Did you know that 76% of consumers look for a business’s online presence before visiting it in person? They also want to confirm which firms have a solid local online presence first.
That means websites are now the initial source of first impressions. Therefore, you can expect bad web design to be a massive turn-off for clients.
So, how do you avoid such awful design errors and create a fantastic site instead?
Below, we’ve rounded up the top web design tips and practices you should follow, so read on.
Design a Responsive Website
According to the folks at Wildcat-SDS.com, most web traffic now comes from mobile devices. Thus, your site should have a responsive web design to optimize it for desktop and mobile visits.
A website with a responsive design displays correctly on the device a user views it with. For example, it eliminates the need to swipe sideways when viewing a page on a mobile device. Instead, it ensures web pages adapt to the device’s screen, so the user only has to scroll downward.
Responsive web design requires coding, though, notably HTML and CSS. If you don’t have time to learn to code, consider outsourcing your web design needs to a pro.
Never Forget Accessibility
Visual impairments affect an estimated 20 million people in the United States alone. They find it challenging to see much less read the tiny-sized text used on web pages.
Many Americans also have hearing impairments, including mild to severe hearing loss. Approximately 15% of people aged 18 and older in the U.S. face such problems.
Not accounting for those individuals is one of the worst web design mistakes you can ever commit. If you don’t make your site accessible, they’ll likely never return. Worse, you might face legal issues due to website inaccessibility.
So to help you achieve a good web design, consider using larger font sizes or adding an option to enlarge them. Also, make web pages compatible with Zoom functions and screen readers. Lastly, caption videos with subtitles and write transcripts for audio content.
Ensure Smooth User Experience With Navigability
Navigability is a design element focused on making it easy for visitors to move around a site. Thus, you want to keep it simple with organized and well-placed links, menus, and buttons. Likewise, prioritize clarity (e.g., using a large font in blue to label menus and buttons).
It’s also wise to add a sticky menu to your long-scrolling pages. This helps save time because it remains in place even as visitors scroll down the page. So, if a user wants to do something else, they only need to click on the sticky menu without having to scroll up.
Another time-saving design element is a customized search bar. This is especially helpful for websites with loads of content. Instead of sifting through dozens of pages, visitors can enter a search query in the bar.
Avoid Bad Web Design With These Tips
Remember: 60% of consumers would never return to a site after their first visit due to bad web design and layout. That’s another reason you should steer clear of poor design practices at all costs. Instead, focus on making your website responsive, accessible, and navigable.
For more business, tech, and marketing tips and tricks like this, check out our latest blog posts!
