Despite the web having been around for over two decades design mistakes are still increasingly prevalent. Creating a website by a web designer merely to be a glorified company business card is common, but not a particularly effective method of utilizing the web.
Below I would like to list simple, but common, mistakes to avoid when designing a website. Use these mistakes as a means to correct bad habits or overcome the hurdles we are all guilty of.
1. Where’s the Search box? The web is like an archive of information. Whether it’s a corporate website or merely a blog, a search box is essential. The visitor might be looking for something that is hidden within the website, with the search box, chances are, visitors will get what they want.
2. The user must know what the site is about in seconds. If a visitor cannot figure out what your site is about in a couple of seconds, he will probably just go somewhere else. It’s important for a Web Design Company to effectively design the site so that it communicates instantly in a simplified manner.
3. Unorganized Content Layout. A website’s content is what drives traffic to it. How the content is structured is what will make it a success or a failure. Use an appropriate page title for each web page so users know exactly where they are. Guide their eye through the page and it will be a success.
4. Bad use of color and contrast. Web Design Companies must incorporate designers that know color theory and be able to apply its rules. If you can’t fully rely on your knowledge of color and contrast, there are plenty of online tools that will help you choose the optimal match.
5. Using Flash. While Flash offers some amazing animated experiences, it also comes with some baggage. Use it only if you must offer features that are not supported by static pages.
6. Do not play music: In the early years of the Internet web, web developers always tried to successfully integrate music into websites. Guess what, they failed miserably. Do not use music, period.
7. Do not break the “Back” button. This is a very basic principle of usability. Opening new browser windows will break it, for instance, and some Javascript links might also break them.
8. Do not use blinking text. Unless your visitors are coming straight from 1996, that is.
9. Cluttered web pages. Leave enough white space for your content to breathe.
10. Avoid complex URL structures. A simple, keyword-based URL structure will not only improve your search engine rankings, but it will also make it easier for the reader to identify the content of your pages before visiting them.
11. No horizontal scrolling: while some vertical scrolling is tolerable, the same can not be said about horizontal scrolling.
12. Do not blend advertising inside the content. Blending advertising like Adsense units inside your content might increase your click-through rate in the short term. Over the long run, however, this will reduce your readership base
13. Avoid “intros”. Do not force the user to watch or read something before he can access to the real content. This is plain annoying, and he will stay only if what you have to offer is really unique.
14. Unfriendly Screen Resolution. A good Web Development Company must develop websites that fit most screen sizes.
15. Forgetting to make your website accessible and backward compatible. Your websites should be accessible by all and work on all devices, including screen readers.
16. Too much attention to the homepage. It’s difficult to argue that a home page makes the first impression on the user, so it should be marvelous
17. No proper documentation. Bear in mind that you know your projects like a book because you developed them. Other people need detailed documentation to understand your train of thought.
18. Use text navigation: text navigation is not only faster but it is also more reliable. Some users, for instance, browse the Internet with images turned off.
19. Avoid “drop-down” menus. Using “drop-down” menus might confuse things and hide the information the reader was actually looking for.
20. Do not use pop-ups: this point refers to pop-ups of any kind. Even user-requested pop-ups are a bad idea given the increasing amount of pop blockers out there.
21. Avoid long pages: guess what, if the user needs to scroll down forever in order to read your content he will probably just skip it altogether. If that is the case with your website make it shorter and improve the navigation structure.
22. No call-to-actions or improper use of them. Each website is created with a certain purpose. So, if there is no clear call-to-action on the page your chances to reach it are second to none.
23. Not testing a website on all devices or going live without testing. Most websites should be responsive by now and they should be tested across all popular devices and show optimized performance.