5 Common Web Design Mistakes That Cost Businesses

Ever walk into a store with products piled high, confusing signs, and flickering lights? Yeah, it’s not exactly the most welcoming experience, right? Well, the same goes for your website.

In today’s digital world, where first impressions matter more than ever, your website is the virtual handshake with your customers.

But let’s face it, building a website can be tricky. Even businesses with the best intentions can fall prey to common design mistakes that deter users from visiting an online business.

Don’t worry, though; we’ve identified 5 common website design pitfalls and the solutions to help you navigate the path to online success.

1. Ignoring Mobile Responsiveness

In today’s mobile-first world, overlooking mobile responsiveness is a recipe for disaster. Users increasingly browse online and make purchases on their smartphones and tablets, some not even owning a PC.

When web design elements aren’t optimised for mobile devices, the site will appear clunky and difficult to navigate, and ultimately discourage potential customers from making a purchase.

Solution: Ensure your web design uses responsive format principles. To guarantee a smooth user experience on any device, your website should automatically adapt its layout and content to different screen sizes.

2. Prioritising Aesthetics Over Usability

While a visually appealing website is essential and makes browsing a pleasing experience, it should never come at the expense of usability.

A cluttered online presence with flashy animations, excessive graphics, or confusing layouts can overwhelm and frustrate users. Users will often give up and declare it way too clunky to use.

The goal is to prioritise clarity and value for visitors to your online business.

Solution:

1. Prioritise clarity and functionality.
2. Maintain clear layouts and intuitive navigation for easy website exploration.
3. Incorporate high-quality visuals that enhance your content without hindering readability.
4. Ensure your content loads quickly and functions smoothly across different browsers.

3. Neglecting Content Quality

Your website’s content is its backbone and should be informative and engaging to keep visitors engaged and returning.

Overcomplicating content using low-quality information, riddled with typos or grammatical errors, can significantly damage your brand’s image and deter potential customers.

Solution: Invest in high-quality content creation by:

• Ensure your features are clear, concise, and engaging.
• Providing information your target audience understands.
• Incorporate a range of content formats like blog posts, case studies, and videos to keep users engaged.

4. Forgetting the Call to Action (CTA)

Your website should have a clear purpose and be communicated effectively through strong calls to action (CTAs). Whether it’s encouraging users to contact you, subscribe to your newsletter, or make a purchase, clear and compelling CTAs are crucial for driving conversions.

Solution: Identify the specific actions you want users to take when visiting your online store and craft clear and concise CTAs that guide them towards those actions. Use strong verbs, contrasting colours, and strategic placement to ensure your CTAs stand out and are impossible to miss.

5. Omitting Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

In today’s competitive online marketplace, simply having an online presence isn’t enough to stand out. You need to make sure your website is discoverable by your target audience.

SEO involves optimising content and technical elements to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

By implementing smart SEO strategies, you can increase your website’s visibility in search engines, drawing in organic traffic (meaning visitors who find you naturally, not through paid advertising). Incorporating SEO will see you gain more leads and sales for your business.

Solution: Ready to see more website visitors organically? Integrate crucial SEO practices into your website development process from the start. 

Conduct in-depth keyword research to understand the search terms your target audience uses. Think of these keywords as the “language” your potential customers use online, and by incorporating them strategically into your content, you increase the chances of them finding you.

Subsequently, refine your on-page content to naturally incorporate these keywords while maintaining clarity, conciseness, and user engagement. Including high-quality backlinks can further improve your website’s authority and search engine ranking.

Bonus Point: Ignoring Accessibility!

Imagine this, you’ve poured everything into crafting a website, your digital online presence brimming with your products and services. But what if a whole segment of potential customers can’t even access it?

That’s where accessibility comes in. It’s about everyone being able to navigate and enjoy your website regardless of their abilities. It’s not just about the right thing to do (which it absolutely is!) but also good business.

Solution: Follow accessibility best practices such as using alt text for images, ensuring proper colour contrast, and providing keyboard navigation options. Creating web design with inclusive elements will expand user reach and visibility online.

How Design Point Can Help Grow Your Brand

We understand the importance of effective web design for businesses in Melbourne. Our website developers understand what it takes to create websites that wow visitors and convert them into qualified leads.

We believe in transparent communication, so forget the technical jargon – we’ll work closely with you to understand your unique business goals and target audience.

Together, we’ll design and build a stunning, user-friendly, functional, and optimised website for search engines. Imagine creating a lasting impression online – a website reflecting your brand and driving results.

Ready to take your business online? Book a consultation today, and let’s turn your vision into a website that delivers.