Published
August 8, 2023
in
Design

Mastering Website Design: 5 Mistakes to Avoid

Andrew Mellenger
Strategy

Steer clear of these 5 design pitfalls to create a seamless user experience.

1. Unclickable Banners

Don't Frustrate Visitors with Click Uncertainty

Encountering unclickable banners on websites creates a frustrating experience for visitors. These banners, which may be visually appealing, fail to provide any useful information and become a hassle to scroll past. Unclickable banners can also leave visitors uncertain about where they can click for more information or navigation. Ensure that banners provide clear instructions and are clickable if they are intended to lead visitors to another page.

2. Long Line Length

Choose the Optimal Text Length for Web Readability

Web readability plays a vital role in keeping visitors engaged with your content. UX research shows  that users find long lines of text overwhelming and intimidating. The optimal length for web readability is between 10 to 14 words per line. Breaking down text into shorter, more digestible paragraphs can greatly enhance the overall reading experience and ensure that visitors stay engaged.

3. Unnecessary Google Maps

Simplify the Location Experience

While Google Maps can be a useful tool for displaying a location, incorporating dynamic maps into a site can significantly slow down the website’s performance. Using a simple static map is often sufficient to display location information. By avoiding unnecessary maps, websites can improve their loading speed and ensure a smoother browsing experience.

4. Overlays and Banners

Don’t Make your Site Unusable

The web can be a very annoying place. Every one of us has encountered the frustration of visiting a website cluttered with pop-ups, and overlays, making it nearly impossible to access the content we are actually seeking. Don’t get me wrong, overlays and banners can be effective for highlighting important information or promotions. But when they cover the entire screen and don't allow visitors to click away easily, they become an annoyance. Ensure that overlays and banners do not overlap in  a way that essential buttons and elements are hidden or covered. This obstructs the user's ability to access the desired content or navigate through the website.

5. Homepages Titled Homepage

Be Helpful with Your Page Titles

Homepages serve as a significant entry point for search engine optimization (SEO) and should utilize valuable space wisely. Optimizing for SEO can boost sales, conversions, and help users by improving findability through search engines. Instead of a generic title, you should use keywords or a compelling title that accurately represents the website's purpose. This not only helps with SEO but also provides visitors with a better understanding of the website's focus and content. Remember, that title will show up in search engine results.

Creating a site users enjoy interacting with can be challenging. In today's competitive digital landscape, if your website falls short in terms of design or thoughtful planning, you may have noticed that your traffic fails to meet your expectations or even experiences a gradual decline in visitor count. In these cases, you likely have unknowingly fallen into the traps that web designers work diligently to avoid.

After more than 20 years of building websites, I’ve compiled a list of 5 common design mistakes to avoid. Keep reading to learn what helps a site make a great first impression.