One of the things I dislike the most about web design is “design for its own sake.”
You’ve seen it; websites with flashy colors, cool animations, and clever layouts that seem to exist just to impress other designers. They look beautiful but fail where it matters most: helping the business make money.
If you own a business in Cameroon whether it’s a small shop in Buea, a training center in Douala, or an online store selling clothing to customers nationwide, your website isn’t a digital art piece. It’s a sales tool.
Before you get impressed by a fancy-looking website, ask yourself two hard questions:
Will this design help me get more customers and sales?
Or is it just showing off the designer’s skills?
Too many Cameroonian businesses are losing money because they hired someone who knows how to make a site look modern but doesn’t understand business or marketing.
Let’s fix that.
Yes, design matters. But good design is not about beauty alone; it’s about results. A clean layout, attractive colors, and sharp images are important — but only if they push visitors toward taking action.
That action could be:
Buying your product online
Filling out a contact form
Calling your phone number
Visiting your physical shop or office
If your site looks fancy but doesn’t make customers act, it’s just a digital poster.
I’ve seen this mistake too many times:
A restaurant in Limbe spends good money on a beautiful website but there’s no clear menu, no price list, no online ordering.
A training center in Douala builds a nice-looking site but their contact form is broken and there’s no WhatsApp link.
A clothing brand in Yaoundé invests in professional photos but forgets to add a “Buy Now” button or proper mobile checkout.
The result? Low sales. Low trust. Wasted money.
Here’s how you can make your website not just pretty but profitable:
When someone lands on your site, they should instantly know what you sell and how to get it. Use a clear headline and direct call-to-action like:
“Order Cakes for Delivery in Douala — Call or WhatsApp Now.”
In Cameroon, many people still prefer calling or chatting on WhatsApp before buying. Add click-to-call and WhatsApp buttons on every page.
People want to know you’re legit. Add customer reviews, testimonials, business location, and pictures of your team or store. A Google Map location helps too.
Most Cameroonians browse on their phones. If your site doesn’t load fast and look good on small screens, you’re losing sales.
Heavy animations, huge images, and complex layouts slow your site. In Cameroon, where internet speed can be unpredictable, that kills sales.
If you’re active on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok, make it easy for visitors to follow or message you.
Beautiful websites and sales-driven websites aren’t enemies. You can have both but the key is purposeful design.
A well-designed sales site in Cameroon:
Loads fast on MTN and Orange data
Clearly shows your products, services, and prices
Lets customers call, WhatsApp, or order easily
Builds trust with reviews, photos, and real business details
Works equally well on a small phone screen and a desktop
If your designer can’t explain how each part of your site helps you make money, that’s a red flag.
When you invest in a website, you’re not paying for decoration. You’re paying for a digital salesperson that works 24/7.
So next time you review a design or hire someone to build your site, ask:
“How will this help me get more leads or sales?”
“Will customers know what to do within 5 seconds?”
“Is my contact info and WhatsApp easy to find?”
If you can’t answer “yes,” pause and rethink.
I’m a WordPress web designer and developer in Cameroon, working remotely with clients locally and internationally. If you need a website that actually works for your business, or even just a question, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help.