10 Web Design Mistakes You Should Avoid
These days, there are many different types of businesses that have their own websites to attract customers and share their brand stories with the world. It’s not uncommon for web designers to be tasked with building these sites, but it’s also very common for inexperienced web designers to make mistakes when creating them. If you’re going to avoid making mistakes when you design a website, here are 10 web design mistakes you should avoid making as an inexperienced web designer.
1) Don't neglect the importance of a good web design
Don't neglect the importance of a good web design. Having a professional looking website is essential to your business success because it's the first thing potential customers will see. It's true that you can't judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to websites, you can pretty much tell what the quality of the site will be by looking at it. A poorly designed website is going to have lots of problems and shortcomings, which could turn people off from doing business with you.
2) Don't use free web hosting
Don't use free web hosting. It may seem like a cost-effective solution, but it will cost you more in the long run. Free web hosting doesn't offer the same support and security as paid hosting providers, which will expose your site to potential threats that could result in data loss or downtime. Additionally, if your site is hosted on a free service and you get penalized by Google for not following their guidelines, that can also cause your website to be inaccessible. If a hacker attacks your site, often the best way to fix it is to transfer the domain name onto a new server; with free hosts this is impossible.
3) Don't skimp on security
Don't skimp on security. A lot of people make the mistake of believing that because their site is small, they don't need to worry about it being hacked. That's not true. Hackers can be anyone from a random person trying to gain access for nefarious purposes to someone who has taken a deep interest in your company and wants to poke around and see what he can find out. Whether you are a big business or just starting up, there are many reasons why you should invest in web security.
4) Don't use cheap stock photos
Cheap stock photos are a trap that you should avoid. They may seem like a great way to save money and time, but they actually often lead to more work in the long run when people spot the stock photo and contact you about it. Plus, they just look cheap. Instead, hire a photographer or find some royalty-free photos on sites like Unsplash or Pixabay.
5) Don't forget about SEO
It's important to make sure that your website is optimized for search engines. The best way to do this is to use keywords throughout the content of your site, including in the title tag, meta description and any headings you're using. These keywords will help people find your site when they search for a topic related to what your site has to offer. They'll also help with SEO efforts.
Another mistake some web designers make is not having a clear call-to-action on the page. If you want someone to take an action, such as signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase, it's important that you ask them nicely and give them an incentive by offering discounts or other incentives if they sign up now instead of later.
6) Don't use too much Flash
Websites with too much Flash can be difficult to navigate and have a poor user experience. If you use a lot of video and animation, it's best to keep it simple or make it skippable. The same goes for sound effects. A website with too many will distract visitors from your content, which defeats the whole purpose of your site.
7) Don't make your website too complicated
Don't make your website too complicated! The more simplistic the design, the easier it will be to navigate and understand. Not only that, but you want your website visitors to be able to find what they need quickly. If you have a lot of information on your site, limit it to what's most important and provide links to other sections.
8) Don't neglect the importance of good customer service
A customer's experience is the most important aspect of your business. A dissatisfying experience can lead to lost customers and a bad reputation, but an excellent one can make you stand out from the competition.
So how do you improve your customer service? Here are 10 web design mistakes that should be avoided:
1. Being inaccessible. Make sure your website is available on all devices, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops. If it isn't, there's a good chance you'll lose potential customers who won't be able to access your site because they're using a different device than they normally use or they're browsing on their phone while at work or school.
2. Not having information translated into other languages besides English.
9) Don't forget to test your website
Don't forget to test your website. Testing is the only way to find out if all the pieces work together and if you're on track for what you want your site to do. By testing, you can find out what works and what doesn't work, then change course as necessary. Your website will be more successful when it's built on a strong foundation of design that has been tested with real users.
10) Don't forget to keep your website up to date
It's easy to think that once you've launched your website, all you need to do is maintain it with regular updates. However, this isn't the case. If you don't regularly keep your site updated and optimized, it can have a negative impact on your business in the long-term. Keeping your website up to date will help ensure that visitors have an enjoyable experience and stay on your site for longer periods of time.
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