensure your website is accessible, user-friendly, and legally sound—right from the start.

3. The Agency Forgot to Budget for Ongoing Maintenance

Launching a website isn’t a “set it and forget it” situation. It’s more like owning a vehicle — it needs regular tune-ups, oil changes, and the occasional fix to keep running smoothly. One of the most common missteps? Failing to plan for ongoing website maintenance. And let’s be honest — some web design agencies conveniently “forget” to mention these future costs up front. It makes their quote look cheaper and more attractive… until you’re deep into the project and suddenly hit with surprise add-ons. To give you a rough idea: if you run an e-commerce site with around 1,000 products, annual maintenance can cost up to £24,000. For more simple sites, like small businesses with only 16 pages of content, can expect maintenance costs of up to £1,000 a year. While these numbers can vary, they’re far from negligible.

Costs to consider include:

• Security Updates: Keeping your site safe from cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

• Performance Optimisation: Making sure pages load quickly and run efficiently.

• Content Updates: Updating pages to reflect current info, promotions, or offers.

• Accessibility Compliance: Adjusting as accessibility standards evolve (especially important for legal and ethical reasons in the UK and EU).
  

Without regular care, even the most beautiful site can become outdated, slow, or broken — and that’s when visitors bounce to your competitor. A reputable agency like Liv X Media offers ongoing, affordable maintenance packages to keep your site secure, fast, and future-proof.

4. The Agency Chose the Wrong CMS Platform

Choosing the wrong platform for your website is like buying designer shoes two sizes too small — it might look stylish, but it won’t get you anywhere comfortably.

A content management system (CMS) is the engine of your website — it lets you create, update, and manage your site’s content without needing to write code. But not every CMS is built with your business’s future in mind. Some are overly complex, others too limiting. Picking the wrong one can hold your brand back from day one.

That’s why Wix has become the go-to choice for forward-thinking businesses. With powerful design capabilities, intuitive editing tools, and built-in marketing features, Wix makes it easy to launch a stunning, high-performing website — fast.

Wix ➡ Powers over 10 million websites globally

✅ Why Wix Works:• User-friendly and intuitive drag-and-drop interface 

• Visually polished and highly customisable

•  Built-in tools for SEO, marketing, and analytics

•  Fast performance and mobile optimization

•  Scalable for growing service-based or creative businesses
  

At Liv X Media, we don’t just build Wix websites — we craft digital experiences designed to convert. Whether you're launching a brand, scaling a service-based business, or refreshing your online presence, we tailor every Wix site to your goals and teach you how to manage it with confidence — no technical skills required.

Avoid Website Nightmares with Liv X Media

When it comes to building your website, cutting corners often leads to costly setbacks and lost opportunities. Whether it's opting for the cheapest agency or relying on half-baked accessibility shortcuts, these missteps can seriously harm your brand’s credibility.

We’re a leading creative agency specialising in digital design and marketing that delivers powerful websites tailored to your business goals. We work closely with you to stay within your budget while crafting a website that resonates with your audience and drives real results.

One of our clients, The London Centre for Prosthodontics, saw a 248% increase in their traffic in the last twelve months compared to the previous year after our website redesign.

Don’t risk turning your website into a liability. Let  Liv X Media create a digital experience that works hard for your business — and keeps working. If you’re ready to stop losing leads and start turning clicks into customers, get in touch with us today.