Are you tired of your outdated website design holding your business back? It’s a frustration shared by many. When it’s time for a website revamp, the excitement of a fresh start can quickly turn into a headache of mistakes. That is why you cannot overstate the importance of the best web designer in Melbourne.
But first, let’s unravel the 7 most common pitfalls that can derail your website overhaul. The first mistake to start with:
1. Forgetting Accessibility
Failing to prioritise accessibility is the biggest mistake in website design. In this respect, the best web designers in Melbourne highlight four key errors:
- Insufficient colour contrast
- Missing alt text for images
- Lack of visual focus indicators
- Overlooking accessible names or labels
Why?
Insufficient colour contrast makes text hard to read, affecting those with visual impairments. Missing alt text isolates screen reader users. The lack of visual focus indicators confuses users while navigating the site.
Therefore, prioritising accessibility is essential for everyone to fully engage with your website’s content, which is your ultimate goal.
2. Neglecting Responsive Designing
Users access websites from various devices nowadays, including phones, tablets, laptops, and even TVs. If your website isn’t equally user-friendly across all devices, particularly on mobile, you risk frustrating visitors and increasing bounce rates. As a result, it can erode visitor trust, leading them to navigate away from your site.
As per the best web designers in Melbourne, mobile devices account for over 58% of global website traffic today. Thus, overlooking responsive web design can be detrimental to your business.
This oversight often stems from building websites primarily for desktop users, overlooking the growing mobile audience.
3. Choosing User Experience Over Aesthetics
With the internet becoming increasingly inundated with flashy designs, there’s a growing pressure to stand out. This has made people compromise user experience for aesthetics, which is a big mistake in website design.
The best web designers in Melbourne observe that this trend has led to an overabundance of design elements that may dazzle users but fail to serve the website’s core purpose. You can also notice various manifestations of this issue, including design trends that dilute brand identity and an excessive use of animation and graphics that, while visually appealing, contribute little to user engagement.
So, remember to stress the importance of finding a balance where design complements functionality rather than overshadowing it.
4. Not Customising the Site
Imagine strolling downtown and passing by two clothing stores. One boasts a creative window display with a variety of clothes, captivating visuals, and engaging copy. The other displays only a few garments on mannequins, failing to grab your attention. This can be the same issue with your website.
Overlooking the importance of customisation is a significant misstep in website design. Your website serves as your business’s online storefront, mirroring your brand and offering a unique experience. Opting for a generic template without customisation is akin to choosing an uninspiring shop display.
So, the best web designers in Melbourne caution against defaulting to generic elements like the standard hero banner, which has become predictable and dull due to its widespread use.
5. Choosing Wrong Features
Implementing ineffective features is a prevalent mistake in website design. Despite their visual appeal, it’s crucial to prioritise features that actually convert visitors into customers.
For example, Melbourne web designers particularly warn their clients against the use of rotating carousels to showcase multiple pieces of content. Research consistently shows that users rarely engage with carousels, especially on mobile devices where the interaction cost is high.
Therefore, relying on such features not only fails to maximise user engagement but also undermines the overall effectiveness of your website. It’s essential to focus on features that drive meaningful interactions and conversions rather than those that merely look good.
6. Compromising Site’s Hierarchy
A lack of hierarchy on a website can lead to confusion for visitors, much like flipping through a newspaper with no clear headlines or subheadings. So, you need to remember to use typography to establish a hierarchy, guiding users’ attention effectively. This underscores that while a well-organised website enhances aesthetics, its primary function is to facilitate user actions and achieve goals seamlessly.
Rectifying this issue is complex, especially for businesses with diverse audiences and objectives. However, choosing a skilled web designer in Melbourne can sort this issue easily.
7. Not Conveying A Clear Business Purpose
Failing to effectively convey your business’s purpose on your website can lead to visitor confusion and abandonment. So, ensure that upon landing on your site, visitors can quickly grasp what your company offers. Clear communication above the fold is crucial in establishing credibility and reassuring visitors that they have arrived at the right destination.
If your website fails to articulate your business purpose and validate visitors’ expectations, it may be time for a redesign to realign with your brand’s messaging and objectives.
Final Word:
Navigating a website revamp requires careful consideration to avoid these common pitfalls. The easiest and surest way to take all the right steps is to hire a web designer. Contact Make My Website—a reliable web design company in Adelaide— for more information or assistance.
