Top 10 Biggest Mistakes in Web Design

Every day, hundreds, if not thousands, of new websites are added to the Internet. Creating a website from scratch might be an overwhelming process, but the true challenge is in making the website user-friendly. 

The issue is that many web designers fail to remember that the purpose of building the website is to meet the users' needs, not for themselves. They put an emphasis on artistic expression rather than functionality and usability.

In this article, we would like to discuss ten common mistakes in website design made by web developers and designers, as well as provide some tips on how to avoid these mistakes.

What Are The Common Mistakes in Website Design?

Here are the top biggest mistakes in website design arranged in no particular order:

1. Having too many pop-up windows or overlays

The overuse of pop-up windows on websites is one of the common mistakes in website design today. And by certain websites, we don't mean all of them. An occasional pop-up can provide wonderful outcomes. However, some websites employ these features excessively. 

Have you ever visited a website with a lot of pop-up windows? There were likely great deals, newsletters, permissions for cookies, and maybe even push notifications. Why do these negatively impact user experience? Well, they prevent your user or visitor from accessing the desired content. They could be interested in this piece of material, but the excessive use of pop-ups and overlays prevents them from reading it.

2. Using only a big hero picture above the fold

If you use one big hero image, it could send users mixed messages about how to navigate your site. Even if it is not a serious error, it is nonetheless a common one. You may have noticed that on certain sites, the homepage has nothing but a large hero picture or video. Visitors who visit your website and just see the hero picture may assume that this is the only content available. 

Even if the visitor may scroll down to read or view more, the enormous hero picture does not make it clear to them. If this is the case, visitors may choose to exit the website without reading your content.

3. Using unlabeled icons

Icons help contextualize what you are attempting to express. A solitary symbol in the header or footer of your website might generate several queries from your users: "What would happen if I click on this?"

If you don't have a good label, your users will have to guess what it is. They don't want to click or move forward, so a label that says what an icon or button does makes it easier for them to understand.

This becomes a major issue when the underlying actions or instructions behind your symbols are complicated or when you utilize unusual or abstract iconography to express those activities.

As much as possible, ensure you use icons with clear symbols to help users easily navigate your site. 

4. Preventing the selection and copying of text

Designing a website that prevents users from selecting and copying content is one of the top biggest mistakes in website design. Some of the most common commands used on a daily basis are copy and paste. You are making it very difficult for users to use the content on your website in other apps by prohibiting the usage of this command.

And if they do want to:

• Use Google prior to making a purchase decision.

• Share any information with their coworkers and friends.

• Take notes for the next time they have to make that choice.

However, the inability to select and copy text makes it impossible for them to do these tasks. If you do not permit users to choose texts and copy them, then it is quite unlikely that they will take the time to write them down manually. In exchange, you risk losing out on potential clients who were contemplating doing business with you but were discouraged by a barrier.

5. Setting up a website with rigid user input

Another common mistake in website design is to design websites with stringent formatting requirements when users need to submit personal information. Order forms are a great illustration. You may often insert payment card details, contact information, phone numbers, and postal codes in segments. 

But this means users are more likely to make mistakes if they must input their card information in one long row, especially when working with a credit card number that is 16 digits long. Correcting them might be much more difficult. Therefore, users should have control over how they enter any data. The website needs to permit users to copy and paste any information onto forms and structure it in accordance with their input (like removing spaces if necessary).

6. Using misleading links

Another typical mistake that websites make is having misleading links or setting up false expectations for their visitors. Basically, it means that if you add a link to your website, it should say exactly what will happen when someone clicks on that link. If you claim there is a video or blog article behind a link, there should be nothing else there. 

People won't trust you as much if you say you have a video, but send them to a slideshow. This is one common mistake most web developers make, they include misleading links. Therefore, try as much as possible to avoid such acts. 

7. Using a poor CTA

Your call to action (CTA) is the entry point to your business. It tells your site visitors what to do: Click here! Get a discount! Find out more about this product! 

Obviously, it is crucial that your CTA properly communicates the desired action to site visitors. There should be enough information so that visitors understand what they will get from taking action and what information they must submit. 

However, there is a thin line between being helpful and obnoxious. Ensure your CTA is clear and instructs customers on what to do. Limit the amount of form filling and wait a few moments before displaying the CTA.

8. Poor content and whitespace management

Content is an important component of any website and marketing plan. Readers learn about your company and the goods or services you provide from the content you provide. Pay close attention to the typefaces you select and how the text is organized on the page. 

Typeface expresses your brand image in addition to the words you write; so choose a readable and appealing font. Make effective use of the white space on your site to guide the reader's attention around the page and to make massive reading blocks of text easy. Many businesses make the mistake of including too much content on their websites. 

Use visuals to convey ideas whenever feasible, and separate words when necessary. Customers can get the impression that your company is no longer in operation if the content is not regularly updated.

9. Hidden navigation

Websites with poor navigation lose popularity quickly. We live in an age when everything is supplied instantaneously. So, if your site takes too long to load, visitors will leave it. One of the top biggest mistakes in website design is to make your navigation menu difficult to discover. Have you ever visited a website and been unable to locate the navigation menu or search bar? It is frustrating. It is imperative that the navigational components of your website be not only simple to comprehend but also simple to spot.

10. No contact information

Strangely enough, omitting contact information is another common mistake in website design. It is important that you know when customers choose to buy from you or utilize your services. As soon as they decide that your company is right for them, they need to know how to contact you. Visitors will probably become impatient and depart if they have to browse through your website for contact information. Your "Contact Us" page should always be accessible with a single click, or your contact information should appear at the bottom of every page.

Conclusion

Here we have them: list of common mistakes in website design. Do well to avoid these mistakes while designing websites. Do you need to design a new website or redesign your website to remove all current website design mistakes? Our website features the most talented Website designers and Software Developers; so do well to explore it and find the appropriate professionals for your project.