Today, we live in a world of interconnectivity which makes websites an integral part of our lives. De facto, websites play an important role for any business. It is the digital representation of your brand – that’s why the design and content should convey what sets you apart from the rest of the pack.
Visualizing your website is easy, but design-wise, there should always be basis. Finding a good website designer is easy, but even the most experienced can commit mistakes. To leave an excellent user experience for your visitors, here are five elements that you should avoid when designing your site.
Spelling and Grammar Errors
Nothing irks a user than poor grammar and spelling. Mistakes like this will make your site look unprofessional and may diminish your credibility. We understand that your message is more important than a small grammatical error, but there are users who may get distracted by this. This can lead to a drop in conversion for your email newsletters, or worse, lose interest in your products altogether if they see errors in your spelling and grammar.
What you can do:
To avoid falling into this trap, have someone qualified to edit and proofread your content before you upload it. This simple and extra step can go a long way.
Using Too Much Flash
Flash is only acceptable if used sparingly and tastefully. It can spice up your site, but it has two disadvantages: not everyone has Flash playing capable devices and not everyone has the bandwidth to support it. Putting too much Flash in your site will only slow it down especially in mobile devices.
What you can do:
If you are really want to use Flash, use a sizable bandwidth, and make sure that the user receives positive visual feedback while it loads.
Pop-up Windows
Put yourself in your users’ shoes: do you really like pop-ups when visiting a site? We are guessing it’s a no. So, unless you’ve got a very good reason, avoid this because it will give your visitors a disorienting experiencing. Moreover, many browsers block them.
What you can do:
Only one pop-up window should be accessible at a time. More importantly, keep in mind that the user should have the option to close the window anytime.
Odd Use of Colors
Aside from the typography and layout, most users are attracted by color. A poor color scheme will distract your visitors from your message or worse, it will become incomprehensible.
What you can do:
Your designer should know what colors work, but if you have a particular color in mind (i.e. for branding), check out this color theory to figure out proper color complements and contrasts.
Poor Navigation
An organized and well-presented navigation system within your site will make the users browse it longer. The users should be able to find the information they need with ease, so don’t make it too complicated, otherwise, they will leave your site. Consider the number of clicks the user does just to retrieve their needed information.
What you can do:
There are standard techniques and locations for navigation elements such as links and menus. Designers usually include pagination into the design and some use page layout. Also, when designing your site, use navigation elements that are easy to recognize.
Conclusion
There are a lot of elements that you should consider when designing your site (this deserves another post so wait for it), but the trick is to make it as simple as possible for your readers to navigate and use.