3 Common Web Design Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

Effective web design is critical to the success of any online venture. In most cases, potential customers will make up their minds about your business within several seconds of landing on your web site. Therefore, you will want to make sure that the overall layout and design is consistent with the message you want to convey. Without question, a lackluster web design concept can negatively impact your bottom line and limit your chances of achieving long-term success.

Here are 3 Common Web Design Mistakes (and How to Fix Them):


1. Too Much Clutter. When it comes to web design, less is almost always more. Web design choices that result in a visual hodge-podge of conflicting messages, overbearing color schemes and other unnecessary elements should be avoided for a couple of reasons. First, too much clutter will distract web visitors from the primary purpose of your site. For example, if your main goal with a landing page is to capture contact information, everything on that page should directly lead your visitors toward that desired result. You can't assume your visitors will automatically take that next step and if you have too many other things competing for their attention, your odds of a successful outcome will be greatly reduced.

Another major reason to avoid too much clutter is that most human visitors simply respond better to visually appealing layouts. The more time potential customers are willing to spend on your site, the more likely they are to buy from you. Therefore, it makes sense to pay attention to design basics like symmetry, balance and repetition as a way to draw visitors into your site and keep them there.

2. Inconsistent Branding and Marketing Message. Does your web site relate well to your offline marketing materials? If not, you may want to rethink your current strategy. Without question, effective Web Design should incorporate key elements of your overall brand and marketing message (i.e., your company logo, color scheme and marketing tagline). This is important because it helps potential customers differentiate your business from your competitors and helps build trust and credibility in your prospects' minds. A well-recognized brand and a clear marketing message are hallmarks of an established and reputable enterprise, so your web site should reflect the effort you've put into developing your corporate image.

3. Too Many Steps. Above all, your web site should be easy to use and navigate. Web surfers have notoriously short attention spans, so you will want your layout and Professional Web Design to be simple and intuitive. Don't make your visitors wait for a time-consuming Flash intro to load or expect them to jump through a bunch of hoops to get to what they are looking for on your site. Every time visitors to your site have to wait or click through a bunch of pages to get to what they want represents a barrier to doing business with you. Effective web design eliminates these obstacles and greatly increases your chances for online success.