Are you planning on having a new website soon? Then, you’ll want to know some of the most common website mistakes to avoid. In this blog, we’ll share many of the mistakes we have seen over the years and show you how to overcome them for a successful website.
Why is my website so important?
Websites are a very important part of your digital strategy. They often act as an element that links all of the others together. For example, you would send users from social media channels to your website to view your products and services or find out more about your brand.
A website is usually one of the first things that users will see when they decide to interact with your brand. This means that you need to make the first impression a good one. It really doesn’t take long for users to decide whether or not to stay on a website. So, you need to make it as appealing as possible.
What are the biggest web design mistakes to avoid?
Here are some of the most common mistakes that you may find when it comes to website design.
Ignoring mobile optimisation
Mobile optimisation is absolutely crucial nowadays. This means that your website is responsive and changes its layout based on the size of the screen it is being displayed on, for example, mobile devices. If your website doesn’t do this, you’ll find users becoming frustrated and leaving soon after visiting.
We ensure that all of our websites meet all requirements for mobile optimisation, as we recognise its importance for mobile users. Our team has vast experience designing websites with a responsive design.
Not using call-to-actions
Call to actions are a great way to show users what you want them to do next. If you want to encourage users to leave an enquiry or download a guide from your site, you can use call to actions to deliver the message.
When designing your call to actions, you need to consider a few elements, including the following.
- Use the same font as the rest of your website
- Use contrasting colours to help them stand out from other elements
- Don’t use too many call-to-actions as you may dilute their impact
- Make sure you place call-to-actions strategically
- Keep each call-to-action clear and specific
It’s a good idea to test your call-to-actions to see if some elements increase the number of people who use them. This can include moving them around the web page, making them bigger or even changing the text used.
Poor website navigation
Your website’s navigation is very important as it is essentially a map of your site design. You need to ensure that it is clear and that pages are grouped into relevant categories. This will help to build your website’s relevancy, especially if you can strategically link certain aspects.
Website navigations should be easy to see and accessible from each web page. Make sure that your navigation is clear and optimised for all device types. Poor website navigation is one of the biggest website design mistakes to avoid.
Not providing clear contact information for website users
Contact information is so important on your website. How do you expect potential customers to reach you if you don’t let them know how? It’s a good idea to add a contact page to your website navigation.
Some companies also add contact information in the footer of web pages. This means that users can see the information regardless of the website page they are currently viewing. Contact forms can also be useful as they allow you to get back to queries at a time that suits you.
Broken links
Broken links aren’t just annoying for users to deal with, but they also damage your website’s search engine optimisation. This is because it sends negative signals to the search engines that are ranking your website.
Broken links mean that users are likely to spend less time on your website, which can lead to increased bounce rates. These links not working can also signal to search engines that your website is old and outdated, which can impact its ranking position.
It’s a good idea to check your website links every so often to make sure they work as they are intended to. You can use software to do this or do it manually.
We offer a high-quality SEO service to help you reach your desired position in the search engine rankings. We use basic SEO techniques in all elements of web design to give website owners the best chance of success.
Slow load time
There’s nothing worse than a slow-loading website when you’re trying to find information quickly. As humans, we are busy and we want things to be available when we need them. Slow-loading websites can cause high bounce rates as people leave and they are generally bad for your website’s user experience.
There are many reasons why you might be experiencing a slow-loading site, such as images that haven’t been optimised, poor hosting solutions and caching problems.
We offer a high-quality hosting service that you can rely on. We ensure that your website remains secure and works efficiently. Our web developers complete regular backups and updates and are on hand for support whenever you need it for your WordPress website.
Leaving too much white space
A website with no features can be quite boring. White space refers to the areas of your site that have no elements, such as images or text. It’s important to have these elements, as they can help people remain engaged and show them where they should go next. They will also help people find the most relevant information on your website.
Adding too much text
There really needs to be a balance on your website when it comes to the amount of text and visual elements. If you are using keywords, you need to be wary of keyword stuffing and ensure that you have enough relevant text to avoid this. Keyword stuffing can negatively affect your SEO.
Make sure that you separate areas of text effectively to keep website visitors engaged and make it easy for them to find the information they require.
Using too many images
Images are great, but it can be overwhelming when there are too many. You need to use a good balance of images, text and white space so that your website is clear.
Remember that it’s always best to use your own high-quality, professional images rather than relying on stock images. Your own images will be more relevant and show users a true picture of your brand and the work that you complete. This helps to build a strong brand identity.
Other website design mistakes to avoid
- Using too many fonts
- Not including a search bar or search functionality for larger sites
- Not following a colour scheme
- Presenting unclear brand messaging
- Failing to use relevant keywords
- Not considering web accessibility
- Having an insecure website – This damages your site’s credibility
How do I know if my web design is working?
It’s important to track your website analytics so that you know how your website is working for site visitors. You could also conduct user research to check that you have a responsive design and that your website creates a seamless user experience.
We hope that you found this blog useful regarding web design mistakes. Our web design team works hard to create impressive websites that work efficiently and are visually appealing. Our web designers always avoid these common web design mistakes.
Are you looking for a new website for your business? Then get in touch with us. We’ll discuss your requirements before designing a website that meets your style, budget and timeframe.