Top Web Design Mistakes To Avoid

Did you know that your business is seen as less trustworthy if your site has multiple design mistakes?

Making mistakes is a part of any design process, but we're here to help you avoid some of the biggest errors that occur often.

If anyone knows how much effort goes into creating a website your visitors are going to love, it's us. Having design mistakes on your website can be damaging to your business as they can lead to negative views of your brand, confusion and make you look unprofessional. You don't want that, do you? We wouldn't either!

Let's get into the 7 most common web design mistakes you should avoid to help you create a website that increases page retention, boosts conversions and makes an exciting first impression.

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Not prioritising accessibility

People with disabilities use websites every day and if your website isn't optimised or designed to be accessible, then they can't use your website, therefore, you lose potential clients. Making your website inclusive increases the number of visitors to your page and increases the trust and professionalism of your brand.

Here are some things you need to do to make your website accessible:

Use headings

Using headings allows users to know what they are reading. If the user is using assistive technology, headings allow the tool to tell the reader what part of the website they are on or which section they are reading if they are looking at a blog or longer page.

Add alt tags to images

Alt Tags are used to describe what an image or graphic is showing. Not using alt tags properly isolates those who may need it to use your website.

Use descriptive titles for links

Like alt tags, users who use assistive technology need descriptions for links. A descriptive title will tell the user what the link is and where it will lead them to, allowing a more seamless and positive experience for those visually impaired, (plus it helps with SEO, which you can learn all about in this blog).

Provide transcripts for audio and video content

If your website has a lot of visual elements like videos, graphics or even audio, providing transcripts includes users who may be visually impaired or hard of hearing. This will help assistive technology convey to the user what the image is or what the audio is saying.

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Compromising UX for aesthetics

We know. You want your website to look aesthetically pleasing, and whilst it might look good, it might not be the best for functionality.

UX stands for user experience, which is the overall experience of a person using a product such as a website or computer application.

You might have a cool and aesthetic website but if the layout is poor or overcrowded won't work well with the user. Having a poor layout can interrupt the navigation you want your user to take, which will be explained further down. On the other hand, an overcrowded layout with too many elements present at once can overwhelm the user, leading them to click off. Poor or overcrowded layouts can look messy and unprofessional. This will negatively affect user experience and lead them to not trust your business.

One mistake you can make when thinking about aesthetics is not investing in customisation. There are a lot of cookie-cutter websites out there, and they might look really good, but if you invest in customisation you can design to match your user behaviours whilst having an aesthetic look.

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Non-responsive web design

Imagine opening a website on your phone and the content is all over the place, the text is all mixed up and you have no idea where to start. Frustrating, right? With new technology being created every year, your design needs to be responsive to allow your website to look good on every device. Optimising for mobile, also means users on the go can access your site and not just when they're sitting at their computer.

If you still don't have a mobile-friendly web design in 2024, then what are you doing? Over 55% of website traffic comes from mobile devices and 92.3% of internet users access the internet using a mobile phone (explodingtopics, 2023). If that's not enough to convince you to optimise your website, we don't know what will.

Unclear navigation

Ideally, you want your customers to be where they need to be in less than 3 clicks, so if your navigation is unclear, your users will get frustrated and leave your site. This is where headings and calls to action come into play.

Headings aren't just for accessibility but also play a huge part in navigating the user to where they need to be. Having a clear hierarchy helps the eye to move around the page more smoothly, which creates a seamless experience for the user.

We see a lot of websites that don't have a clear Call To Action! How are your customers supposed to know what you want them to do? Having CTAs throughout your site shows the customer what they need to do and where they need to be. They might want to book a meeting or get in touch! See what we did there!

On your homepage, you should have what your services are, who you are and how you can help. These are questions visitors ask when clicking on a website and if they are answered quickly, they are more likely to view your brand in a positive light and look around your website for longer.

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Not communicating your business purpose

Similar to unclear navigation, if your copy isn't conveying what your business does properly, users will click straight off your site. That's not something you want!

Have you ever read something that doesn't make sense or been given a response that doesn't answer your question correctly? The information you put on your website should read clearly and have the right information embedded into it.

Poor Readability

Poor readability is when text is difficult to read or understand. You should make sure your copy reads well and correct any grammar mistakes that are on your site. Things like colour, fonts and headings can all affect the readability of your content.

Try to choose the right colours for your site. Black and white are the standard contrast colours and work well, whereas dark blue and black would be a bad choice as it's difficult to read.

Fonts are great to play around with and play a vital role in your brand identity. However, some fonts can be difficult to read so when you find a font you want to use, you should test it with your audience.

As mentioned previously, headings are important to help navigate your content. Without headings, your readers can become confused with what they are reading. Headings create structure for your user, creating a pleasant, read for your user.

Lacks the right information

If your readers can't find the information they're looking for, they will look elsewhere. It's crucial you provide the right information about your business otherwise the trust between you and the customer will be lost. For example, on your 'About Us' page, clearly state what your business is and what your business does. What are your goals and mission?

If you have case studies on your page, make sure they have the right information on them as to what work you did to avoid confusion. If you're selling something, make sure the descriptions and prices are right.

If your website doesn't contain the right information a potential customer needs, you lose the customer.

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Out of date content

Having out-of-date content can turn a customer away in seconds. When a customer is viewing your site and your content isn't up to date, doesn't align with your brand or doesn't work, it creates a negative view of your brand and a bad user experience.

Out-of-date content can give the impression that your business is no longer running, which will drive customers away and look elsewhere for an active business. Keeping your content up to date shows customers that you are proactive and are getting work, which then builds that trust between you and the customer.

Conducting regular checks on your site shows you are active, organised and professional. How about re-writing an old blog or uploading new brand/employee images? Check all the content on your site still relates to your brand today.

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Inconsistent branding

Let's presume a potential client found you on social media like Instagram. Will your Instagram content look the same as your website? If the answer is no, then your branding is inconsistent.

Inconsistent branding leads to confusion and uncertainty about your brand. It looks like you don't know what you're doing. Make sure your tone of voice, imagery, logos and colour scheme are consistent on every platform.

Avoiding these common design mistakes is crucial to creating a strong brand identity and building that connection between you and your customer. You want them to get excited when they visit your site, right? If you have a sleek yet fun web design, your content is all up to date and you're communicating your business purpose properly, then you're already a step ahead of your competitor's sites. You're letting potential customers know you're professional, consistent and trustworthy, which will lead to more conversions and an increase in page retention!

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Need help?

Our mission is to create meaningful digital experiences. We are the catalyst that transforms your online presence into a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience. Get in touch or book a meeting and let's chat!

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