Whether you’re starting out or hiring an experienced web design and development company, here are five things you need to steer clear of when creating a website. In an increasingly digital age, the internet is becoming the lifeblood of marketing and communication. In fact, there are over 100 billion global searches conducted every month. This means that an attractive, easy-to-use website is an absolute necessity.
Whether your goal is to expand your business, create a personal brand, or simply create a useful page for individuals to visit, the fact remains that the internet has taken over. However, that doesn’t mean creating a website is easy.
Bad Code
If you’re experienced in web design services, then you already know this. However, if you’re only a beginner or know next to nothing about HTML, then you should consult a professional. Contemporary website design professionals should be able to talk you through most of what they’re doing, and ensure that the code is clean.
Large Images
Roughly 40% of users will abandon a website that takes more than three seconds to load. With that in mind, it’s important to plan your content accordingly. Images with extremely high resolutions can take up a lot of space and clog your pages up with unnecessary web-clutter.
Spamming Content
Approximately 75% of internet users never scroll past the first page of search results, which sometimes prompts authors to attempt to manipulate their rankings by ‘spamming’ their content with keywords. This not only pollutes your content with nonsense, it can deter people from even visiting your site because it may look like — well, spam. Changing your Google ranking is what local online marketing is for!
‘Finishing’ a Site
Any professional custom design and branding company will tell you that a good website is never truly finished. Keeping your content and appearance relevant and on top of trends can help users feel like they’re engaging with your site. Not only that, but updating frequently can keep your information form becoming stale.
Illegal and Unlicensed Content
Contrary to popular belief, breaking the law on the internet is still breaking the law. Professional custom design and branding companies know this, and will keep you on the up-and-up. If you need to use pictures, use your own, buy stock photos, or use free clip art that is licensed for commercial or noncommercial reuse. If you absolutely need a copyrighted photo, you’ll need ask for the owner’s permission first.
To avoid these mistakes, it’s in your best interest to hire a professional design and branding company. Not only do they know the ins and outs of the industry, they can teach you the dos and don’ts.