The way people learn about businesses and their services has changed drastically in the past 20 years. A shift toward gathering nearly all information from the internet has begun and has no sign of stopping, meaning most people are researching your business online. But in the digital age, it’s not enough to just have a website -- you need to have a great website. While having a ‘great’ website seems like an arbitrary and subjective measurement to those unfamiliar with web design, it’s clear to those on the inside that there are measurable, design-driven choices that are made in web design that separate the good from the bad. Savvior - a leader among tech companies in Pittsburgh - knows that UX, or user experience, is one of the most important aspects of effective web design, which is why we’re here to break down the biggest web design UX mistakes that you should avoid to turn your ‘okay’ website into a great website.
Mistake 1: Aesthetics and Function Imbalance
Tech Companies in Pittsburgh Play a Game of Give and Take with Function & Design
We’ve all seen examples of both websites that are pretty but don’t function well, and websites that are all about function and lack design. Good UX involves the perfect balance of aesthetics and function that work together to boost the overall value of a user’s time on the website.
This delicate balance means that web designers and tech companies in Pittsburgh often have to think outside the box when it comes to creating great, user-friendly websites. Discovering clever new ways to navigate websites, utilize imagery to tell your story, and create compelling animations on your page can , in the long run, both aesthetics and design. However, tech companies in Pittsburgh often recommend serious quality testing to see if these design elements aid in your UX too.
Mistake 2: Building for SEO Only
As a Business, Google is Not Your Customer -- Don’t Design Like It!
While SEO is important for your business to grow your reach, it’s easy to bury your UX in your SEO efforts. The ever-changing Google algorithm is created, in general, to favor websites that are user-friendly, but it’s super easy to forget about your customer when you’re too focused on SEO. For instance, Stuffing your alt text with nothing but keywords may help your SEO, but your users who need alt text for accessibility are not at all aided by keywords alone. The same goes for using heavy keywords in page copy.
If you’re looking to use keywords for your SEO that doesn't take away from your user experience but rather enhance your UX, try creating a company blog. This keeps your homepage and service pages clean enough so they’re not jammed with keywords while giving you a place to create valuable content regarding your keywords.
Mistake 3: Focusing Too Heavily on the Homepage
Tech Companies in Pittsburgh Urge You to Enhance Your Whole Site
Have you ever entered a site and been blown away by the homepage only to click on a service page and be awfully underwhelmed? It happens all too often that web designers put oodles of effort into a great homepage design, leaving behind their other pages. Here’s the thing, though -- when you’re linking to your website on social media and in ads, chances are you are linking to service pages and contact pages. Keeping these pages spruced-up, up-to-date, and cohesive to the rest of your site lends itself to your user journey and UX as a whole.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Responsive Design
Tech Companies in Pittsburgh Always Ensure Mobile-Friendly Sites
Each year more and more of the internet is viewed on mobile with 2018 rounding out at more than half of the web traffic being generated from mobile devices (shown above). With this number consistently increase YOY since the early 2000s, it’s more important than ever to make sure your website is responsive. This is so important for your UX because key functions that work on a desktop may not always work on mobile. If you’re catering to your audience and ensuring that they experience your site properly, make sure each page of your site is mobile friendly.
Mistake 5: Using Mystery Meat
Make Navigating Your Website as Clear and Easy as Possible
As a term coined by Vincent Flanders - founder of ‘Webpages That Suck’ - mystery meat is a button, image, or another navigating device your site that leads your user somewhere with uncertainty. These unclear navigating buttons make it hard for your users to make valuable actions on your site and often increase your bounce rate. To avoid mystery meat, create a clear site map that defines users at various points in their user journeys (return customers, new customers, someone looking to book an appointment, etc.). Tech companies in Pittsburgh also recommend making clear, enticing CTAs for your site that lend themselves to easy and predictable navigation.
Mistake 6: Relying Too Much on Text
Tech Companies in Pittsburgh Recommend Rethinking Your Message Delivery
If you enter a site that has pages upon pages of text, the first thing you’re going to do is turn around and enter a competitor’s site instead. UX is all about clear, user-friendly communication. Having to take the time to read several paragraphs to learn about a business is time-consuming and difficult for readers, which is why websites cannot rely exclusively on the text. Good UX designers know that helpful graphics and strong organization lends itself to conveying brand messaging with ease, which is why tech companies in Pittsburgh are consistently looking for creative new ways to avoid a text-heavy page.
Think your website could use a boost to its UX? Get in touch with Savvior today to learn how we can make the most user-friendly, beautiful website for your business.
