Hooray! You’ve decided to redesign your website! Whether you want your site to look more modern or better align with your goals, there are plenty of good reasons to refresh its look.
No matter if you’re handling the redesign or working with a web agency, it’s important to understand that website design has come a long way over the last ten, even five, years. With its evolution, there are elements and concepts that have gone out of style with today’s web standards, and it’s up to you to make sure your new website does not have these “quirks.”
Here are the most common mistakes that come with a site redesign that you should avoid.
Font Issues
Nothing is more annoying than squinting your eyes at a website to make out what it’s saying. Maybe it’s because of its size or color, but either way, your bounce rate will skyrocket with the wrong font. Just because a huge selection of font types and colors are available at your fingertips doesn’t mean you should indulge your site in as many as you like.
Your website’s body text should be above 14px and written with a simple font (preferably Sans Serif). This allows your content to be easily read on multiple screen sizes. Also, don’t use more than three font styles per page, as it will make your site look messy and not cohesive. As far as colors go, make sure the background color your text will live complement each other. For example, you don’t want black text on a dark navy element or highlighter-yellow text on a white background (we’re getting a headache just thinking about it).
Opening New Windows
Way back in the dinosaur days of the Internet, websites that could open new windows were innovative and inspiring. Today, they just tarnish your user experience. Not only do new windows give users the option to leave your website, but it can also slow your device’s browsing speed. In today’s Internet world, adding clicks and slowing down the browser are a death wish.
Not Mobile Responsive
We won’t spend a lot of time on this point because we’ve talked about this a lot, but if your site isn’t already mobile responsive, it is, without a doubt, your number one priority to ensure this redesign makes it a reality for you. If your site is already mobile-friendly, make sure the redesign does not take this away. We cannot stress how vital it is to have a responsive website!
Hidden Contact Information
Did you know that a whopping 44 percent of website visitors will leave a website if the contact information is not displayed or easy to find? Don’t lose opportunities over a silly mistake; let your contact information be visible! Include a “Contact Us” page that includes all of your contact information, from your email address and phone number to your brick-and-mortar or mailing address. You should also consider adding your contact information in the footer, an element that’s visible on every one of your web pages. Your website’s goal is to move the visitor down the buyer’s journey and start a conversation to learn more from you. If they cannot find a way to start this conversation, you’ll lose their interest quickly.
Clutter, Clutter Everywhere
Less is more in the web design world. Yes, imagery is essential for any website, but too much will scare your visitors. Today, users expect to navigate around a clean, minimal design without an overload of images or ads. If they come to a website that’s filled with blocks of content and image overload, they’ll get overwhelmed and click the back button. Just remember: Negative space, the blank area not filled with content or images, is your friend, so treat it like one.
Slow Loading Speeds
When it comes to technology, there’s no room for lagging. This includes your website, as almost 50% of consumers expect a web page to load in two seconds or less. Slow loading speeds are unacceptable nowadays, and users will not have the patience to wait for your site to load. To tune up your website, check out this post on easy ways to do so.
Avoiding these common mistakes while redesigning your website will save you time, money and hassle in the long run, all while making your visitors happy.
To learn more about website design, get ahold of GreenMellen today!
