Since a website is often the first point of contact between you and your audience, let’s get to know five critical web design mistakes that business owners and UX designers often make.
A well-designed website can leave a lasting positive impression, while a poorly designed one can quickly turn visitors away. Avoid these common critical web design mistakes that can lead to bad website design, so you can create a user-friendly and appealing online platform.
What makes a bad website design?
A bad website design can vary from having poor UX, unattractive visuals, slow loading time, broken links, and many more. Let’s see the most common web design mistakes.
Web design mistakes you need to avoid from the get-go
We’ve seen these website mistakes often enough to believe we need to remind you of them — so you can avoid these pitfalls.
1. Ignoring mobile users
Today, 85% of Americans own smartphones. Yet, we still see that some websites completely ignore how their website would look on mobile. Yes, it’s additional work but it’s important to keep your brand consistent and user experience across multiple platforms. Conversely, neglecting mobile users can result in frustration, decreased engagement, and lost opportunities.
A responsive web design is non-negotiable. It ensures that your website adapts to various screen sizes and devices, providing a consistent and user-friendly experience. Likewise, a well-optimized mobile site maintains your brand’s integrity across platforms, creating a consistent brand image that can build trust and credibility with your audience.
2. Complicated navigation
We all get frustrated when a website is making it hard for us users to find what we need. To create a no-brainer website navigation, try these two fairly easy tricks:
- Streamlined menus: Simplify your header and footer navigation. Think about the top five navigation you need to have on the header menu. Anything beyond that is simply getting too complicated and will frustrate your users.
- User-friendly design: Consider intuitive navigation elements, such as a search bar, well-organized categories, and a clear hierarchy of information. Remember, simplicity is key to a satisfying UX.
3. Overloading with information
There needs to be a balance when it comes to providing information about your business, your service, and your product on your website. The content on your website needs to be easy to digest, not a novel to read.
Quality trumps quantity. A cluttered website with an excess of information can lead to sensory overload. Strive for clear, concise, and engaging content with attractive visuals, videos, and interactive elements. And maintain a clean and organized layout so users can find what they need without feeling overwhelmed.
4. Neglecting page load speed
Website visitors have little patience for slow-loading pages. Neglecting your site’s loading speed can negatively impact UX because it frustrates your users and can cause them to leave your website. It might even hurt your search engine rankings because site speed is one of the main contributing factors.
Alternately, optimize your website by reducing image and video file sizes, enabling cache, and using content delivery networks (CDNs). Don’t forget to also regularly review and improve page load speed, ideally every month.
5. Ignoring accessibility
Today, it is more necessary than ever to create digital products that cater to a diverse user base. Here’s how to do that:
- Keep it simple: Use plain language and avoid jargon or complex terms.
- Follow the best practices: Incorporate features like alt text for images, proper heading structures, keyboard navigation, and captioning for videos.
Ready to say good bey to bad website design?
If you steer clear of these common web design mistakes, you can enhance your website’s appeal and functionality. Remember, a well-designed website not only attracts and retains visitors but also boosts your online presence. Don’t fall victim to these website mistakes, and your site will be on its way to success.
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