A great website is what the internet is all about, and it’s your bread and butter if you have a website that showcases your business. However, there are some aspects of web design that can leave your visitor cold, so to speak. If your website is to be successful and draw the attention of your target audience, there are some things that should be avoided at all costs.
After all, you only have 5 seconds to capture the interest of your visitor, or send them off to your competitors.
Here are the top 5 mistakes made in web design today:
1. Visited and unvisited links are the same color. Most visitors do not want to return to a page they have already visited; using a different color so that visitors can tell where they’ve already been will help them find what they are looking for and avoid wasting time going over the same pages.
2. The “great wall” of text. If your website pages contain text that all runs together without subheads, highlighted keywords and bulleted lists, you’re boring your visitor to death – if they even hang around long enough to read it. Text should be easily scannable, written in short paragraphs using a simple writing style. Subheads and highlighted keywords help readers find what they are looking for without reading every word.
3. Banner ads, pop-ups and other advertisements. Users of the internet have become very savvy – they know when they are being “sold” to. Some people hate pop-ups so badly, they are nearly vicious in their attempt to close them before they have time to fully open. Banners are becoming invisible; users avoid taking their eyes in any direction that even remotely resembles a banner ad.
4. Avoiding the questions of your visitors. When someone visits your site in search of a solution to their problem, they want the specifics on what makes your product/service preferable to the rest. No one wants to buy without knowing what they are buying! Provide the information your visitor wants to know; they will be much more likely to buy.
5. Too many bells and whistles. We’ve all come across websites that have so many sections, videos, ads, links, downloads – you become overwhelmed and really don’t know what to do. Consistency and simplicity are key to successful website design. People love easy navigation, finding what they are looking for effortlessly. When someone arrives at your site that has been there before and knows what to expect based on a previous experience, it’s all good. When your visitor feels in control, you win.
Consider these 5 no-no’s when designing your website, and create a site that your visitors (and potential clients) will find refreshing and useful.
