Many people underestimate the importance of a well-designed website. This often causes them to try to handle the web design process themselves instead of investing in a professional service to optimize their website. But the fact is, web design is a complicated subject that includes several different areas, such as web graphic design, interface design, authoring, standardized code and proprietary software, user experience design, and search engine optimization. So, whether you’re DIY-ing your website or hiring a professional web designer, here are some basic web design mistakes to avoid.
- Mistake: Not prioritizing navigation
Navigation is a key aspect of a user-friendly website. If users can’t find what they’re looking for within a minute or two, they’ll likely get frustrated and continue their search elsewhere. One of the most basic website layouts is to have a variety of headings at the top of a page, each consisting of a variety of subheading that get more specific. This helps to streamline navigation and makes it easy for users to find exactly what they’re looking for as fast as possible. - Mistake: Not adding a ‘search’ feature
Even if your website doesn’t have a whole lot of content yet, it’s important for users to be able to type into a search bar to help find what they’re looking for. Hongkiat.com says, “The web is like an archive of information. Whether it’s a corporate website or merely a blog, a search box is essential. The visitor might be looking for something that is hidden within the website. With the search box, chances are, visitors will get what they want.” Don’t make users search for the search box, either — at the top of the page is usually the best place for it. - Mistake: Not using SEO
What is SEO? Search optimization — it’s basically how Google determines its rankings for any given search. This service is definitely best performed by a professional website designer, but it consists of using various keywords and links to help your site rank higher instead of getting lost in the sea of other search results.
Ultimately, website design is complicated, and unless you have a solid grasp of what it entails, it may be better to hire a professional. For more information about web design services, contact Catalyst Visuals.
