Find out what to avoid for your new business website.
Whether you plan to build your website yourself, find a developer to do it or you already have a website, it’s important to understand the common mistakes that could be made. By being aware of these pitfalls, you can make informed decisions and ensure that your website possesses the expertise to avoid them.
Lack of Mobile Responsiveness:
Ensure that your website developer understands the importance of mobile responsiveness. A mobile-friendly website is crucial for engaging users on smartphones and tablets. Ask the developer about their approach to mobile optimization and request examples of responsive websites they have built.
Poor User Experience (UX) Design:
A website should provide a seamless and intuitive user experience. Here are some things that should be avoided:
- A confusing navigation system that makes it hard to find things on your website.
- Slow loading times, which would discourage users and may cause them to leave the website.
- Poorly designed forms and inputs will overwhelm users and hinder their interactions.
- Constant errors with generic or vague messages frustrate users.
- The lack of responsive design makes content difficult to interact with on different devices.
Ignoring Loading Speed Optimisation:
Slow-loading websites can frustrate visitors and harm your business’s online reputation. It can make visitors leave before they visit your website, and put them off from trying to visit again. It your website takes longer than 1-2 seconds to load, then it means that its time for improvement.
Ensure that your:
- Images are compressed/low size
- There are no unnecessary effects that hinder your loading speed
- There are no unnecessary codes and the caching mechanisms are optimised.
Badly Organised Content:
Well-organised content is crucial for user engagement. Plan how to structure your website’s content, including headings, subheadings, and visual elements. Make sure your content is clear and the most important elements are easy to see.
Weak Call-to-Actions (CTA’s):
CTAs play a vital role in guiding visitors to take the desired action on your website.
Here are some examples of CTA’s:
- Download Your Free Ebook Now
- See Menu
- Browse Store
- Learn More
You could also use CTV (Call To Value). With this you focus on what value you can provide for your customer, for example:
- Claim Your Exclusive Offer
- Start Your Free Trial
- Get Your Free Quote Now
- Experience New Adventure
With a call to value, you instantly let the consumer know what they will receive, whether it’s an offer, an unforgettable experience or something valuable for free. Make sure to make it clear in your text and buttons.
Lack of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Knowledge:
A great website is not just about the looks and its performance. Because if search engine optimisation is not implemented, people will not be able to find your website on their own.
For example, a person who is using Google search to find services they require, wouldn’t go to any websites directly. They would look through multiple websites that offer these services provided by Google search to find the best offers or services that align with their needs.
The websites that appear in that search are the ones that have their website optimised for search engines. Meaning that the website contains:
- Relatable Keywords
- Contains Meta Descriptions
- Images Contain Alt Tags
It’s also important to invest in a technical SEO (loading speed, URL optimisation, responsiveness etc.)
Implementing SEO techniques is not a short-term goal but a long-term goal. FocusSearch engine optimisations should be started once the website development beings and even after it’s completed. For example, if you change your text, images or add new pages make sure that SEO methods are applied.
Insufficient Focus on Security Measures:
Website security is paramount to safeguard your data and protect user information.
Whether you are creating your own website or having it created make sure that you:
- Have an SSL certificate (this also can increase people’s trust in your website, since it will show as secure)
- Regular Updates
- Have Regular Backups
Aim to prioritise website security and mitigate potential risks.
Limited Emphasis on Brand Consistency:
Consistent branding across your website is crucial for brand recognition and user trust. A Business website should always use the correct brand fonts, colours and imagery across all pages.
This will ensure consistency, have much more appeal and increase brand retention and recognition.
Your website requires ongoing support and maintenance even after they have been published. Ensure that you have a plan in place to keep your website performing well. Remember that a website is a live project that will always need to be updated & adjusted regularly to avoid being outdated and irrelevant.
We hope that this article will help you realise what website mistakes should be avoided and help you have a great website.
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