1. CHOOSING A BUSY THEME/TEMPLATE
Website design is a critical thing to consider for any business entity with online visitors. When choosing a template or theme for your website, make sure it won’t distract from what you’re promoting – otherwise, people will be too busy trying to figure out how to find the information they came looking for in the first place!
Also, check if the template has a Responsive Design (adjusts well depending on the device used to view) as this is increasingly important with more and more visitors using mobile devices.
2. INTERNAL VS EXTERNAL LINKS
When linking pages of your website to one another, it is important that you do not set them to open in a new tab. This confuses your viewers and they cannot go back to the previous page. In addition, it is best to make any text links underlined and a different color to the normal font – so they are easy to read at a glance.
Also bear in mind that if you want your internal links to open in new tabs (to avoid confusion), make sure you tell users properly!
Any external link such as links to your social media platforms or other websites should open in a new tab so you do not lose your visitors to distraction (i.e. they all of a sudden get lost in scrolling on Facebook). Having a separate tab allows them to remember that they were on your website and let them go back to where they left off.
3. TYPEFACE AND FONTS
The fonts on your website have an impact on how readers will perceive your site – loud or soft? Modern or classical? Because of this, it is important that you choose typefaces that complement one another well, and do not use too many different fonts for titles or body text as this may look messy and unprofessional.
Another tip is to also use legible typefaces and fonts. Do not use a font that is super fancy or curly and no one can make out what you are saying!
4. COLOUR SCHEME
Using multiple colors can be effective in some instances (branding) but generally stick with one or two colors. This keeps your site looking clean and uncluttered, allowing the reader to easily navigate through the website.
Use complementary color schemes – a major and minor color that blend well together (e.g., blue with orange.) These colors compliment one another by bringing out the best features of each other.
5. CONTENT
Content is key, content helps your site rank on Google but also gives your viewers the information they need to their questions. Website design with no content is pretty much pointless.
Your site is a representation of you and your business so make sure the information included is relevant to what you do and how you can help others.
6. POP-UPS
Pop-ups should be avoided if, at all possible, they are annoying!! However, some companies use pop-ups to advertise a product/service or to get email marketing list sign-ups.
But using a pop-up on every single page of your website or having it appear too quickly once someone lands on your site can really turn people away.
REMEMBER, YOU HAVE ONE SHOT TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION!
7. NO CALL TO ACTION
Do your site visitors know what they should do once they are finished reading the information on your website? If not, create a call to action button that will lead them where you want them to go next.
Websites without a call to action are like giving someone a tool and not telling them what to do with it. Users need to know if they must keep it, sell it, break it, use it, etc. The same concept applies to your website. Must they call you? book a consult? request a quote?
8. NOT BEING USER-FRIENDLY
Being user-friendly is about more than just mobile and desktop compatibility, it’s about being easy for a person to understand. Your website design should be easy for others to read and navigate not only through your content but with how you have set up the look and feel of each page.
Make sure people can find their way around easily without having too much trouble following links, finding your contact information, etc.
If your website is user-friendly and easy to navigate, you’ll find the time on site will be longer and more people will explore everything about your business.
This will create a happier and loyal customer who keeps coming back instead of searching out competitors for their needs.
9. OVERDOING IT WITH ANIMATIONS/FANCY WIDGETS/FLASHY TEXTURES
Too much flash? Are you trying too hard? Remember that not everyone can see what’s in front of them so don’t try to make them follow links if they don’t want to (or can’t). Not only does this add unnecessary confusion but it also distracts users from taking in all of the information available on the page itself.
It doesn’t take much these days to distract people, this could be detrimental to your business as people will forget the reason they need to get in touch with your business in the first place.
So keep it simple and let the content guide your visitors.
10. LACK OF INFORMATION ON YOUR CONTACT PAGE
What happens if your users want to ask more questions about their order, find out if you are open on weekends, etc? What do they do then?
Place all the avenues users can contact you on your contact page or footer of your site. Email, numbers to call, WhatsApp, etc. Put yourself in their shoes and think about what website you would like to visit when you need help with something.
Think about how you could improve it so that people will remember to come back for more (and potentially bring others with them). You can also add social media links here so that they can connect with you.
CONCLUSION
There are many mistakes we can make with our website design. It won’t always be perfect but as long as you try, your website will be effective.
Keep the common mistakes in the back of your mind and use this article as a reference guide then hopefully it can help avoid these mistakes and ensure your website is well-received by the public.
