A well business website design that is built and marketed professionally is sure to bring in many leads and sales. If done badly, your website may receive little to zero traffic and nobody will see it. Below we discuss the biggest design mistakes you must avoid when having your website built.
1. Use title tags that are relevant. The use of meta title tags should include your target keywords and also information about what the web page is about. Remember that your title tags also appear in the blue bar at the top of the window and it what people see if they add the page to their "favourites".
2. Avoid filling your web pages with ads. Doing this will will both alienate and distract your visitors - and they may even leave your website. Make sure you try and keep web page advertisements and banners that flash to a minimum. This then leaves your customers focused on the important parts of the page.
3. Keep website navigation simple. Most websites have links on the left or top of the page to get around the website. Keep it simple and follow the same navigation that your visitors are already used to, and do not make it difficult for them to get around. Remember that your visitor is used to getting around a website in a certain way.
4. Dead links on web pages. When a visitor clicks on a "dead link", they get an error message and get very frustrated. Make sure all the links on your website work correctly - and that they point to the right place. Remember that having dead links on your pages can also get you penalised in the search engines.
5. Avoid using Macromedia Flash on your pages unless impossible. Flash does have a place on websites, but is mainly found in gaming or interactive sites where this cannot be done a different way. Consider using animated GIF's for moving images instead, as most people can view these in a web browser. Another consideration is you could try using javascript or java which is more supported that flash. Flash can take too long and by the time it has, your visitor has left your website.
6. Lack of a Search Box on your website. For a website with many pages, it is extremely important to allow users to search the site without having to find pages by going through every link.
7. Using PDF file links on the website. Using PDF files can good in the case of putting your glossy company brochure online, but it is better to ideally put the pages in HTML web format. More people will see the information then, as if site visitors do not have Adobe Reader installed, they will have to install it. In our experience, people usually click away instead of trying to download it. Keep the use of PDFs to a minimum.
8.Web links already clicked do not change colour. Most people surfing the Internet get used to a link changing colour once they have already clicked it. Make sure you keep clicked link colours familiar to visitors, and make sure the links change colour once they have already been clicked.
9. Text formatting that is messy. Lay the text out on your website neatly and clearly. Use formatted paragraphs and pictures to break the text up and make it easy on the eye.
10. Use larger fonts. The use of small fonts can put a strain on the eyes of anyone, but more so people with impaired vision. Remember also that blind people now read web pages with screen readers. Make sure your website is W3C compliant so that the latest screen reading technology can 'read' them.
1. Use title tags that are relevant. The use of meta title tags should include your target keywords and also information about what the web page is about. Remember that your title tags also appear in the blue bar at the top of the window and it what people see if they add the page to their "favourites".
2. Avoid filling your web pages with ads. Doing this will will both alienate and distract your visitors - and they may even leave your website. Make sure you try and keep web page advertisements and banners that flash to a minimum. This then leaves your customers focused on the important parts of the page.
3. Keep website navigation simple. Most websites have links on the left or top of the page to get around the website. Keep it simple and follow the same navigation that your visitors are already used to, and do not make it difficult for them to get around. Remember that your visitor is used to getting around a website in a certain way.
4. Dead links on web pages. When a visitor clicks on a "dead link", they get an error message and get very frustrated. Make sure all the links on your website work correctly - and that they point to the right place. Remember that having dead links on your pages can also get you penalised in the search engines.
5. Avoid using Macromedia Flash on your pages unless impossible. Flash does have a place on websites, but is mainly found in gaming or interactive sites where this cannot be done a different way. Consider using animated GIF's for moving images instead, as most people can view these in a web browser. Another consideration is you could try using javascript or java which is more supported that flash. Flash can take too long and by the time it has, your visitor has left your website.
6. Lack of a Search Box on your website. For a website with many pages, it is extremely important to allow users to search the site without having to find pages by going through every link.
7. Using PDF file links on the website. Using PDF files can good in the case of putting your glossy company brochure online, but it is better to ideally put the pages in HTML web format. More people will see the information then, as if site visitors do not have Adobe Reader installed, they will have to install it. In our experience, people usually click away instead of trying to download it. Keep the use of PDFs to a minimum.
8.Web links already clicked do not change colour. Most people surfing the Internet get used to a link changing colour once they have already clicked it. Make sure you keep clicked link colours familiar to visitors, and make sure the links change colour once they have already been clicked.
9. Text formatting that is messy. Lay the text out on your website neatly and clearly. Use formatted paragraphs and pictures to break the text up and make it easy on the eye.
10. Use larger fonts. The use of small fonts can put a strain on the eyes of anyone, but more so people with impaired vision. Remember also that blind people now read web pages with screen readers. Make sure your website is W3C compliant so that the latest screen reading technology can 'read' them.
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