You’re a small business, and you may not have time or money to put into maintaining a fancy website. Even if you want to take on the project and fight your way to the first page of the Google SERPS, here’s why that’s not such a good idea. It takes users 0.05 seconds to form an opinion on your website — whether they will leave or stay.
Web design could make or break your business in today’s increasingly competitive online marketplace. A poorly designed website will deter customers and cost you in the long run. Here are 5 common mistakes that contribute to bad website design.
1. Clutter
Your customer’s user experience is paramount, and they want to see simple, organized pages. If you have too many words, photos, links, or graphics, the viewer will look elsewhere. You want compelling, attractive photos or animations with lots of white space. Use captivating headlines, subheadings, and bullet points to break up large chunks of text. Good website design has a huge impact on your customer’s opinion of your company.
2. Poor Usability
Your website must flow with the natural behaviors of the user. According to a survey by HubSpot, 76% of users say the most important characteristic of a site is its ease of use. Identify your customer and figure out what layout would be most comfortable for them. If you have an older clientele, aim for a basic layout. If you have a young customer base, you can get a little more adventurous with your design.
3. Not Mobile-Friendly
You need to be sure that your website is going to respond to the user’s screen size and orientation. If your user has to manually navigate an impossibly small site because it didn’t respond to their mobile device, they will likely go back to their search. Furthermore, Google has started penalizing websites that are not mobile-friendly. So if your site is not responsive, you can be sure you’re not at the top of your potential customer’s Google searches.
4. Unclear Content and Calls to Action
You want your web pages to be clear and comprehensive. If you have different buttons or different phrasing for your CTAs, your customer will be confused. Choose one CTA (for example, “Contact us for more information”), and make sure it is consistent across all pages and blog posts. You need clear-cut calls to action that tell your customer exactly what you are offering them.
5. 404 – Page Not Found
When your user clicks on a link, they expect to be taken there, not to a giant virtual stop sign. Being halted by a 404 page will irritate your user and disturb their train of thought and flow when going through your website. Make sure all of your links take users where they said they would.
It is becoming more and more important to keep up in the world of web design and usability. One of these mistakes can hurt your credibility and cost you a considerable number of customers. To make sure you’re giving your customers the best website user experience, consider hiring a professional website development company.