10 website mistakes businesses make

Websites are an essential marketing tool for businesses. When used correctly, they help users discover your company, increase sales and make your business appear authentic and professional.

However, if your website is poorly designed, difficult to navigate or lacking information, it can become a nightmare for you and your customers.

Here are 10 common website mistakes businesses make and how to avoid them.

1. Poor or Inconsistent layout

Your website’s general layout should remain consistent. Though it’s okay for it to change slightly between pages, it shouldn’t look like the user has been taken to a completely different website. All links to important pages should be in the same place, and the text should be consistently spaced, sized and in the same font.

Text colours should be easy to read and consistent throughout the entire website.

2. Too much information on one page

Large blocks of text are difficult to read, and users will likely skip past or lose interest, missing vital information in the process. While having complete information is great, too much text makes your website look crowded and poorly planned. Users may become frustrated and seek information elsewhere, causing you to lose potential customers.

3. Not enough on one page

On the flip side, your pages shouldn’t appear too empty. It is important to strike a balance between text, images and blank space. Pages that appear too empty may suggest that your business lacks experience or knowledge.

4. Difficult to navigate

Navigation should be simple and easy to figure out. If a user has to jump through hoops to reach the page they’re looking for, they will get the impression that your website is poorly designed and unprofessional. They may grow frustrated and leave.

Your website’s navigation should be intuitive for users. Links should be found in one place and should direct them to relevant pages. Make sure all your links are working, as broken links make your website appear outdated.

5. No clear call to action

Your call to action should have one main goal in mind. This could be to prompt users to buy a product, direct them to your social media or ask them to sign up for your mailing list. Your call to action needs to be clear and consistent. Otherwise, it will be ineffective.

6. Low-quality, irrelevant or unattractive images

Images can help your website appear more authentic and professional, but you shouldn’t just add them for the sake of it. Carefully consider image choice, size and placement. Use high-quality images, as pixelated or blurry images can harm a user’s opinion of your website.

7. Lack of contact information

Include a contact page that is easy to find and includes up-to-date information about your business. This could include an email address, phone number, address, PO box or contact form.

8. Not linking to your social media

Social media is another powerful digital marketing tool. A high-quality social media profile can help establish your business as legitimate and authoritative and can help users learn more about your business. Failing to direct users to your company’s Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok will make it difficult to increase your following.

9. Too many ads

Advertising can be a good stream of income for website owners; however, too many ads can deter users from returning. Constant flashing can frustrate visitors, and it makes your website appear untrustworthy. This is especially the case with pop-up ads.

10. Not implementing an SEO strategy

You can have a well-designed website with simple navigation, high-quality text and images, and the perfect balance of advertising and information. However, if you don’t consider SEO, this could all be for nothing.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of increasing website traffic by improving your website’s rank on search engine results pages. This can be done using keywords, meta descriptions and links. SEO should be considered from the very beginning – it shouldn’t be an afterthought.