6 Common Web Design Mistakes to Avoid

Reality check: designing a website is not as fun as it sounds. We say this not to scare or demotivate you from making one yourself. But to alert you to the strict standards that often make the process feel like a chore. You must ensure you follow every standard to the T and avoid mistakes to stand out or get lost in the shuffle. So what are the key design mistakes to avoid to reduce bounce rates and missed opportunities? Let’s find out!

Complicated Layout and Poor Navigation

Ever entered a website where navigation felt like a maze? That’s exactly how your users feel with a cluttered or hard-to-navigate website design. Unclear direction and poor communication confuse and frustrate users and result in high bounce rates. Trusted brands like WebOracle Design Agency set a strong example when building websites with impeccable visual direction and clear communication. They advocate for clear communication so there’s no second-guessing.

The Fix:

• Focus on the purpose and stick to a clean design for clear communication.
• Use intuitive menus and appropriate CTAs, and clearly state why your product or service is valuable to them.
• Every element should guide the user to conversion, not overwhelm them to bounce.

Low-Conversion CTAs

A beautifully designed website falls flat without a strong call to action (CTA). Most websites use vague CTAs, leaving users to do the guesswork. Think about it: a vague CTA like “Click Here” or “Contact Us” lacks spark and does not explain the value of clicking. But if you correct it using precise language like “Boost your productivity in no time—click here to get started!” the CTA becomes more specific and creates a sense of urgency.

The Fix:

• Be direct and communicate clearly.
• Cut out the bluff and use actionable adjectives to spark curiosity.
• Leverage copywriting techniques to create the fear of missing out (FOMO) for faster decision-making.

Ignoring Mobile Optimisation

Reports suggest that most smartphone users in Australia spend approximately 2 hours and 56 minutes daily on their phones, while some spend over 5.5 hours. With such a massive user base, any website that does not optimise its website for mobile users is likely to miss out on significant traffic due to slow loading times, poor readability and complicated navigation.

The Fix:

• Adopt a mobile-first design approach for smaller screens.
• Pick a responsive layout and resize the elements to fit the device.
• Compress the images and reduce scripts to increase the loading speed.
• Simplify navigation with easy-to-tap buttons.
• Test rigorously to ensure users get the same quality experience as they do on their desktop.

Limited Accessibility

Did you know there are about one billion people worldwide living with disabilities? The lack of on-screen accessibility keyboard capabilities, poor colour contrast, and missing alt tags can result in limited accessibility and inclusivity, hindering user engagement. This is where website accessibility practices come into the picture for building user-friendly and accessible websites that are more intuitive and easier for people with motor, hearing, visual, or cognitive limitations to interact with.

The Fix:

• Include alt text to key visual elements
• Use strong colour schemes following the WCAG guidelines
• Provide captions for videos or transcripts for audio files
• Optimise operationality, understandability, and robustness

Undefined Target Audience

Trying to resonate with everyone means you are not connecting with anyone—let alone meeting their specific needs and preferences. Without a defined audience, you will end up including irrelevant elements or vague generalities, which will be off-putting to your audience, impacting your engagement and conversions.

The Fix:

• Conduct market research and identify your target audience.
• Perform surveys and gain insights into their behaviour, needs and preferences.
• Tailor your design choices and content accordingly to show users you get them.

Irrelevant Pop-Ups

Nothing is more disruptive than off-topic pop-ups! Sure, pop-ups help generate leads and newsletter subscribers, but if users are constantly hit with poorly timed or irrelevant pop-ups, they will get frustrated and switch to other sites.

The Fix:

• Make pop-ups more targeted, timely and value-driven.
• Implement a pop-up that appears after 70% of the primary content.
• Match the pop-up design with the overall landing page design.
• Use behaviour-based triggers for your product trials.
• Choose the right fonts, spacing, colour contrast and CTA to streamline conversions.

Overall, a well-designed website is a critical asset for your business and can accelerate its growth. Therefore, take time and evaluate your site’s performance based on these criteria to improve user experience and boost conversions.