When it comes to the world of website design, there’s plenty of good, bad and ugly work to be found on the Internet. And if you want your site to be an attractive, SEO-friendly workhorse that consistently drives new customers to your business, then you certainly need to use the right design strategies.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of design mistakes implemented online every day. While some are only minor annoyances, others can make your site truly awful and cause some serious business losses. The following infographic takes a look at some website design mistakes you absolutely do not want to make.
These days, be it here in Utah or elsewhere, you needn’t be seated at a computer to access the Internet.
Instead, many college students, stay-at-home moms and working professionals of all types opt for their smartphones as a means through which they get their respective digital fixes.
That said, there’s more to what users want than simply ease of accessibility from the web development teams that serve them. Does your mobile site deliver?
Each and every day, from Utah to the farthest reaches of the East Coast, millions of Americans use the Internet. Because of this, it’s nearly impossible to avoid coming into contact with a website or two on some sort of a regular basis.
Some are great, and – unfortunately – some are not so great. That said, as far as web development is concerned, people’s preferences are often different from what web developers think their respective audiences want.
The life of a professional web development specialist is certainly an interesting one. Normally filled with interminable deadlines, impossible expectations and a host of recurring technical problems, stress is often the end result. It’s because of this that, when possible, if anxiety can be mitigated and the overall production process quickened, developers are all ears.
More often than not, this is accomplished through a myriad of website design tools. Seeing as how we’ve been building incredible sites for our clients for a number of years, we’ve taken the necessary time and effort to jot down a few of our favorites.
You’d think that choosing a web domain would involve little more than a few mouse clicks. Well, while true to a certain extent, the thought that goes into identifying the perfect domain for your up-and-coming business is somewhat tricky.
Website design specialists often spend a great deal of time considering a number of factors before formally selecting their domain of choice: provided service, target audience and overall ease of access for consumers.
Though a simple decision, once the perfect domain has been properly pinpointed and claimed, real digital marketing magic can finally take place.
Professionally, just about everything is sales. Regardless of your field of interest or money-making niche, if success is to come about, you’ve got to be able to understand what consumers want and help them understand how your product or service helps them accomplish such a desire. Likewise, when creating a reputable website and its design, it’s important to consider what target audiences want more than just about anything else.
While it’s true that each industry carries with it a specific set of differentiating factors, generally speaking, when digital interfaces are involved, there are a handful of factors that any and all visitors will hope to find. The following infographic presents five things that any successful website, especially in today’s digital age of communication, will have present. How well does your current site stack up?
More than likely, ever since you were first able to open a Word document on your own, you’ve taken the time to examine the innumerable font types that Microsoft makes readily available for its users. While many of them are practical and have their rightful place in meaningful document creation, truthfully, there are quite a few that—outside of lemonade stands and birthday party invitations—have no place being used.
Drag digital marketing and web development into the mix and it becomes even more paramount that proper font selection be taken seriously. Still confused? No need to worry; the following infographic presents the eight most unacceptable fonts for those serious about their website design and development:
Whether it’s a site made specifically for cell phones or not, every website now needs to be adaptable for mobile devices. However, handhelds read a lot differently than large computer screens. That means that web development adjustments must be made.
Keeping that in mind, what are these necessary adjustments? Which changes are most important and which ones can be overlooked? Below are nine mobile-friendly features that must be included in order to keep handheld viewers coming back:
Buttons That ‘Click To Call’
Millennials love to have everything right at their fingertips. Mobile devices are a big part of what makes that possible. Technology has also shortened the attention span of frequent users. That means if something is too difficult to access, they have no problem giving up and finding something that can satisfy their needs quicker.
Most people nowadays also don’t travel to check out a store or product. They will call first, make sure they can find what they’re looking for at the location and then make the trip out there. This makes “click to call” or “click to SMS” buttons imperative.
Don’t forget during web development that the easier a navigation process is, the better. More people will inquire after your product or service if “click to call” buttons are included.
Lay Out Directions
Once a viewer does decide they want to take the next step and visit your store location, it should continue to be an easy process. Include a mobile map in web development that can easily guide potential customers to you without any hassle.
This can be done by including a Google Maps widget. Also be sure to include step by step directions along with the map itself so that customers won’t give up and turn the car around.
Keep Contact Forms Simple
Although most will simply call a company to make an inquiry, some people prefer email or contact forms. Make contact forms as short and simple as possible so that again, contacting you is not a hassle. Difficulty is one of the top things that will turn away interested but flighty customers.
Web development should revolve around simplicity. Especially in regards to how a customer can contact personnel. The easier and faster it is for them to accomplish their goal, the more likely they will be to return.
Create Collapsible Content
Content should also follow the principle of simplicity. It is easy to get carried away with too much information during web development. Although it all may be important, choose the most relevant information to feature first.
Then, use collapsible content so that users don’t have to scroll down the page at all. This way one touch of a minimize button can bring up new content without cluttering the screen.
Tricks To Easy Navigation
Once a customer decides they want to explore past the home screen of a website, navigation should be effortless. One way to do this is by including a “back” button at the bottom of each page. Also, make links or other pages bold and pop outso that there is no doubting buttons are buttons.
Don’t just focus on the homepage aspect of web development. Make sure that every single page is easy to explore, and that all signs point to home. It shouldn’t be difficult for customers to get back to the main page.
Include Video Content
Another part of the millennial generation that is taking over the technology world is video. Millennials (and most people for that matter) are stimulated by sight. They connect better with images flashing on a screen rather than words.
Videos not only grab attention, but they are more successful at holding that attention too. 41 percent of users prefer video over text. Even if it is just an introduction to your company or product, include at least one video in web development.
Make Buttons LARGE
As discussed before, navigation should be easy. That means you should make buttons bolder and bigger. If it is an important button that will spread the word about your site, make it bigger than the others. It will more likely catch the eyes of browsers that way.
Social media links should especially should not be hidden. Use the logo for each social media outlet and make it look like a button that when customers click on, it will take them right to the outlet. Specifically, buttons should be designed during web development to be between 45 and 57 pixels.
Don’t Forget the Link
Although you may already be planning to include “back” or “home” buttons in your web development, don’t forget to include the entire link. This way if someone wants to copy and paste or open your website in a different browser, it is uncomplicated.
After including all of these important features, remember that usability is key. Simply ask yourself if anyone could get frustrated while using your site on a mobile device or otherwise. If the answer is yes, then it’s time to rethink your web development.
Making a website look cool may seem like the perfect way to capture the attention of web browsers around the world. Maybe it is—but it is not how you get those browsers to stick around. Flashy pages may draw people in, but it is the content that will keep them engaged.
The number one way to keep viewers engaged is to keep them on the site longer. How do you go about convincing viewers that your site is worth the stay? Below are a few simple ways to take your site from trashy to trusted.
Keep Content ‘Above the Fold’
While many may think that keeping content “above the fold” is an age old practice meant for print media, it is still relevant online. “Above the fold” generally meant that the most important information was placed on a newspaper above the line where the paper naturally folds. That way people would see the most important information first and get drawn in to read more.
However, with web development it is still imperative to keep the information that is the most important above a certain point. Rather than a fold line, though, it will be a scroll line. Before the viewer has to scroll down the page at all, the content should be interesting and relevant enough to reel them in. That way, their glance over will cause them to stop and want to stay for more.
80 percent of viewers spend their time on websites without any scrolling. What does that tell you about technology users? They waste no time. Providing the most important information first during development will make viewers feel like your website is worth their time and will continue reading.
Incorporate Videos
With the rise of millennials came the rise of video in content marketing and web development. Technology has made everything faster, encouraging real time updates and anything that caters to short attention spans. While the number of people who read text Online has gone down, the number of people who watch videos has gone up.
Viewers retain 95 percent of content when they watch videos but only 10 percent when they read text. If you are worried about keeping eyes on your website longer, videos are the solution. They require eyes to stay on the site for a longer period of time, giving you more opportunity to peak interest and turn viewers into consumers.
After all, YouTube is the number two search engine in the world. That means that videos have a way of getting to people. There are a few reasons for this. In Susan Weinschenk’s research about customer psychology, she outlines four reasons why video works:
The Fusiform Facial area makes viewers pay attention to faces because our brains are hardwired to believe human faces more than words on a page.
The sound of a voice makes content more meaningful and adds needed color to text.
Emotions and body language are actually contagious. Watching someone else feel a certain way about a product or experience can change the viewer’s own opinion.
Movement is eye catching. It grabs viewers’ attention and holds it there long enough for intended messages to get across.
Using video is becoming common place in the marketing world. Involving it into your web development is imperative. Any site without video is voluntarily lagging a few steps behind everyone else.
Start With Minimalism
Some may think that people like choices. Well, that’s not necessarily true. Why do you think companies like In-N-Out with a 4 item menu or Apple with such uniform products have success? It’s because people like to be told what they want while still feeling that they have the freedom to choose. No one wants to be overwhelmed.
The trick is to be simple. Use minimalism in your web development that is pleasing to the eye and easy to read. On average, only 28 percent of website copy is read. Scanning has become the norm.
Using minimalistic design also forces every website to only include the important items. This will make it easier for certain messages to translate over to viewers. They will know exactly what a company is trying to say because the message won’t be hidden beneath unnecessary information.
Use Congruent Stylistic Techniques
Just as viewers don’t want to be overwhelmed with information, they also don’t want to be overwhelmed with too many different colors or designs. Choose a set color scheme for the website and use it consistently throughout web development.
Using the Adobe Kulur tool can easily solve this problem as it helps designers choose a scheme and lays out all of the colors that can play into that scheme.
Improve Loading Time
Going back to the short attention span phenomenon that permeates the modern age, loading time is an important factor. Viewers want to see the page almost instantaneously, and if something takes too long to load, they will have no problem leaving.
In fact, four out of five online users will leave a website if it takes too long to load. That’s 80 percent of viewers. Losing 80 percent of viewers is a big price to pay for such a small problem.
According to surveys by Akamai and Gomez.com about half of users expect to have the page loaded in two seconds. If it takes past three, they usually bail. Don’t worry, Google developed a tool called Page Speed Online so any web developer can measure the speed of their page and improve development.
Separate Hyperlinks
Hyperlinks may not seem like a big deal as long as they are included, right? Well, apparently those sites that change the color of hyperlinks from when they haven’t been clicked on to when they have been clicked on have proved to be more effective.
Making sure hyperlinks work is vital in web development, but separating the color based on click status is something that viewers like to see. It is helpful to the user which will ultimately benefit the web developer.
Always Include Search Bars
Search bars are a must-have for any web development. They may almost be more important than hyperlinks because it allows a user to easily navigate through a website. If a viewer comes to a site looking for something specific and can’t find it, that could cause them to give up altogether.
Search bars should be large enough to incorporate 27 characters which allows users to search up to 90 percent of their questions. This way potential consumers will have a greater chance of actually sticking around because they know that they can find what they need.
Make it Different
Although it may not be the most important technique to keep viewers engaged, it will initially reign them in. Using a unique design on web development will help viewers to feel connected to a website and find personality within a brand.
Avoiding stock images and instead use an original design in web development that will leave a lasting impression. This will ensure that users will not only be drawn to the website but will want to return. Make sure this is the cherry on top, however. Just because a website is flashy, doesn’t mean it will convince viewers to stay. Combine style and strategy for a website design that will last.
Having your own little corner of the Internet in today’s day and age is all the rage. Whether it be for personal or entrepreneurial reasons, maintaining an eye-popping, up-to-date website is essential for not only attracting digital audiences, but for keeping them there once they’ve arrived.
That being said, if you’ve spent any amount of time either building a website or working as a web design specialist, you know that attracting audiences is a task easier said that done. If you’re intent on constructing a site worthy of widespread approval and traffic on the World Wide Web, there are a handful of mindless mistakes that should be avoided at all costs:
1) Poor Site Navigation
Few things are as frustrating for Web enthusiasts as poor site navigability. Customers shouldn’t ever feel confused or annoyed at what a website offers them. Far too often do web design specialists—even those with years of experience—provide visual elements which are difficult to interpret or scatter main navigation links all over a homepage. If such feelings arise because a user can’t quickly find what’s being searched, it’s unlikely that he or she will ever return.
2) Far Too Many Advertisements
This is more of an issue for bloggers and digital publication sites, but it’s still something that shouldn’t occur. While your site might rely on ad revenue to stay afloat or pull a profit, there’s no reason to bombard visitors with unending advertisements, many of which are difficult to exit out of. Never allow for ads to be the first thing that a user sees or for them to take up more room than your actual content does. Furthermore, and of extreme importance, pop-up ads can’t cover up the very information your guests are hoping to consume. With ads, the more discreet the better.
3) Poorly Organized Content Structure
More often than not, when conversion and retention rates suffer, poor content structure is somehow involved. In fact, it’s estimated that upwards of 50 percent of digital sales are lost when potential customers can’t easily find what they’re looking for online. Keep things simple, especially with your site’s content layout. If information can be presented on a single page, allow it to happen. Truthfully, this sort of problem presents a quick fix. Bold headings, introductions and highlighted keywords do more for enhancing content structure than just about anything else.
4) Content Inconsistency
Ever thought that you’d found the perfect site for what was needed only to realize that the site’s content was last updated four or five years ago? Though potentially accurate, inconsistent publishing is a huge deterrent for Internet users. If writer’s block has you at a loss for words, consider adding a blog to your personal web domain. Blogs are great for updating visitors with the latest information, news and interest-specific trends. Once the proper balance between interactivity, design and content production, has been discovered, the clicks come pouring in.
5) Forced Website Registration
These days, it seems like personal information is given out on a daily basis. Whether it be the creation of a new social profile or a rewards card at the grocery store, everyone wants access to your email address. It’s for that exact reason that people are hesitant to hand over personal information. If possible, allow visitors to register for site access without being hassled. When unavoidable, at least give users a taste of what they’re about to sign up for.
6) Overbearing Video & Audio
People love options. For experts of web design, this is a pivotal part of any design strategy. Speaking of the power to choose, reports KissMetrics.com, “Most people value their ability to choose what content to absorb. Having video or audio that loads automatically can potentially drive visitors away.” Audio and video are both excellent for keeping visitors on your site. With that in mind, however, when automatically loaded and implemented, dissatisfaction often ensues.
7) Visual Crowdedness
Visual discomfort doesn’t only come about when images and videos overload a page; unusual fonts, abrasive colors and obvious typos all play their respective roles in giving any visitor an unpleasant experience. Ideally, if the budget is there, a web design professional should be contacted for additional help. Seeing as how color palette, typeface and site tone can have a tremendous impact on customer conversion rates, it’s key that the best that the industry has to offer be consulted.
8) Dull Design
The entire purpose of a website is to feed valuable messages to earnest seekers of knowledge. If a site is dull, that end goal is hindered in its efficiency. At the end of the day, memorable moments are what bring people back to a site, time and time again. Yes, it’s true that minimalistic websites can be both beautiful and engaging, but when built improperly, they’re more an eyesore than anything else. Even worse, when tragically coupled with weak content, it’s literally impossible that a web domain succeed.
Whatever your specific design needs might be, heavy traffic is going to make the necessary time and effort required for building an incredible website worth the hassle. Needless to say, when the aforementioned design catastrophes are consciously bypassed, websites flourish.
