Bad Website Design Habits You Should Stay Away From

Jonesen TeamIndustry Insights

These days, to run a successful business you absolutely must have a website. More than that, you need to have a good website.

Considering that most consumers turn to the internet first, having a poorly designed website can and will hurt your business.

So, what can you do?

If you’re ready to build or upgrade your site but worry about making mistakes, we can help. Here are a few bad website design habits you should avoid if you want your website to be a success.

Auto-Play Media

At first glance, auto-play media may seem like a fantastic way to grab a user’s attention. But, it’s not and it could potentially drive potential customers away from your site for good.

At best, most users find auto-play media, more specifically, media that features audio, abrasive and annoying. With that said, auto-play media can pose a few more serious issues as well.

On top of being annoying, auto-play media can create some major accessibility issues on your site. Individuals who rely on screen-reading software may be stuck waiting for the clip to finish if they’re even able to access the rest of the page at all.

Too Hard to Navigate

There’s nothing more frustrating than going to a website and having to click around for hours before finding what you’re looking for.

If a reader is visiting your site, odds are they have an idea of what they want. It’s your job to make finding what your users want easy.

While you may want your site to look a certain way, you should never sacrifice usability for style.

You want to keep your menus clear and concise and your links easy to spot. Remember, if a user isn’t able to find what they’re looking for in a few seconds, you’ll likely lose them.

Not Mobile Friendly

We’ve already established that consumers prefer online shopping to more old-fashioned methods.

But, more than that, your customers are also far more likely to access your site via a smartphone or other mobile device than through a desktop or laptop computer.

While creating a mobile-friendly website may seem a little excessive, it’s an absolute must-have in today’s online world.

To achieve success online, you need to have a mobile site that is capable of doing everything your desktop site can do. On top of that, the mobile version should also be easy to navigate on a small touchscreen.

Fails to Identify Who You Are

One of the first rules of web design is: Make sure your users know who you are.

Your website is a direct reflection of who your company is. So, aside from plastering your name and logo wherever you can, you should also strive to have your site match the aesthetics of your company.

Despite what some people might say, first impressions are important. Your goal should be for your users and customers to get a good notion of who you and your company are from the moment they open your website.

How to Avoid Bad Website Design Habits

Having a good looking and easy to navigate website is essential in today’s Internet-centric world. That said if you don’t have much experience in the field of web design it can be pretty easy to fall prey to a few bad website design habits.

And that’s where we come in.

Our team will be able to put together a top of the line website that will make you and your business look good. Contact us today for more information or to get started.