Mistakes commonly made with websites
And what to do instead
So what?
ICYMI – In today’s digital age, having a website is a must for any business or organization. However, creating and managing a website can be a complex and challenging task, especially for those who are new to the world of web development. One of the biggest challenges is avoiding the common mistakes that can be made with websites. In this blog post, we will outline some of the most common website mistakes that we have seen in our years of experience in web development. By being aware of these mistakes, you can avoid them and ensure your website is effective, user-friendly, and achieves its intended goals.
Knowing the mistakes commonly made with websites can bring several benefits. First, it helps to avoid those mistakes when creating or managing a website, which can save time, money, and effort. Second, it can improve the user experience of a website, as common mistakes often lead to frustration and confusion for visitors. Third, it can increase the visibility and traffic of a website, as search engines tend to favor well-designed and error-free websites. Fourth, it can enhance the credibility and reputation of a website, as a professional and polished website reflects positively on the organization or individual behind it. Overall, understanding the common mistakes with websites can lead to better outcomes and a more successful online presence.
In this series of blog posts, we will be talking through the mistakes commonly made when designing a website so you can do just that.
Not intuitive
In the realm of the Internet, where attention spans are getting shorter and shorter, an intuitive website is your secret weapon to engage and delight its visitors. From the spellbinding first impression to the treasure chest of conversion, an intuitive website captures your user, creating a lasting experience. Creating such website doesn’t have to be rocket science. Start by decluttering your design and keeping things simple and organised. Your navigation should be clear and straightforward as well as guiding its visitors from one page to another. Use optimisation tools from your website designer (i.e. WordPress) to optimise your website for mobile devices. Lastly, make sure to ask your family and friends to test out your website and provide feedback. Taking the time to listen to your audience is just as important as publishing your website!
My experience
When I first designed our website, I wanted to incorporate every possible functionality and “smart” tools that WordPress and its plug-ins offered. I spent days looking for cool looking widgets and gadgets that I could put on our website. What resulted was a messy and cluttered website that lacked intuitive design. It was a virtual chaos.
I made a decision to start over after spending weeks on designing our first cut of the website. I started with a simple navigation system by streamlining menus and eliminating unnecessary links so that I could provide our visitors with a clear and logical structure. I made sure that each element of our website was optimised for mobile, tablet and computer uses. Having a responsive design meant that our website’s layout ensured that it displayed properly on popular device sizes. Buttons, fonts and images were optimised for efficient loading.
Throughout this process, I asked my better half for her feedback and testing. What resulted was the website that we have now which I think works well for our business. What do you think?
What now?
- How intuitive is your website? Are you able to navigate your website with ease? Are all your links working?
- Start with streamlining your website’s navigation by organising content into clear and logical categories.
- Make sure to use descriptive labels and avoid overwhelming your visitors with too many options.
- Keep your navigation menu concise and easily accessible so that your visitors can easily find what they’re looking for.