Creating a website for your business? Make sure to avoid these 7 website mistakes in 2024.
We all know how important it is that our websites look amazing, but not all websites are created equal. To make sure your website stands out for the *right reasons*, it's important to steer clear of common DIY pitfalls. Here are seven website mistakes to avoid in 2024 to make sure your website is effective, user-friendly, and appealing. Woohoo! Let's go!
7 Website Mistakes to Avoid in 2024
1. Overloading with Content and Clutter
I'm starting with this one right off the bat, b/c I see this very often on DIY websites. While it's important to provide valuable information, overloading your website with too much content can overwhelm visitors. One of the common website mistakes to avoid is creating a cluttered design. Aim for a clean, organized layout with plenty of white space. The best way to do this? Break up text with headings, bullet points, and images to make it more digestible. Remember, less is often more when it comes to web design!
2. Slow Load Times
With our super-short attention spans, everyone expects a website to load quickly. A site that takes more than a few seconds to load can lose visitors rapidly. Slow load times not only frustrate users but also negatively impact your search engine rankings. (ouch!) To avoid this mistake, optimize your images, use a reliable web host (hi, Showit!), and minimize the use of heavy scripts and plugins. Not sure where your website falls on the speed scale? Take the test and find out!
3. Lack of Clear Call-to-Actions (CTAs)
Your website should guide visitors toward specific actions, whether it's making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting you. Without clear and compelling CTAs, visitors might not know what to do next. Place CTAs prominently on your pages, use action-oriented language, and ensure they stand out visually. Each page should have a goal, and your CTAs should help achieve it!
Related Post: How to Create Irresistible CTAs >>
4. Poor Text Spacing and Layout
A website mistake I see all.the.time. is poor text spacing and layout. Blocks of text that are too close together (or too far apart) can make content difficult to read, driving visitors away. And the same goes for letter spacing! (Even though it seems obvious, don't put spacing between script font letters!) Good use of white space helps to separate content, making it more readable and visually appealing. Use appropriate line heights, margins, and padding to ensure that your text is easy to follow. Make sure to break up long paragraphs and use headings and bullet points to improve readability.
5. Pages with No Names
Although it seems like a good idea to name your pages ‘Home', ‘About', ‘Blog', etc- how in the world is anyone going to find your website when searching in google? It's important to follow SEO best practices for page titles and metadescriptions, so that way people can find your website when using search terms like ‘Pensacola Event Planner'.
6. Neglecting Mobile Responsiveness
One of the most significant website mistakes to avoid is failing to ensure your site is mobile-friendly. With over half of website traffic now coming from mobile devices, having a responsive design is non-negotiable. A mobile-responsive website adjusts seamlessly to different screen sizes, providing a consistent user experience across all devices. Neglecting your mobile design can lead to a high bounce rate as users abandon your site in frustration.
7. Creating a Website About You, Not Your Client
One of the biggest website mistakes to avoid is focusing too much on you and your business and not enough on your client’s needs. While it’s important to showcase your expertise and accomplishments, your website should primarily address how you can solve your clients' problems. Your content and copy should speak directly to your target audience, highlighting benefits and solutions that matter to them. The easiest way to do this is to emphasize the value you provide rather than just listing your credentials.
A Pro Tip…
If you're designing your website, there is absolutely no need to start from scratch. With thousands of professionally designed website templates out there, do yourself a favor and save yourself a LOT of time by starting from a template. Whether free or paid, select a template that fits your business needs and start customizing! Visit my website template shop.
Related Post: 3 Tips for Customizing Your Website Template Quickly >>
