Is Your Website Guilty of These Web Design Mistakes?
Say you have a beautiful website that’s bound to wow your clients and floor your competitors. But in your rush to impress, did you forget to steer clear of these web design mistakes? If your pretty website doesn’t convert prospects into paying customers, check for these web design mistakes it could be guilty of.
Avoid These Web Design Mistakes Like Your Sales Depend on It:
No one’s perfect, and that includes web designers. Even the best can make mistakes, costing you time, money, and customers. So to help you avoid some of the most common design pitfalls, here are ten tips.
1. Your website is not responsive. In this day and age, most Internet users are glued to their mobile phones or tablet. Not having a responsive website is inexcusable. Do you like leaving money on the table? Because you’re pushing aside what could very well be at least 70% of your sales. It’s astounding how many websites are still not responsive. If your website is not responsive yet, make it your main priority. Invest in responsive web design to make your site mobile-friendly and increase your Google rankings.
2. You’re playing automatic carousels. Automatic carousel sliders might look cool, but recent research shows they are a conversion killer. The main reason is that carousel sliders look like banner ads, and nobody wants to click on ads. They annoy your website visitors and decrease conversion rates. So take a pick – would you rather be “cool,” or would you rather be rich?
3. Your pages load too slowly. Google recommends keeping your website loading speed under 3 seconds. The longer a webpage takes to load, the more likely your coveted visitors will click the x button. Yep, on the Internet, many have the attention span of a fruit fly. It’s not their fault – they’ve been conditioned to that by all the other fast-loading, instant-gratification websites. Page speed is also a Google ranking factor, so optimize your website loading times to retain visitors and improve your SEO.
4. You’re making typography mistakes. No, we don’t mean typos! (though you should steer clear of those too). After all your hard work writing content, you want it to be easy to understand, don’t you? Cursive fonts and symbols won’t help you in that regard. Don’t go overboard with fonts either – choose two fonts and stick with them. What’s more, the text spacing also matters. A lot. Don’t make your text too loose or tight because that can quickly compromise clarity and readability.
5. You’re not using whitespace. Whitespace? Isn’t that wasted space? The unused space between content has a purpose. Its main purpose is to declutter web pages and to focus the user’s attention on what matters. For example, on google.com, there’s a lot of white space around the Google logo and search box. The focus is on the feature you want: the search. Whitespace is important if you use it to highlight content and declutter your web pages.
6. Your content is badly organized. Did you know that, on average, users read less than 30% of the text on a webpage during a visit? But this doesn’t mean you should put out less content. Visitors look for specific information and scan web pages for it. Thus, you should use text that’s easy to scan: sub-headings, shorter paragraphs, bullet points, and highlights.
7. The company logo is centered. According to Nielsen Norman Group, centered logos hurt website navigation. If your website logo is centered, visitors can’t easily find your home page with a single click. Why is finding the homepage important, though? Users want to access the homepage when they become lost on your website. The best practice is to keep the logo in the top-left corner. Don’t try to innovate here.
8. The navigation menus are confusing. Proper website navigation is extremely important to eliminate disorientation on websites. Nobody likes feeling lost. While browsing a website, users want to know where they are and how to go to another link quickly. In that respect, breadcrumb navigation and clear menus help users navigate your site smoothly.
9. You’re using bland images. Many websites use generic stock photos, which take away clarity and meaning. However, it’s OK to use stock photos as long as they add meaning to your content. But to further reinforce the information on your website, use original photos. All images should make sense. Otherwise, you’re wasting design space.
10. You don’t have a privacy policy or a warranty page. A 2019 survey shows more than 36% of Americans never read a privacy policy before agreeing to it. But most web users want to see that you provide a privacy policy. It’s a matter of peace of mind: they want to know what you’re doing with their credentials and that you have the plan to protect their information. Moreover, people also want to know that you protect them if something goes wrong. That’s why having a privacy policy and warranty information is important.
The Importance of Regularly Auditing Your Website for Design Mistakes
Even if your website initially launched without a hitch, it’s essential to perform regular audits to catch new web design mistakes that may arise over time. Web trends, user expectations, and technology are always evolving, which means your website must continuously adapt to remain competitive and relevant. Sometimes, new content, features, or updates can unknowingly introduce design flaws that compromise your website’s user experience and effectiveness.
To stay ahead, consider scheduling routine audits to assess not just the visual elements, but also the functionality, speed, and user navigation of your site. Regular evaluations will help you identify and address emerging issues before they negatively impact your visitors or your search engine rankings. After all, even the most beautiful website can quickly become outdated or frustrating if it’s not regularly optimized and reviewed.
Whether you’re doing it yourself or working with a web design agency, committing to regular audits and updates is key to avoiding these common mistakes and keeping your site in peak condition. At Bright Pink Agency, we can help you conduct thorough audits and make improvements to ensure your site always delivers the best user experience.
The Role of User Feedback in Web Design
One of the most effective ways to improve your website and avoid common design mistakes is by gathering and analyzing user feedback. Your audience interacts with your site daily, making them the best source of insights into what’s working and what needs improvement. By actively seeking out and listening to user feedback, you can uncover hidden pain points that even a professional web designer might overlook.
Consider using tools like surveys, heatmaps, and session recordings to understand how visitors navigate your site and where they encounter difficulties. Pay attention to common issues reported by users, such as confusing navigation, broken links, slow page loading times, or problems with mobile responsiveness. This information is invaluable for identifying design mistakes and prioritizing updates.
Encouraging direct feedback also builds trust with your audience. It shows that you value their experience and are committed to providing the best possible website for their needs. Whether you’re planning a major redesign or making small tweaks, incorporating user feedback ensures that your website remains user-focused and avoids costly mistakes in the future.
Don’t Let Common Mistakes Harm Your Site. Contact our Web Wizards at Bright Pink Agency!
Avoiding these common web design mistakes can help you create a website that looks great and drives conversions. Contact our Bright Pink Agency team if you’re in the market for a new website or need to revamp your current site. For over a decade, we’ve been providing web design and development services to create eye-catching and effective websites that drive results.
