Top 5 Web Design Mistakes

Mistake #5: Typography - reverse type
Reading things on screen are much different than on paper so making text clear, visible and easy to read are a large part of a great design. White or colored text on a dark background is okay for small sidebars or call out areas. Do not use this for all the content in your site, it’s visually hard on the eyes and asthetically it doesn't look good either. Keep in mind that many people will skim a site rather than reading everything. You'll want to keep your text simple and readable, not overwhelming.

Mistake #4: Missing contact information
Have you ever visited a site and you’d like to call or email for more information but you can’t seem to find the contact information? Not only is it frustrating for the viewer but also very ineffective for the site owner. A web site represents your business on the Internet and if people can’t find a way to easily contact you then your site is not an effective marketing tool. Make it easy for clients to reach you.

Mistake #3: Poor navigation
Good navigation is essential to any great web site design. Viewers should be able to quickly find what they are looking for and be able to easily return to any page. There are millions of web sites out there and if your site is confusing, consumers will go elsewhere. A simple thing to fix poor navigation is to use a site map, include your links in the footer of the site and always have a back to ‘home’ button.

Mistake #2: Outdated and incorrect information
Keep your web site up to date. Old information can make your company look like it doesn’t care, or even worse, out of business. Keep information current, post new information often and most importantly check your web site for broken links. Also get a few people to proof read your site. Nothing will scare a client off quicker than a web site full of spelling and grammar mistakes. Mistakes like these make your site look unprofessional and unfocused.

Mistake #1: Large or distracting images
Large images take a long time to download and people don’t have the patience or time to wait. This doesn’t mean your site can’t have a lot of images but make sure they are optimized for the web, which means the file size is compressed to reduce the loading time. Flashing images can also be very distracting. Animation is great if done well but if used in excess can be very annoying. Usability studies show that readers find too many special effects to be obnoxious and unnecessary. Images that jump and flash all over your site make it difficult for the viewer to concentrate on the service or product you’re trying to market. Keep it simple. The simpler sites always prosper.