Are you looking to have a great website to boost your sales?
It’s understandable that you might make common web design mistakes when you start your website. Startups need to plan their budget and how to spend it wisely. Every dollar spent on a website should be spent to make a return on the investment.
What are some common design mistakes that will hurt a website’s performance and customer engagement? Here are some common web design mistakes for startups that new websites need to look out for.
Table of Contents
1. Cluttered and Complex Layouts
Choosing too many elements on a page can make it more difficult for visitors to find the important information they are looking for. To avoid this, first decide which elements are required on the page.
Then focus on streamlining and simplifying the design in order to create clarity. Get rid of any unessential elements or images and find ways to reduce the number of colors, fonts, and design elements. You can simplify navigation and content areas so no two elements are competing for attention.
2. Poor Mobile Responsiveness
Even small elements can cause major problems, such as text being too small to read or features not being accessible on certain devices. To avoid these common pitfalls, it is important to pay close attention to the nuances of developing different types of technology.
Take time to test your website thoroughly throughout the design process to ensure its compatibility across a variety of devices, and use a mobile-first design approach whenever possible.
3. Slow Loading Speed
Slow loading times can have a variety of negative effects, including higher bounce rates, lower user engagement, and decreased conversions. To prevent these issues, startups should always test the loading speed of a webpage before launching. This can be done using a variety of free online resources, such as:
- Google PageSpeed Insights
- GTmetrix
Also, optimize any images or videos used, minify code, and implement browser caching. Utilizing a content delivery network (CDN) will help ensure that content is delivered quickly and reliably.
4. Inconsistent Branding
Poor branding and design can steer potential customers away and negatively impact a company’s reputation. To avoid this mistake, startups should ensure they have a cohesive visual language in their branding. This includes logos, color palettes, and typography that are visibly recognizable across all company platforms.
It’s also important to make this branding consistent across all elements of the website. From the homepage to popups, companies should ensure the same visual language is applied throughout. Note the online presence of other successful startups and see if the design and branding work for them – it may be smart to emulate that style.
5. Lack of Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
A clear, prominent, and achievable call to action is necessary for your webpage to be effective and successful. It is important to include at least one call to action button or link that encourages users to take action. This could be a link to an online contact form, a download link for a free guide, or an invitation to join a newsletter.
Startups should be sure to make sure that the link to the call to action is easy to find and set up in an attractive format that is clear and easy to understand. A good call to action should be concise and relevant to your desired action.
6. Poor Typography Choices
Poor typography can cause confusion and can make it difficult for visitors to navigate or access the content on the site. This mistake is easily avoidable. Startups should ensure that their font size is large enough to be easily read on all devices and that they use web-safe fonts whenever possible.
The font color should contrast with the background color to make it easier to read. There should be adequate white space between all elements, allowing visitors to easily distinguish one section of the website from another. Too many different typefaces should be avoided, as this can clutter the appearance of the site.
7. Ignoring SEO Best Practices
This can be a costly mistake, as it makes the site difficult for search engines to crawl and throws away much-needed organic traffic. To avoid this mistake, startups must include the following:
- proper page titles
- meta descriptions
- clear and concise URL structures
Content should be keyword-rich, and headings and image tags must include relevant keywords. Utilize anchor text when linking pages together as well as internal links to improve the chances of organic traffic. The site must also be optimized for multiple devices – a mobile-friendly website is a must in today’s digital landscape.
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8. Missing or Inadequate Contact Information
It may be tempting to forgo including contact information due to the hassle and seeming unimportance, but this can lead to a significant loss of potential business. To avoid this mistake, a company should have visible contact information present on each page of their web design tools and also provide a specific page dedicated solely to contact information.
This page should list a:
- working phone number
- email address
- physical address
- any other contact details
It can be helpful to include an online contact form on this page. Making sure the contact information is up-to-date and properly visible will give customers more confidence in the business and encourage them to reach out if they have any questions.
9. Lack of Clear Navigation
This often results in visitors being confused or overwhelmed by the quantity and complexity of options presented to them. To avoid this, it is essential to simplify the navigation architecture and create usable menus that are easy to understand.
A consistent navigation structure should be applied throughout all the website pages, and the main navigation items should always be displayed in the same locations. Utilize contextual links whenever possible to provide users with future references and guide them through the website content.
Avoiding Web Design Mistakes For Startups Today
Web design mistakes for startups can impede their success. By understanding the mistakes, researching design solutions, and seeking professional help, businesses can ensure they produce a well-designed website. Don’t let a poor web design get in the way of achieving success – invest in a desirable website for your business today!
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