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Web Design Mistakes to Avoid in 2021

Internet users now spend more time browsing through different websites. That has exposed them to various design elements and made them develop their set of expectations. Consequently, web designers are working hard on their skills to meet customer expectations.

But then, there’s a lot to learn every day, even for experts in this competitive industry. Top on the list is common web design mistakes that every designer needs to know and avoid.

This article takes a more in-depth look at the top 8 web design mistakes of 2020.

So, let’s get started.

Web design mistakes that every designer needs to know and avoid

  1. Slow Webpage Loading Speeds

According to Google, 53% of internet users click away from websites that take three or more seconds to load. To reduce your website’s bounce rate, you must ensure web pages load within two or fewer seconds. You can do it by optimizing images, eliminating pop-ups, and auto-play videos.

Slow webpage loading speeds can do more than making you lose sales. Search engines can lower your rank on result pages to penalize you for a high bounce rate. A reliable web design company will help you evaluate your website’s performance and improve loading speeds.

  1. Non-Mobile Responsive Website

The number of mobile users is growing every day. Brands need to build mobile-friendly websites for this growing population. A mistake most designers make is to build websites for PCs only. Businesses with such website designs risk losing more than half of their online conversions.

A mobile responsive site aids visibility for customers using smartphones or tablets. It will help the business climb up the search engine result pages and increase sales.  Remember to compress images, use larger fonts, etc., to ensure a perfect web design.

  1. A Lack of Contact Information

Besides looking bad technically, poorly designed websites lack essential information. It can be frustrating to a potential customer who wants to inquire about something but they can’t find your business contacts. You risk losing the customer’s trust and potential return business.

Your web design needs to provide one-click buttons that connect you with customers. There should be an email, phone number, and buttons leading customers to your social media pages. With about 46% of searches being location-based, it is also essential to have a Google map.

  1. Auto-playing Videos

Although auto-playing videos increase viewership, it is essential to look at their downsides too. First, forcing website visitors to watch videos they aren’t interested in can irritate them. These videos seem intrusive from a potential customer’s view.

To avoid creating negative brand sentiments, avoid auto-play videos where possible. If you think it will benefit your brand, test it first, and confirm it doesn’t lower your bounce rate. Any negative impact on conversions should tell you to explore alternative technology solutions.

  1. Complicated Navigation

When people visit a website, chances are they’re looking for something specific. Unfortunately, most web designs make the information customers are looking for difficult to access. As a web designer, you should focus on building an appealing website and making it easy for visitors to locate what they need.

If a customer is looking for what you offer, they should easily find it with a single click. If not, you should have a search button to help them navigate easily. Web designers need what information is of priority to site users and make it easily accessible. Always link essential pages to the home page and label things clearly.

  1. A Failure to Optimize for SEO

Weak search engine optimization can have a significant impact on your business. Website content is as essential as design, and it can make or break website lead generation. Even with excellent design, you’re not going to edge your competitors as potential customers won’t find your website due to low rankings.

Ensure that you’ve all the essentials of good SEO in place. You should frequently update your website with new blog posts. Make proper keyword optimization and internal link usage. Additionally, it would be best if you organized your posts properly with headings and subheadings. That will catch both the readers’ and search engines’ attention.

  1. A Lack of Clear Call to Action

A missing call to action can affect your conversion rates. CTAs help and guide potential customers to focus on their next step. It needs to be compelling, placed on every page, and attached to a link or button leading to an order page. The clearer the CTA, the more the number of clicks.

You risk losing business if your website lacks clear CTAs on every page. Despite a customer reading through every page, they lack further direction and consequently exit the website without purchasing anything. Use persuasive words and create an urgency to get more visitors clicking on the provided link.

  1. Missing Your SSL Certificate

According to Forbes, nearly 30 000 websites get hacked daily. Most of these hacks result from substandard website designs, especially regarding security for the website and users. Therefore, it’s essential to focus on securing the website you’ve spent a lot of time and money to build.

A lack of SSL certificates creates distrust and potential loss of customers’ data. To avoid such a situation, you need a strong SSL certificate; you can choose any SSL like multi domain wildcard (for multi domain wildcard security), wildcard SSL for (first level of subdomains), etc. SSL certificate not only offers security but also offers data integrity and trustworthiness.

Using HTTPS and having an SSL certificate are the best ways to secure it. Lacking these security essentials makes the owner look irresponsible. That makes customers lose their trust, lead to lawsuits, or make them blacklist your site.

Evaluate Your Website and Make It Better

If any mistake on this list seems familiar to you, then it could have cost you more than a few customers unknowingly. Every web designer hoping to grow their business must not commit any of the mistakes mentioned above as they directly impact the user experience.

Because users are looking for the optimal experience, you risk losing them forever if they discover any flaws. Thankfully, they’re quick and easy fixes to help you provide your customers with an optimal user experience.

Your website is the cornerstone of your business. It acts as a silent salesperson, storefront, and business magazine that virtually connects you to your customers. Dedicating your time to improve it will help your business generate better website leads and make more profit.