Sep 10, 2014
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What to Avoid When Building Your Website
Website design is paramount in developing trust with your audience. Research shows that 94% of people cite design as a reason they do not trust certain websites.
The Dictionary | On average people spend 10-15 seconds scanning a website. Your text should be scannable and easy to read. Do not firehouse your audience with a wall of words unless they know that’s what they’re getting into. Bullets, short paragraphs and highlighted keywords are extremely helpful.
The ‘Flip Phone’ | Nothing is worse than using something that is outdated. Keep in mind that web site design is not a “one-and-done” endeavor. The internet is evolving everyday. Make sure you have a system in place that allows you to review your online content and update it regularly (weekly, monthly, or quarterly).
The Wandering Website | There is nothing more frustrating than going to a website and not being able to find the information you’re looking for. You need to be concise and straightforward when creating your content. Here are some things to keep in mind.
– Your title should be the bomb.com. Ok, so not literally the “bomb.com”, but your title should be the culmination of your business idea.
– Search engines only show the first 60-or-so characters when generating search results, so choose your words wisely. Cut out words like “the” and “welcome”, these are just static.
– Start with content that will drive more people to your site.
The Pop-Up | Just don’t do it. I don’t care what your grandmother told you about sales, people hate them.
It’s annoying and really doesn’t help your cause. People will sign up for you email lists and updates if you have content that is crisp and dynamic. But remember, you still need to invite them to jump on board with a call to action.
Other Helpful Hints
Avoid motion – Animation is distracting. If you have content that moves, make it quick and simple. For some amazing websites check out http://www.awwwards.com/.
Shy away from PDF’s if you can – Try using Scribd or Foxit to easily view or download PDF’s, but if you can, just avoid them on main pages and for reference content.
Colors, Colors, Colors – Have a color scheme and stick to it. Use this to help you create one that will work for you.
Design for multiple platforms – Remember that people have computers, tablets and phones so design your content to be compatible.
Negative space is beautiful –
Always have a call to action – You waste your breath if you don’t invite your audience to do something after visiting your website or blog.
Share your thoughts! What are some elements you think are most important when designing a website?