It’s no secret that having a business website is crucial for success. Whether your company has been established for a while, or you’re just starting out, now is the perfect time to get a website that truly demonstrates your brand and ensures you succeed on the web.
But, how do you know that your website functions the way it should, or has all the features necessary to truly maximize your online presence and provide your users with a seamless experience? Your website should help your business thrive, but all too often, many websites are full of the following common mistakes that don’t allow brands to shine the way they should!
Five Common Mistakes on Business Websites, and How to Avoid Them!
We see it a lot – business owners think they can quickly design a website with a premade template, and they’ll be good to go. However, in our experience as professional web designers, we often find ourselves having to fix or completely redesign some of these websites to get rid of the mistakes that can be so easily avoidable!
So, here are some of the most common mistakes we’ve found on business websites, and how to avoid them!
1. Poor Navigation
One of the most common mistakes businesses make is having poor navigation. If your website is challenging or confusing to navigate, users will get frustrated and leave, causing a high bounce rate. A clear and intuitive navigation menu should be easy to use, with labels that make sense so visitors can find what they are looking for quickly. Consider using breadcrumbs or a search function to make it even easier for users to find what they’re looking for.
2. Slow Loading Speed
Another mistake is a slow loading speed. No one likes waiting for a website to load, and if your site takes too long, users will leave before they even see the content, which can also contribute to a high bounce rate. You obviously don’t want your visitors to be frustrated because that can decrease your credibility, but also it should be noted that when it comes to ranking websites in search results, Google definitely penalizes slow-loading sites in their search rankings. So, to speed up your website, optimize images, use caching, and minify your code.
3. Lack of Mobile Optimization
With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, it’s crucial for websites to be optimized for mobile devices. If your website doesn’t adjust to different screen sizes, users will struggle to use it on their phones or tablets. Consider using a responsive design, which automatically adjusts to different screen sizes, making it easy for users to navigate on any device. Read more on an earlier blog: 4 Reasons a Responsive Site is a MUST.
4. Ignoring SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for ensuring your website appears in search engine results. The higher your website ranks on the SERPs (search engine result pages), the more clicks you’ll get to your website, which should translate into more conversions! Ignoring SEO is a common mistake that can impact your online visibility negatively, and in fact – many of the mistakes we highlighted above can impact SEO. To give your website a basic SEO boost, content should be well-written, engaging, and include relevant keywords. Additionally, images should be optimized, and your site should include meta tags and descriptions.
5. Lack of Security
Security is a critical consideration for any website. Having a lack of security is a mistake that can leave your business vulnerable to hackers and cyber attacks. Ensure your website is using HTTPS, keep your software up-to-date, and use strong passwords. One of the best ways to ensure your website remains secure and doesn’t compromise your client’s info or jeopardize your credibility is to invest in ongoing website maintenance, which can ensure that your website is free of bugs and blocked from hackers.
At Inception Web Design, we know that building a website can be a daunting task, and our experience has shown us that there are some common mistakes on many of the business websites we encounter, and we’d really love to help you avoid some of those mistakes. These mistakes can negatively impact your online presence and are generally avoidable, especially if you enlist the help of a professional. When you team up with our experienced web design team, we work alongside you every step of the way in a simple, affordable process that ensures your website is nothing less than dazzling. We are proud of our expansive portfolio of websites from a wide range of industries we’ve designed and helped sparkle. Have a project idea? Contact us to schedule a free 30 minute consultation.
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