MN Interactive

Web Design Mistakes to Avoid

Your site’s landing page is the most compelling page within your website, as it’s here that visitors will make a stay-go decision. Having said that, your entire website’s design plays a role in determining the ease with which users can browse, buy, and bookmark your site for further visits. A lot of buying decisions are impulsive and emotional, and it helps if your website entices visitors with appropriate content, tone, and colors, rather than repulse them with broken links, large chunks of text, and a boring web design.

Nowadays web-hosting companies have ready-to-use site design templates. And customer do take advantage of this. Nothing wrong, if you know what you’re doing. But the average Joe is not necessarily informed about the latest in web technology, nor has he the time to spend researching and analyzing what a good site should look like. A better option in this instance is to go with a professional company who has experience designing interactive sites.

If you have designed the site by yourself, or used an amateur designer, beware of web design traps which are easy to fall into. Check to see if your site has any of the following:

Extensive text: Unbroken text on a screen can be monotonous, and pushes visitors straight out the door. Web text ideally should be short and catchy, with links to longer articles and documents. If you do need to upload lengthy text onto your site, make sure you use the following:

• Headings and subheadings
• Highlighted keywords
• Numbered lists
• Short tight paragraphs
• A simple writing style, even if the document is technical
• Plenty of blank space between text

Jumbled fonts and flash animation: While it’s important to use headers and highlights, it’s equally important not to overpower the screen with different fonts, sizes, colors, and the worst, constant animation! The eye is more adept at reading still font online. Similarly, keep in mind that users are a diverse range of people, so avoid tiny fonts which are unreadable, and stick to a more standard Arial or Times Roman 12 point font. And never ask visitors to download files in order to view data on a site. Most people are skeptical of downloading from unknown links, and the rest simply don’t have the time to do so.

Links that open to a new window: Click on a link, and a new window pops open, directing the audience to it. They read what they want to, close the window, and the original site remains open. Sounds familiar? Recent research however suggests a number of users don’t actually realize a new window has been opened, and stay confused when their ‘back’ button is grayed out. Scared that users may hop sites if the article you direct them to is better than the one on your site? Don’t worry. If the content you provide is interesting, visitors will use the ‘back’ button to return to it. Alternatively, let them open in a new window which is easily visible and opens up automatically (such as within this blog post), and not one which hides at the bottom of the screen.

Overuse of web advertising: When banner and pop up tools were first invented, they must have generated massive interest. But over the years, web users have long since been inured to their charms. Most Internet users browsing websites will in fact close anything which looks like an advertisement , even before scanning to see what it offers.

Long download times, and drop down buttons: You probably can identify with the frustration long download times cause; after all, unless you have no choice but to wait to download a document, you will probably go elsewhere. But did you know that drop down buttons can also drive a visitor off a site? Users should be able to view all navigation options upfront, and without having to search through individual menus to access it.

Registration requirements: Over 90% of your site’s visitors will land on your site for information, pure and simple. Ask them to register to receive it, and chances are they’ll be off to your competitor’s site. Questionnaires, registrations, and quizzes can drive away an impatient user. Similarly, it’s against the law to subscribe a visitor to a product or service, unless he’s given you explicit permission to do so.

Over cluttered web pages: Received awards and recognition? A member of various professional organizations? Have client’s you’d like to mention? It’s great to add their banners to your site, but too many fonts and graphics lead to clutter. Instead, lay out any recognition in a separate section, where it’ll receive the attention it deserves.

Poorly thought out URL’s: Search engines allow visitors to find a site, and the URL which features in them is an important, yet often, underused tool. Search engines will cut off lengthy titles, so keep yours short and catchy. Also, if a user bookmark’s a page, the system typically does it alphabetically. To keep your page from being at the bottom on the pile, avoid URL’s starting with T’s-Z’s, unless they’re easy to remember.

Other points to remember are that first impressions do count. If a user arrives at your site and likes what he sees, chances are he’ll return. On the other hand, providing too many options can confuse and distract the visitor. Instead, let him read what he wants, download what he needs, and move on to the next topic. Understanding the user’s requirements is important; and this should be reflected in your tone of voice, and message your site carries. And finally, check and double check all web content to see the information provided is up-to-date, the grammar is correct, and the links are working. There’s nothing more unprofessional than having someone click on link to be taken to a dead page.

There’s a lot more that a professional web designer will offer you in terms of design advice, but these are a few important points to bear in mind before your launch your website.