When it comes to website design, mistakes can be costly and time-consuming to fix. As an experienced web designer, I’ve seen my fair share of bad design choices that not only cause frustration on the user’s side but cost businesses lost visitors/customers and opportunities. Identifying and avoiding these pitfalls should be every website designer’s natural instinct.
Here are some top mistakes to avoid:
Poor navigation
This is one of the most important elements of website design and yet it’s still overlooked. Poor navigation can lead to user confusion, unnecessary clicks, and dissatisfaction. If you’re seeing a high “bounce rate” (people quickly leaving your website when visiting), poor navigation is likely to be the culprit. Make sure your navigation bars are easy to understand and logical so visitors can find what they need quickly and easily.
Slow load times
A slow-loading website can be frustrating for visitors and negatively impact their experience. Optimize your website to load quickly by compressing images, using a fast hosting provider, and limiting the use of weighty scripts. It helps to test your website and check any items that cause unnecessary delays.
Outdated design or layout
An outdated design can make your website look unprofessional and harm your credibility. Stay current by regularly updating your design, incorporating modern design elements, and using responsive design to ensure that your website looks great on all devices. Mobile phones are the norm in today’s world and if your website design is not mobile-friendly, you’re going to lose out on a lot of visits. Make sure you test your design on all the major browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, etc.) to ensure they look the same across all of them.
Unreadable content
Poorly designed text, such as small fonts, low contrast, and too many columns, can make it difficult for visitors to read your content. Additionally, too much information can be overwhelming and confusing for visitors. Finally, millions of people around the world have a visual impairment or difficulty reading certain fonts. Don’t make it harder on them by using unusual or small fonts and complex background images that may interfere with readability. The same goes for colors. Stick to natural/realistic colors that are easy on the eyes.
Pop-ups
Too many pop-ups, especially on mobile devices, can be distracting and annoying for visitors. Limit the use of pop-ups and ensure that they are not intrusive.
Overuse of stock images
Overusing stock images can make your website look generic and unauthentic. Consider using original images, such as photos of your products, team, and customers, to add personality and authenticity to your website.
Not using white space effectively
White space, or negative space, can help draw attention to important elements and improve readability. Avoid cluttering your website with too much content and use white space effectively to create a clean, professional look.
Ignoring accessibility
Making your website accessible to users with disabilities, such as those with visual, auditory, and motor impairments, is not only a legal requirement, but it’s also the right thing to do. Ensure that your website is accessible by incorporating accessibility features, such as alt tags, high-contrast text, and clear headings. ThisGals offers ADA compliance reviews and remediation to ensure your website is up-to-date with the latest accessibility features.
Not testing
Before launching your website, test it on different devices, browsers, and operating systems to ensure that it looks and works as intended. Ask friends, family, and colleagues to test it as well and get feedback on areas that need improvement.
Autoplaying Music and Videos
Autoplaying videos and music can be incredibly disruptive, especially on a homepage. It slows down the loading speed, interrupts the user experience and hinders focus.
An effective professional website is an invaluable asset to any business. It provides a platform to market your products, services, and values while showcasing a polished, consistent brand identity. Customers searching online will be able to access accurate information quickly and easily and interact with your business in the digital space. Additionally, a well crafted website helps you establish credibility and trust – customers can rely on the legitimacy of your products and services. Providing an unrivaled customer experience will ultimately help ensure that your business succeeds in distinguishing itself from competitors.
Don’t settle for a generic website. Trust the professionals at ThisGals to create a website that is tailored to your needs and exceeds your expectations. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and see what we can do for you.
