Common Web Site Design Mistakes to Avoid
Camping is an adventure with lots of opportunities for fun, recreation, and even a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. But let’s be honest: setting up a campground and making memories in the great outdoors can seem like a daunting task at first! Couple that with building websites that look good, are intuitive to use, and are secure enough to protect your visitors’ data… it can be downright scary. Fortunately, some common website design mistakes once identified and avoided will go a long way toward ensuring success. In this blog post, we take look at eight common website design mistakes you need to avoid if you want your website project not only to turn out right but have appeal on multiple platforms as well – both desktop and mobile devices.
Failing to optimize for mobile devices
This is a huge mistake for website owners, as it’s estimated that over half of all web traffic now comes from mobile devices. Websites must be designed to render properly on these phones and tablets, or you may end up losing potential customers due to a bad user experience.
Not having a clear call to action
A website should always have an obvious purpose: if there isn’t one then visitors will leave without taking any action at all – regardless of how attractive the design is. Having a clear call-to-action such as ‘shop now’ or ‘sign up today’ makes it easier for visitors to know what they need to do next.
Making the website too complicated
Visitors to your site should understand its purpose of it within a few seconds; if not, they’ll simply leave. Ensure that the design has a simple and intuitive navigation system so users can easily find the information or product pages they are looking for.
Not using white space effectively
White space is an important part of any web page design as it makes a page easier to read and helps guide visitors’ eyes toward important elements on the page such as calls-to-action. Too much clutter on a page will make it difficult to scan and could put visitors off from staying on the page for longer than necessary.
Ignoring usability testing
Usability testing is one of the most important parts of web design as it ensures that visitors can easily find what they are looking for on a website. Testing should be done to make sure the navigation is intuitive and that users can quickly find what they need without having to search too much.
Overlooking accessibility guidelines
Accessibility guidelines exist to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability or disability, can access information on the web. Ignoring these guidelines could mean you miss out on potential customers and even leave yourself open to legal action if someone finds your website inaccessible.
Not taking advantage of SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is an important part of any website design as it helps to ensure that your website can be found easily by potential customers. Making sure you optimize your web pages so they are visible in search engine results and have the right meta tags and descriptions will help increase visibility and traffic.
Poorly written content
Content should never be an afterthought when it comes to web design; rather, it needs to be just as much a priority as the visuals. Ensure that all content on the page is well-written and interesting if visitors don’t find it engaging then they won’t stay on the page long enough for you to make an impression.
Ignoring the user experience
The user experience should always be at the forefront of any web design project, as it’s what will keep visitors coming back to a website. Consider things such as how quickly pages load, whether navigation is intuitive, and if there are enough visual cues for users to understand what they need to do next.
Not considering the competition
It’s important to consider what your competitors are doing when designing a website, as it helps to ensure that you have an edge over them. Take a look at their websites, see what they are doing well, and then consider how you can improve upon it or do something unique with your design.
Not having a consistent style
Consistency is key when it comes to web design as it ensures that visitors have a good understanding of what’s on the page and where they need to go next. Make sure that all pages have the same header, footer, and navigation options so visitors can easily move around the site without confusion.
Ignoring user feedback
User feedback is invaluable when it comes to website design, as it helps to ensure that you are meeting your audience’s needs. Ask users for their opinions on how the design could be improved or what new features could be included, and then use this information to make changes accordingly.
Not optimizing for speed
Website speed is an important factor when it comes to design, as visitors won’t stick around if a website takes too long to load. Optimizing images and other elements of the page can make all the difference in user experience, so take the time to ensure your website loads quickly.
Not utilizing analytics
Analytics is an essential tool for any web designer, as they provide insight into how visitors are interacting with a website. With this data, designers can identify problems or areas that need improvement and make changes accordingly to improve upon the existing design.
Failing to test across devices
Testing a website on different devices is crucial for making sure that it looks great and functions properly no matter where it is being viewed from. Make sure to check your website on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices before launching it live to ensure that all visitors have a positive experience.