As a website user, there are some things I come across on my internet travels that frustrate me. All of them can be avoided either by making changes yourself (if you’ve got a DIY website) or by working with a good website designer.
So here we go, 7 website mistakes to avoid on your website…
There are two mistakes you can make when it comes to your logo on your website.
1 – having a huge logo that’s too big for the page and takes up more than its fair share of real estate. Sure, your logo is important but it’s not more important than your content.
2 – having a logo so small you can hardly see it and to read/make sense of it you need a magnifying glass.
Getting your logo the right size is a delicate balance.
The main thing you want someone to do on your website is navigate around it. Therefore, you need to make it easy.
There’s nothing more annoying than not being able to find what you’re looking for, quickly and easily.
Most people expect your menu to be at the top of the page and be clear.
People have been banging on about this for years now, so there’s really no excuse for a website that isn’t mobile friendly. A mobile friendly website is one that works just as well on mobile as it does on desktop. It won’t have the same layout, but it still needs:
Not having a decent mobile version of your website could really be costing you.
For most service based businesses, the main goal of your website is to convert visitors into enquiries. To do that, it needs to be super clear how someone can contact you to take that next step.
The number of websites that don’t have a ‘contact’ tab on the menu in their header (the bit at the top of your website) is surprising. People shouldn’t have to be detectives to find out how to get hold of you.
A simple contact page, which is linked to not just in your header menu but also by buttons on your pages, can make a difference to how many enquiries you get.
This is often debated in the business communities I’m in but I hold a strong opinion that your website is the place for your prices. I believe building trust is all about honesty and openness, so how can you do that whilst hiding what you charge?
I completely understand that in some circumstances it may be hard to give prices for your services if everything you offer is bespoke. However, if that’s the case, I also believe you probably need to do some work on your pricing model.
If you have set prices for your services, why wouldn’t you want to tell prospective clients what they are? If someone makes an enquiry, isn’t it better that they’re a qualified lead, who can afford to pay your prices? The alternative is potentially hundreds of conversations about price, which end in only a few new clients. That’s not only a massive waste of your time but also of theirs.
You wouldn’t go shopping in a supermarket that had no prices, so why would your business be any different?
I’m not saying all stock images are awful but I am saying some stock images are. When you’re starting out and don’t have any bespoke imagery, stock images can help fill an important gap.
The key things are:
Personally, when using stock imagery, I tend to avoid using anything with someone’s face in it. That’s just personal preference but if you’re a solopreneur, I would avoid using images that show someone else doing your job.
Stock images can be tasteful and done well, but they can also be hideous and cheesy.
Have you ever been on a website with an auto playing video/music and you can’t work out where the noise is coming from or how to make it stop?
Yeh that. Don’t be that person.
What’s the verdict, how does your website compare to this list?
Let me know and if you’re looking for a website designer – you know where to find me 😊
In this guest blog, Elle – The Ecommerce Assistant, shares her thoughts and experience on selling products online.
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If you found this useful, interesting or insightful, please feel free to share it with your friends and social media audiences. Sharing doesn’t cost anything but can make a difference to businesses like mine.
Thank you x
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