Websites have existed for a long time already. For this reason, one would already have an idea of what is effective and what is not. In some cases, there are those web designers who never learn from their mistakes.
When designing a website, experts advise to keep it simple and user-friendly. It showcases not only your site, but also your company and brand. It is not the place for experimenting or for being flashy. To intensify the value of your website, Entrepreneur.com has listed top 10 mistakes to avoid in web designing. Follow these tips and you can find yourself ahead of your competitors:
1. Deactivating the Back button. This is a "no-no" when it comes to web designing. Without this very important button, it's either the customer is directed to an unwanted location or a new window appears and replaces the screen. So as much as possible, avoid committing this mistake because it can be annoying to customers and they will never return to your site.
2. Opening a new window. There was a time when using several new frames for displaying content was considered a new concept in web designing. Now, it can be an annoying experience because it can not only slow down the computer's response, but also can lead to a complicated visitor experience. While it can be a convenient tool, it is not recommended.
3. Not putting a phone number on accessible locations. If you are into the business of selling, not putting your contact number on your website is a costly mistake. Even if nobody will call that number, it can add some legitimacy to your website. You should position the link at every page of your website.
4. Broken links. Ensure that all the links to your website will work just as you promised. Include a "Contact the Webmaster" link in your site's footer so they can inform you if there is a broken link in your site. This way, you can fix the errors immediately.
5. Slow server. A slow server is another huge mistake that website designers commit. A recent study by Akamai Technologies revealed that online shoppers average only four seconds on a site to load before clicking away. If your site's loading time takes more than this, make the necessary adjustment to make your site faster.
6. Outdated information. When designing your website make sure to keep your site fresh and information updated for best results. You can lose your credibility just because of outdated content. Likewise, make sure that your content is accurate and fix your errors immediately.
7. Poor navigation. Remember that the Internet is all about speed. Again, make sure that every page of your site has a navigation bar on every page so it would be easier for visitors to visit these pages. Include a site map on the navigation bar or footer of your site so they have an idea of what to find on your site.
8. Multiple fonts and colors. As much as possible, limit your fonts and colors to two to three per page. The purpose of having a website is to show your solidty and stability and not your artistic skills. Likewise, make sure that your font s and colors will also look good on other devices from desktops to tablets.
9. Orphan Pages. The general rule is that all your pages should link back to your home page. Your visitors will forward a URL to their friends who may visit your site for more information. But how can they, if there is a dead end page so always attach a Home on each page.
10. Failure to connect with social network sites. Whether it's Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, it is important that you connect your website to all your social media sites. You should make it a point that visitors can easily connect to these sites. It will be much easier to drive traffic to your website from these social media sites.
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