1. Lack of mobile responsiveness
Many business owners make the mistake of not designing their website to be mobile-friendly, which can result in a poor user experience for a significant portion of their audience. This mostly means not optimising the mobile version of their website. This can frustrate users and may cause them to leave the site. A professional web design service will ensure that your website is responsive and looks great on all devices.
Here are a few examples of how a lack of mobile responsiveness can negatively impact the user experience:
Text that is too small to read on a mobile device
If a website is not designed to be responsive, the text may be too small to read on a mobile device. This can make it difficult for users to understand the content and may cause them to leave the site.
Images that do not scale properly
A website must be designed to be responsive for the images to scale correctly on a mobile device. This can result in distorted or stretched images that are difficult to view.
A layout that is difficult to navigate
A website must be designed to be responsive to ensure the layout can navigate on a mobile device. This can make it difficult for users to find what they’re looking for and may cause them to leave the site.
2. Poor navigation
A website with confusing or cluttered navigation can frustrate users and may cause them to leave the site. A professional web designer can create a clear, intuitive navigation structure that allows users to find what they want and optimise for your business goal. This includes organizing content into logical categories, having prominent navigation menus, using clear and descriptive headings and subheadings, and having a search bar or site map to help users find specific pages or content. A professional web designer will also be able to create a user-friendly menu structure that is easy to use on both desktop and mobile devices.
Here are a few examples of how poor navigation can negatively impact the user experience:
Confusing menu structure
A website with a menu structure that is difficult to understand or navigate can be frustrating for users. This may cause them to leave the site without finding the information they were looking for.
Lack of clear headings and subheadings
Suppose a website does not use clear headings and subheadings. In that case, it can be difficult for users (and search engines) to understand the content and find specific information.
Lack of search bar or site map
A website needs a search box or site map to make it easier for users to find specific pages or content. This may cause them to leave the site without finding the information they were looking for.
3. Unattractive design
A poorly designed website can damage a business’s credibility and make users less likely to take the desired action (e.g., make a purchase). Along with graphic design, and high-quality images, a professional web designer uses a tailored design process that can create a visually appealing website that reflects your brand and engages your customer base.
A few examples of how an unattractive design can negatively impact the user experience include:
Poor use of colour
Amateur designers use a color palette that is harsh or does not work well together, it can be visually unappealing and may turn users off.
Cluttered layout
If a website has too much content or too many elements packed into a small space, it can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate.
Outdated design
If a website has an outdated design, it can make a business appear out of touch or unprofessional.
Poor use of images
Image sources matter! Images can be used to enhance the overall look and feel of your website, as well as provide visual cues that help visitors understand what your business is about.
Tip: use SVG images over raster images whenever possible. SVG images are mostly smaller in size and scale without blurriness!
4. Slow loading times
A website that takes a long time to load can be frustrating for users and may cause them to leave the site. A professional web designer will be able to optimize your website for fast load times, which can improve the user experience and help improve your search engine rankings.
A few examples of how slow loading times can negatively impact the user experience include:
Increased bounce rate
If a website takes too long to load, users may become impatient and leave the site before it finishes loading. This can increase the bounce rate (the percentage of users who leave a site after viewing only one page) and decrease the overall engagement.
Decreased conversion rate
If a website takes too long to load, users may become frustrated and decide not to complete a desired action (e.g., make a purchase). This can decrease the conversion rate (the percentage of users who complete a desired action) and negatively impact a business’s revenue.
Poor search engine rankings
Search engines like Google consider a website’s loading speed when ranking it in search results. If a website is slow to load, it may rank lower in search results and may not be found by potential customers.
5 Lack of SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
A website not optimized for search engines may struggle to rank well and may not be found by potential customers. A professional web designer can optimize your website for SEO, which can help improve your visibility on search engines and drive traffic from your target audience to your site.
A few examples of how a lack of SEO can negatively impact a website include the following:
Low search engine rankings
If a website is not optimized for SEO, it may not rank well in search results for relevant keywords. This can make it difficult for potential customers to find the site and may decrease traffic.
Decreased visibility in search results
A website not optimized for SEO may not appear in the top results for relevant keywords, affecting online presence. This can make it more difficult for potential customers to find the site and may decrease traffic.
Difficulty attracting targeted traffic
If a website is not optimized for SEO, it may not attract the type of traffic that is most likely to convert into customers. This can decrease the site’s overall effectiveness and may negatively impact a business’s revenue.
6. Unclear call-to-action
A website that does not have a clear call-to-action may not effectively guide users towards the desired action (e.g., make a purchase, sign up for a newsletter). A professional web designer can create a clear and compelling call to action that encourages users to take the desired action.
A few examples of how an unclear call-to-action can negatively impact the user experience include:
Decreased conversion rate
If a website does not have a clear call-to-action, users may not know what action to take or may not be motivated to take any action at all. This can decrease the conversion rate (the percentage of users who complete a desired action) and negatively impact a business’s revenue.
Confusion
If a website does not have a clear call-to-action, users may not understand the purpose of the site or what action they should take. This can be confusing and may cause them to leave the site.
Lack of direction
If a website does not have a clear call-to-action, users may not know where to go next or what to do. This can be frustrating and may cause them to leave the site.
7. Lack of branding
A poorly branded website may not effectively communicate a business’s identity and values. A professional web designer can create a website with a color scheme that effectively represents your brand and helps establish your business as a trustworthy and professional entity.
A few examples of how a lack of branding can negatively impact a website include the following:
Decreased credibility
If a website is not properly branded, it may not appear professional or trustworthy. This can decrease the business’s credibility and may make users less likely to take the desired action (e.g., make a purchase).
Confusion
If a website is not properly branded, users may not be able to identify the business or understand what it does easily. This can be confusing and may cause them to leave the site.
Lack of consistency
A website must be properly branded to be consistent with the business’s other marketing materials (e.g., business cards, social media profiles). This can be confusing and may decrease the effectiveness of the business’s overall marketing efforts.
8. Not utilizing social media and other marketing channels
A website that is not integrated with a business’s other marketing channels (e.g., social media, email marketing) may miss out on opportunities to drive traffic and engage users. A professional web designer can create a website that effectively integrates with your other marketing efforts, like optimising your website for voice search.
A few examples of how not utilizing social media and other marketing channels can negatively impact a website include:
Decreased traffic
If a website is not promoted through social media and other marketing channels, it may not receive as much traffic as it could. This can decrease the site’s overall effectiveness and may negatively impact a business’s revenue.
Lack of engagement
If a website is not integrated with social media and other marketing channels, it may miss out on opportunities to engage with users and build a community around the business.
Lack of consistency
If a website is not integrated with social media and other marketing channels, it may not be consistent with the business’s other marketing efforts. This can confuse users and may decrease the effectiveness of the business’s overall marketing efforts.
9. Not considering the user experience
A website that is not designed with the user in mind may be difficult to use or navigate, which can lead to a high bounce rate and low conversion rate. A web design expert will be able to create a well-designed website that is user-friendly and engages users.
A few examples of how not considering the user experience can negatively impact a website include:
Poor usability
If a website is not designed with usability in mind, it may be difficult for users to navigate or find what they’re looking for. This can be frustrating and may cause them to leave the site.
Unclear value proposition
If a website does not clearly communicate the value that it offers to users, they may not understand the purpose of the site or why they should take the desired action (e.g., make a purchase).
Poor user flow
If a website does not have a clear user flow (the path that a user follows while interacting with a site), it may be difficult for users to complete the desired action. This can decrease the conversion rate and negatively impact a business’s revenue.
10. Not regularly updating content
A website that is not regularly updated with fresh, relevant, quality content may become stale and may not effectively engage users. A professional web design service may include ongoing support and content updates to ensure your website stays fresh and relevant.
A few examples of how not regularly updating content can negatively impact a website include the following:
Decreased traffic
If a website does not have fresh, relevant content, users may not have a reason to visit the site frequently. This can decrease the overall traffic to the site and may negatively impact a business’s revenue.
Lack of engagement
A website needs fresh, relevant content to effectively engage your prospective customers. This can lead to a high bounce rate and low conversion rate.
Poor search engine rankings
Search engines like Google favour websites that regularly update their content and may rank these sites higher in search results. If a website is not regularly updated with fresh content, it may struggle to rank well in search results and may not be found by potential customers.
11. (Bonus) Not future-proofing the website
The biggest mistake most business owners make is not considering the long-term needs of a website and failing to future-proof the website. This often leads to additional costs and problems done the line. A few examples of how not future-proofing a website can negatively impact a business include:
Outdated technology
If a website is not built with future-proofing in mind, it may use outdated technology or design elements that become obsolete over time. This can make the website difficult to update or maintain and may cause it to become obsolete or unappealing to users. This often leads to complex designs to bypass the tech limitations.
Lack of scalability
If a website is not designed with scalability in mind, it may struggle to accommodate an increase in traffic or new features. This can limit the growth potential of the website and the business as a whole.
Decreased flexibility
If a website is not designed with flexibility in mind, it may be difficult to make changes or updates to the site as the business grows or changes. This can be frustrating for users and may cause them to visit a competitor’s site.
Increased maintenance costs
If a website is not built with future-proofing in mind, it may require more frequent updates and maintenance to keep it running smoothly. This can increase the overall maintenance costs of the website and may negatively impact a business’s bottom line.
In addition to integrating with social media and other marketing channels, a digital marketing agency’s web design service can also help with the marketing side of things, such as implementing analytics and trackers. A website works hand in hand with digital marketing, so its recommended to speak to a digital marketing consultant to plan out your digital marketing strategy!
Analytics
Analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, can help businesses track and analyze data about their website and their users. This can include information about traffic sources, user behaviour, and conversion rates. A professional web design service can help implement analytics tools and provide guidance on how to use the data to improve the website and the business’s overall marketing efforts.
Trackers
Trackers, such as UTM parameters, can help businesses track the effectiveness of specific marketing campaigns. A professional web design service can help implement trackers and provide guidance on how to use the data to measure the success of different campaigns and make informed decisions about future marketing efforts.
Implementing analytics and trackers can help businesses better understand their website and its users and make more informed decisions about their marketing efforts. A professional web design service can provide valuable expertise and support in this area.
In summary
In summary, businesses make many common website design mistakes when designing their own websites, and hiring a professional design firm can help avoid these pitfalls.
In addition to avoiding common mistakes and providing various benefits, hiring a professional web design agency can also be a cost-effective and time-saving alternative for businesses. Building and maintaining a website can be complex and time-consuming, and hiring a professional can free up time and resources that could be better spent on other areas of the business. A professional web design service may be able to provide expertise and guidance that can help businesses save money in the long run by avoiding costly mistakes and optimizing their website for success.
Our web design service is a professional and cost-effective solution for businesses looking to create a website that is attractive, user-friendly, and effective at driving traffic and conversions. Our team of experienced web designers, copywriters, graphic designers, and project managers will work closely with you to understand your needs and goals, and create a website that reflects your brand and engages users. Whether you’re looking for an ecommerce website, an SEO Optimized website, or just a basic, affordable business website to showcase your portfolio or services, we’ve got you covered.
Our web design service includes:
Mobile responsiveness: We will ensure that your website adopts a responsive design and looks great on all devices.
Clear navigation: We will create a clear, intuitive navigation structure that makes it easy for users to find what they’re looking for.
Attractive design: We will create a visually appealing website that reflects your brand and engages users. See our design process on our portfolio!
Fast loading times: We will optimize your website for fast loading times, which can improve the user experience and help improve your search engine rankings.
SEO optimization: We will optimize your website for SEO, which can help improve your visibility on search engines and drive traffic to your site.
Clear call-to-action: We will create a clear and compelling call-to-action that encourages users to take the desired action.
Proper branding: We will create a website that effectively represents your brand and helps establish your business as a trustworthy and professional entity.
Integration with social media and other marketing channels: We will create a website that effectively integrates with your other marketing efforts.
User-friendly design: We will create a user-friendly website that engages users.
Ongoing support and content updates: Our web design service includes ongoing support and content updates to ensure your website stays fresh and relevant.
Contact us or fill up our web design questionnaire to learn more about how our web design service can help your business succeed, or read more about CHEAP VS EXPENSIVE: THE TOP 10 FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A WEB DESIGN AGENCY
