A well-designed website A well-designed website is crucial for businesses in the modern digital world. It is often the first point of contact between a business and potential customers, and it can have a major impact on brand perception and user experience. Unfortunately, many companies still make common mistakes when designing their website, which can cause them to lose potential customers and damage their online presence.
Too much information on the homepage
One of the most common mistakes companies make when designing their websites is overloading the homepage with too much information. This can be overwhelming for visitors and put them off. A busy homepage can also slow down the loading time of the website, which can have a negative impact on the user experience.
To solve this problem, it is important to simplify the homepage and display only the essential information. Use clear headings and sub-headings to organise the content and make use of white space to keep the page airy and uncluttered. Also avoid using too many images or graphics that can make the page look busy.
Lack of clear navigation structure
Another common mistake is the lack of a clear navigation structure on the website. This can cause visitors to struggle to find the desired information and can lead to frustration and a poor user experience.
A good navigation structure is logical and intuitive. Use clear and concise labels for navigation menus and make sure the most important pages are easily accessible from any page on the website. It is also a good idea to add a search function so that visitors can quickly find what they are looking for.
Non-responsive design
With the growing number of people viewing websites on mobile devices, having a responsive design is essential. A non-responsive website can look bad and be difficult to navigate on smaller screens, which can lead to a poor user experience and the loss of potential customers.
To make a website responsive, it must be designed using a flexible design that adapts to different screen sizes. This can be achieved by using media queries and flexible layouts. It is also important to optimise images and videos for mobile devices so that they load quickly and display well.
Poor readability of text
Another common mistake is having poorly readable text on the website. This can cause visitors to struggle to read the content and can discourage them from continuing on the website.
To improve the readability of text, it is important to choose an easy-to-read font and a sufficiently large font size. Also make sure there is sufficient contrast between the text colour and the background colour to make the text easy to read. Using short paragraphs and clear headings can also help make the text easier to scan.
Too many fonts and colours
Using too many different fonts and colours can be distracting and divert visitors' attention from the main content of the website. It can also give an unprofessional look and harm brand consistency.
To avoid this problem, it is important to use a limited number of fonts and colours on the website. Choose one or two fonts that go well together and use them consistently throughout the website. The same goes for colours - choose a colour palette that suits the brand and use these colours consistently in the design.
No search function on the website
A search function is an essential part of a well-designed website. It allows visitors to quickly find what they are looking for, even if they are not familiar with the website's navigation structure.
To add a search function to a website, there are several options available. A simple way is to add a search bar to each page of the website. There are also several plug-ins and tools available that can be integrated into the website design to provide more advanced search functionality.
Too many distractions from ads or pop-ups
Too many distractions from ads or pop-ups can negatively affect the user experience and put visitors off. They can also slow down website load time and reduce website performance.
To minimise distractions, it is important to use ads and pop-ups sparingly and make sure they are relevant to the website's content. It is also a good idea to place them strategically so that they do not interfere with the main content of the page.
Lack of clear call-to-action buttons
Clear call-to-action buttons are essential to encourage visitors to take action, such as buying a product or filling out a form. A lack of clear call-to-action buttons can prevent visitors from knowing what to do and can lead to low conversion rates.
To create effective call-to-action buttons, it is important to make them eye-catching and easy to find. Use contrasting colours and clear text to attract attention, and make sure the buttons are large enough to be easily clicked.
Poor quality images or videos
Poor-quality images or videos can harm the overall appearance of the website and negatively affect the user experience. They can also slow down website load time and reduce website performance.
To improve the quality of images and videos, it is important to optimise them for the web. This can be done by using compression and choosing the right file format. It is also a good idea to host images and videos on a remote server to reduce website loading time.
Lack of regular updates or maintenance
A lack of regular updates and maintenance can cause a website to become outdated and not function properly. It can also lead to security problems and a poor user experience.
To keep a website up-to-date, it is important to regularly add new content and update existing content. It is also important to resolve any technical issues quickly and make sure all links and forms are working properly.
Conclusion
A well-designed website is essential for businesses in the modern digital world. By avoiding common website design mistakes, businesses can improve their online presence and attract potential customers. It is important to ensure a simple homepage, a clear navigation structure, responsive design, good readability of text, a limited number of fonts and colours, a search function, minimal distractions, clear call-to-action buttons, good quality images and videos, regular updates and maintenance. By applying these tips, businesses can optimise their website design and increase their online success.
Avoid These Common Mistakes When Building Websites is an informative article that will help you avoid pitfalls when building websites. To complement this topic, you can also read our article on the importance of a well-designed user account page. A good example of this can be found at https://webtik.nl/de/mein-account/. We also offer insights into the process of launching a website and what to look out for. Read more about this at https://webtik.nl/de/website-launch/. For French-speaking users, we also have an article on logging into the website, which can be found at https://webtik.nl/fr/connexion/.