Unclear navigation will quickly deter site visitors from continuing to browse your website. During their visit, a potential customer may still be in the process of researching their options. If your website makes it difficult for them to find valuable or easily accessible information, they are likely to click away and search elsewhere.

Unclear navigation will quickly deter site visitors from continuing to browse your website. During their visit, a potential customer may still be in the process of researching their options. If your website makes it difficult for them to find valuable or easily accessible information, they are likely to click away and search elsewhere.

2. Non-responsive design 

Non-responsive design refers to a website that isn't properly optimized for all devices. This is a common mistake, as we often focus on the desktop version of a site and forget that mobile and tablet versions must be just as responsive and easy to navigate. Since over half of all users access websites through mobile devices, optimizing for mobile is essential!

A lack of hierarchy on a website can leave visitors unsure where to focus their attention. Just as this article uses headlines and subheads to signal importance, your website’s typography should do the same. Effective organization both enhances aesthetics and helps guide users toward completing clear actions, achieving goals, and creating a seamless experience. Without proper hierarchy, users may struggle to navigate your site and fail to reach their intended goals.

4. Not prioritizing accessibility

Treating accessibility as an afterthought is a major website design mistake that can be time-consuming to fix. Common accessibility errors include insufficient color contrast, missing or inadequate alt text, poor visual focus indicators, and overlooked accessible labels. For example, buttons like "Read More" should have clear labels for screen readers, and images should include descriptive alt text. Low color contrast can make text hard to read for users with visual impairments, while visual focus indicators, such as outlines around buttons, are essential for keyboard navigation. Addressing these issues improves both accessibility and the overall user experience.

The text on your website can hurt the user experience in two main ways: using hard-to-read fonts and presenting large blocks of text without proper formatting. Difficult fonts—whether due to size, style, or poor contrast—can make reading frustrating, causing visitors to leave. Large chunks of text without breaks can overwhelm users, leading them to skip important information. To improve readability, use clean, readable fonts and break up text with short paragraphs, subheadings, images, and bullet points to guide readers and keep them engaged.

Your website should be an asset to your business. If you’ve read the design mistakes above and recognize any of them on your website, it’s time to make corrections! Your website is a vital tool for helping customers connect with your business, understand your offerings, and easily access your products and services. If visitors struggle to navigate these key elements due to poor design choices, your website could be doing more harm than good, damaging the perception customers have of your business. By improving your design, you enhance the user experience, build trust and credibility, and ultimately drive more conversions and business growth.

Improve your website today and see the results!