When you’re working on a website, it’s unavoidable that you’ll make mistakes along the way. Even the most skilled designers can miss a step and end up with a dog-eared mess.
While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can leave your website looking ragged and unprofessional. In this article, we’ll go over 10 common web design mistakes to avoid when building your next website.
We all make web design mistakes. But, the most important thing is to learn from your mistakes and as a result, get a professional and trustworthy website.
Here are some of the most typical web design blunders to stay away from:
Mistake #1: Failing to test a site’s mobile usability before deploying it
Smartphones and tablets are the most popular devices for accessing the internet, making it critical that your website be optimized for these devices.
The good news is that you can test your site on different devices by using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool, which provides a report of how mobile-friendly your site is. If it’s not mobile-friendly, you may have problems getting users to come back to your site after they leave.
Mistake #2: Ugly or Inconsistent Content design
A good web design should be consistent, simple, and easy to use. It should be easy to navigate your website, and it should have a pleasant visual appearance.
The content of your website should be relevant, fresh, and interesting. If you want people to visit your site, then you need to make sure that the content on your site is relevant to their needs.
If you have multiple pages on your site with different types of content, then they should all be designed similarly so that they look consistent and easy to navigate.
Mistake #3: Unresponsive images and video
Images and videos on a website should be responsive, which means that they automatically resize depending on the device that is viewing them (iPad, smartphone, desktop computer, etc.).
If you have an image or video that doesn’t resize properly when viewed on different devices, then users will have trouble accessing it because it may not look good on their screen resolution or browser size.
Mistake #4: Overusing colors and fonts
The best way to make your website easy on the eyes is to use a simple color palette and stick with it. This helps users quickly scan through your content, making them more likely to read it. If you use too many colors, though, the design may look busy and difficult to read.
If you’re unsure how many colors you should use, try using two or three — that’s a good starting point. You can always add more later if needed.
Mistake #5: Not using a favicon
Favicons are small images that appear next to your site’s URL in browsers’ bookmarks and search engines’ results pages (SERPs). They’re meant to help users know what a webpage is about without having to click on it or copy-paste its address into the browser’s address bar, which makes it faster for users and search engines alike.
This may sound like common sense or beginner advice, but I guarantee that most designers don’t take it seriously and forget to add a favicon to the website.
Mistake #6: Misusing popups and modals
Popups are used to offer additional information about the product or service being offered on your website; modals allow visitors to interact directly with the page content (such as by filling out a form). This type of advertising can be very effective at increasing sales through word-of-mouth marketing.
But excessive use of popups and modals can make it messy and irritating. So, you should be careful while using them on your website. Place it smartly!
Mistake #7: Distracting notifications and chat boxes
Don’t make visitors work too hard for something they want to get done. If you want them to fill out a form or click on something, make sure there’s no other way they can complete their task without having to interact with your site — and make sure those interactions are easy and comfortable!
Make sure there aren’t any distracting notification boxes or pop-up windows that take attention away from the main purpose of your website (like InVision).
Mistake #8: Not having a clear call to action
A good web design should be able to convey what the user should do next. For example, if you want the user to sign up for a newsletter, the call to action should be clear and concise. If you want them to buy something, the button or link should be positioned in an obvious place like above the fold.
If your website doesn’t have a clear call to action (CTA), this will result in lost conversions. You may think that your website looks good enough that visitors won’t notice this element but they will!
Mistake #9: Confusing navigation menu or poor menu layout
Navigation menus are one of the most common design elements on every website out there, but not every navigation menu is created equally. A poorly designed navigation menu will confuse and frustrate visitors, making them feel disoriented and overwhelmed when trying to find what they want on your site.
A good navigation menu should be easy for visitors to navigate through, with clear labels and descriptions so they know precisely what each link does.
Mistake #10: Using jargon that doesn’t resonate with your audience
A website is the face of your business, and it needs to be easy for people to understand. People are busy, so they don’t have time to read long-winded copies or spend time clicking through a page that doesn’t offer anything of value.
You need to make sure your content is clear and concise. That involves using language that everyone can comprehend. You don’t want to confuse them with jargon or complex words that they won’t understand.
Final Thoughts!
The key to great design is simplicity. You don’t have to be an expert in every field to create something that works well for your users. The best designers are able to take concepts and ideas from different areas, apply them in ways that meet user needs, and improve website usability and aesthetically pleasing.
If you aren’t careful with these web design guidelines, your site could end up being confusing or unappealing. That’s why it’s so important to learn from other people’s mistakes and avoid making them yourself! Our website design and development experts ensure that your site’s navigation, layout, color scheme, and graphics reflect the personality of your brand and
