Skip to main content

3 Small Web Design Mistakes You Still Make

sketching-website-layout-wireframes-picjumbo-com

The way humans interact with websites has steadily changed throughout the years, and while most of the sites have evolved alongside these behaviors, there are still some small web design mistakes business owners still make.

Make sure your website isn’t making these web design mistakes for maximum effort.

Long Blocks of Text

When people read content on websites, they are more than likely scanning than reading every single word on web pages. This is because we enter websites with a goal (find store hours, learn what a product is about, or see a food menu), and we do whatever it takes to achieve that goal. Large, dense blocks of content only overwhelm people and take time away from finding the information you want them to see, which is counterproductive.

Visual hierarchy of content is key, and here’s how you can do it:

  • Add plenty of headings that tell users what the section is about
  • Add your most important content toward the top of a page
  • Keep paragraphs short
  • Use bulleted lists and add spaces between each point
  • Bold important terms  or facts that people would be searching for

Hiding Your Contact Info

As stated before, people want to get the info they need from your website as quickly as possible. If they’re looking for your business’s phone number, email address or store address, these need to be clearly placed on your website. Make sure your contact page is a top-level page in your site’s navigation, and your main contact information lives in the footer (at the very least) and above the navigation.

Vague or Absence of Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

Your website has a purpose and a goal for what you want visitors to do. Don’t be shy about this; make them loud and clear through your CTAs. Your website’s calls-to-action tell users what to do, when to do it, and what they’ll get by doing it. Most CTAs are buttons with short, clear text that prompts action. Examples include:

  • Buy Now
  • Add to Cart
  • Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • Learn More

Also, don’t reinvent the wheel with verbiage either. While you can play around with language that’s more in line with your brand’s voice, don’t make it so vague and obscure that it’s confusing on where to go. Lastly, make them pop and stand out on your page!

While these web design mistakes may seem small and obvious, they can have a significant impact on your website’s success. Audit your site for these mistakes and see if it makes a difference in your engagement.

To learn more about website design, contact us today!

About the Author

Brooke Desmond

Communications Manager
With a passion for all things digital marketing, Brooke aims to give a unique perspective on the latest trends and ideas in this ever-changing space.

View Brooke's Profile

More from Our Blog

Case Studies: Telling Client Stories To Help Build Brand Awareness

Using stories of your existing clients and past projects gives your experience specificity. In marketing, we call these case studies—which is a boring name for...

Read More
white ruled book

Balancing the Creative and Technical Elements of a Website

There exists a tension between the creative and technical elements of a well-built website. While you always strive to create a beautiful website pleasing to…

Read More

Making the Most Out of Your Website’s About Page

While every website we build at GreenMellen is custom, there are a handful of pages that should be on all websites. This list includes a…

Read More
people sitting around a table with their computers