6 web design mistakes & how to avoid them

Web design sketches

OK, you’ve done a great job …. so far. Your SEO and marketing spend have worked – a visitor has landed on your website. Then what? Now it is up to your site to make a good impression and do the business.

But we have noticed that this is exactly when a lot of sites fail.  So, here we have outlined the seven most common website design mistakes and how to avoid making them.

1. Too many web fonts

A jumble of too many different fonts looks a mess. Painful on the eyes and your profits as visitors can’t get past the visual chaos to find your message.

Avoid this simple mistake by sticking to just one or two fonts, maintain a hierarchy for headings and content, and make sure that your choice is appropriate to your organisation’s brand.

There is a huge selection of fonts to choose from. Our advice is to use popular fonts that most people have access to, thus ensuring that you get the look you want.

2. Lack of white space

Overcrowded design won’t help you deliver your core message either. Keep some clear space between important elements in your content, so that headings can be seen clearly, images and film stand out, and the key message/s identified quickly by your visitors.

3. Dull web design

Not using contrast will make your design dull. Judicious use of contrasting colours (see our article on choosing and using colour) will help draw visitor’s attention, keep the web page lively and highlight the important bits.

Less is more overlapping notes

4. Too much text

Cramming too much text in a small space will simply mean it won’t get read. Keep your sentences short and to the point. Break up sections with headings and paragraphs.

It is generally recognised that your website has less than 10 seconds to make an impression and get your visitor hooked, with skim reading the norm and only around 28% of words read. Choose your words carefully and make them count.

5. Over the top design

Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should. Over embellishing your design with shadows, embossing, tweaks, tails and twirls will only distract attention and look messy. Instead plan out your design in advance, set yourself a style guide and maintain discipline.

6. Poor images

Bad pictures won’t do your image any good.  Make sure you use well-chosen and high-quality photographs, vectors and illustrations. Stock images can work but avoid the generic ones you see on too many other sites. They won’t help you stand out from the competition.

 

Get in touch

The best way to avoid the pitfalls is to get a good designer on your team. Call Oxford Web and we can work with you on your brief and design a website that will stand out from the crowd.