It’s now a given that almost all businesses should have a website. But that’s not enough, you should also have a website that is effective. There are some common mistakes that businesses make when it comes to having an online presence. In this article we outline the top 6 things you should avoid:
- Illegible text
There are various reasons your site text may be difficult to read. It could be poor contrast between text colour and background, tiny font size, using multiple fonts that confuse your readers, or just squeezing too many words on a single page.
Make sure your website is neat and legible, so your visitors find it easy to read.
- Content and layout are not organised
You want your content to drive traffic to your website. People do not read but scan through information and pick out information on a web page. Some websites have a block of text on the web page and totally neglect headings, sub-headings, bullets, keywords, paragraphs, etc.
Use a page title for each web page so users know exactly where they are and avoid inaccurate or out-of-date content on your website.
- Difficult navigation
Examples of bad navigation can include buttons that make no sense, internal links scattered all over your text paragraphs and no visible navigation menu. Visitors to your site should be able to find their way around easily. There is no standard for navigation; however, it must be instinctive and consistent.
- Putting flashy design before function
You should avoid making your website too flashy and over-the-top. Strike a good balance between form and function. Your website should look appealing and professional while being user-friendly. It’s important not to go overboard with colours, images, fonts, and graphics. You don’t want to overwhelm your customers and scare them away; you want to invite them to explore and stay on your website. Focus on your content first and design second.
- Using Jargon and not plain English
It’s annoying for visitors to come across acronyms or internal words that are barely used by your audience. The use of clichés or overused phrases should be avoided. You may want to employ a copywriter to ensure that your text is clear, consistent and actually selling your products or services.
- Not having clearly visible contact information
Some websites make it very difficult for people to find out how to contact them. You should have a contact page, which is clearly visible from other pages, probably via your menu.
If you would like some advice on how to have a great website and avoid these common mistakes contact us
