UI. UX. They sound like techy buzzwords you nod along to in meetings - but understanding the difference could be the key to why your website isn’t converting or why your SaaS platform isn’t sticking.

Here’s a simple breakdown of what each one actually means, why both matter, and how to get them working together across your marketing site and your product.

What’s the difference between UI and UX?

Let’s keep it simple.

• UI (User Interface) is what things look like. Colours, typography, buttons, spacing, icons - all the visual elements that make up your website or product.
• UX (User Experience) is how things work. The structure, flow and functionality that guide people through a task or journey.

Put another way: UI is the paint job. UX is the engine. You need both to guide the user thorugh your site.

Why it matters for your website

Your marketing site needs to do one thing well: guide someone from “just browsing” to taking action. That could be booking a demo, signing up or downloading a whitepaper.

• UX is what makes that journey feel easy and obvious. Clear navigation. Logical flow. No friction.
• UI is what makes it feel polished and trustworthy. Clean design. Consistent styles. Visually engaging but not overwhelming.

If your UX is clunky, people won’t know where to click. If your UI is sloppy, they won’t trust your product enough to bother. You need both to earn the click.

Why it matters for your SaaS product

Once someone’s inside your platform, the stakes are even higher. They’re not just deciding whether to try it, they’re deciding whether to stay.

• UX in SaaS means intuitive onboarding, easy-to-understand workflows and clear feedback when something works (or doesn’t).
• UI means your interface looks modern, accessible and consistent with your brand.

If your product is hard to use, people won’t stick around. If it looks outdated or disjointed, they’ll assume the rest of your tech is too.

Where startups go wrong

A few common traps:

• Focusing too much on how things look without considering how people will use them
• Copying design trends without thinking about function
• Designing their marketing site and product in silos, so they feel like different companies
• Neglecting mobile, even when your audience uses it daily

Good design isn’t just decoration. It’s a business tool that helps people trust, understand and use what you’ve built.

How to get it right (even with a small team)

• Start with the user journey. Whether it’s your website or SaaS product, map out what you want people to do and remove anything that gets in the way.
• Keep your interface clean and consistent. Use design systems, set styles and stick to them. It helps users feel in control.
• Use your brand as your guide. If you’re confident and friendly, your UI and UX should reflect that. If you’re premium and professional, same goes.
• Test, tweak, and simplify. Watch where people get stuck and keep iterating. Clarity always wins.

Final Thoughts

UI and UX aren’t just for the design team. They’re core to how people experience your brand, whether they’re clicking around your homepage or trying to use your product.

Get them working together, and you don’t just look good. You feel good to use. And that’s what makes people stick around.

At The Marketing Mix, we help startups create websites and products that feel as good as they look. If you're ready to fix the gaps and get your design working harder, we’re here for it.