85. Why your AI-generated website looks like everyone else’s (and how to fix it)

Why hire a web designer when you can just ask Claude to build your website? It’s a totally fair question and one I hear constantly. AI tools can spin up a full site in minutes and when you’re watching every dollar, that’s hard to resist. But does that site actually help people understand your business, give them a reason to choose you, and make it stupidly easy to hire you? In this solo episode, I dig into why AI-generated websites so often look and sound exactly alike and how that generic first impression can erode trust before a potential client ever reaches out. I walk through a practical checklist to run your AI-built site through before you hit publish, from making sure your brand (and your real brand colors!) actually comes through, to editing copy that sounds nice but means nothing, to mapping a user journey where every page has a clear purpose. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why AI-generated websites all start to look the same and what that signals to potential clients How a generic website can make people feel less sure about the care you put into your work The brand check to run on fonts, images, and colors (yes, Claude might “hallucinate” your hex codes) My number one rule: never publish AI-generated copy without editing it How to spot empty phrases like “elevate your business with innovative, tailored solutions” and rewrite them so they actually mean something Why more pages isn’t always better and how to give every page a clear purpose in your user journey Middle-ground options between a $10K website and 100% DIY, like audits and outsourcing specific pieces Why AI flyers fall flat (17 CTAs and confetti, anyone?) and the “take off one accessory” rule for simpler, stronger design Resources mentioned: Take the free Website Scorecard to see how your site stacks up: honeybebold.com/scorecard Boldly stalk us: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube Subscribe to the pod on your podcast platform of choice