These days, one of the most important business tools a company can have is a website. This is the way most of your new and returning customers are going to be able to find you and get all the information they need to make another purchase.
Since a website can have such a crucial impact on the success of your business, you should take the time to make it as great as possible. Too many companies just throw something together and put it out on the internet.
This guide will help you recognize and avoid these common business website design mistakes so you can have something your company is proud of.
1. Using Confusing Navigation
One of the huge benefits of having a website is that a company can house all the information a customer might need in one place. It makes it easier for the customer to find what they need without reaching out to customer service. But that means the information needs to be easy to find and accessible for every visitor.
It’s a good idea to have a few practice visitors take a look at your website and try out the navigation between pages. This will give you a good idea of how user-friendly it is or if changes need to be made.
2. Never Updating
Nothing feels better than accomplishing a goal and getting a truly great website up and running for your company.
Unfortunately, those things don’t last forever and you’ll need to regularly update your website to keep it current and fresh. This is not only true for the mechanics of the site but also for the design as well.
If customers come to your site and see an older style of design, it can be a turn-off for using your business. All of your website services need to be regularly revamped and updated to best reflect your company.
3. Disconnected Graphics
If social media has taught us anything, its amazing graphics can make all the difference in your presentation. Business website content is no different.
Adding high-quality photos, infographics, or design elements can elevate the entire look and function of your site. It can be confusing if you have graphics attached to your website that don’t really match or feel out of place to the viewer. Everything that’s on your page should have a purpose and reason to be there.
4. Not Mobile Friendly
Making a website that is beautiful and intuitive on a desktop computer and nowhere else isn’t going to help your company accomplish your goals. A mobile-friendly website is absolutely crucial for reaching the widest audience and bringing in as many new customers as possible.
The majority of internet surfing is done from a mobile device every day. So making a website that doesn’t pair well with these devices will feel frustrating and alienating to visitors.
Luckily, there are programs and techniques you can use to make sure no matter where your visitors are coming from they’ll have an amazing experience on your website.
5. Trying to Do Too Much
There are so many beautiful, fun, and exciting things in the design world, that it’s tempting to want to add as many of them as you can to your website. But less is definitely more in these cases!
Limit the number of fonts and colors you use throughout your website. This will help bring a more cohesive look and feel to every page. There’s no need for a lot of extras like animation or buttons, just a few well-placed items will do the trick! Editing is one of the most important web design tools.
6. Poor Quality Fonts
For most companies, the main purpose of a website is to be a storage for all kinds of information a customer may need. That can look like details about your products, how your business handles certain practices, or efforts to share more behind the scenes. No matter what the content is actually covering, chances are your customers are going to be reading it.
This is why choosing a high-quality font is so important. Some fonts are harder to read than others, which makes it difficult to spend more than a few minutes reading anything. Take your time to choose the right font and then stick with it throughout!
7. Doing It On Your Own
Building a website is something many people feel they can figure out on their own. And while that may be partially true, there’s definitely a different quality and finish to a professionally designed site. Your customers will see the difference.
Not to mention the time and energy you’ll save not having to learn all of the skills a quality website takes. You can focus your efforts on other areas of your business to make the entire thing more successful.
8. Forgetting Your Brand Identity
As with anything you do for your company, your website should be a clear reflection of your brand identity. This is the way your company is seen and recognized by potential customers. A website is a great opportunity to strengthen that identity and make those connections even stronger.
All of the design choices should promote that image you’ve been carefully creating. From the colors to the fonts to the tone of the writing, it all makes a difference in how the customer views your company.
Business Website Design Mistakes to Avoid
When you take extra care to avoid these business website design mistakes, your chances of being thrilled with the end result are much higher. You can feel confident that when someone comes upon your site, they’ll be impressed and get a real sense of what you’re all about!
Working with a great web design service will make this job much easier. You can collaborate with your designer to come up with something truly unique and special.
Our team has created custom websites for all different kinds of businesses to help them grow and succeed. If you’re interested in learning what we can do for your company, contact us today!