Do you want a high converting website that leaves your visitors with a positive impression of your business? Check out these five common website design and digital marketing mistakes that are likely to kill your conversions, and our top tips on how to avoid them.
Web design mistake 1: Too complicated.
One of the most common mistakes that we see here at Insight is an overly complicated website design.
Whilst it may be tempting to create a visually stunning website with lots of flashy features, a convoluted website design is likely to confuse your visitors, making it difficult for them to find what they are looking for. The most high converting websites have been consistently proven to have clean and straightforward designs.
Cluttered and complex designs are viewed as being less attractive than those that are simple and minimalistic. Additionally, users form an impression of a website’s appearance within a surprisingly short time frame; between just 1/50 and 1/20 of a second! So, you really don’t have long to convince your potential clients to stick around.
However, whilst a simple website design can improve usability, it’s also important to maximise user engagement. Combine intuitive design with compelling copy, inspiring your visitors, and taking them on a seamless journey towards conversion.
Web design mistake 2: Slow loading website.
A sluggish website can be frustrating for your customers, causing them to abandon your page before it even loads.
In today’s fast-paced digital world, people expect websites to load immediately. Therefore, if your website takes a while to load, you risk losing potential customers.
There are several things you can do to speed up your website’s load time. These include:
- Choose the right web hosting provider: Selecting a reliable and efficient web hosting provider [Include a link to new blog post] is key to ensure optimal website performance. Consider factors like server speed, uptime guarantees, and customer support when making your choice.
- Compress and optimise your images: Large image files can significantly slow down your website. Use image compression tools to reduce their file size without compromising quality. Additionally, optimise images for web use by specifying appropriate dimensions and formats.
- Minimise unnecessary images and scripts: Evaluate your website’s elements and remove any unnecessary images or scripts that don’t contribute to the overall user experience. The fewer elements your page has to load, the faster it will be.
- Limit the use of plugins and functionality: While plugins can enhance your website’s functionality, be mindful of their impact on load time. Only use plugins that are essential and directly serve your target audience’s needs. Base your decisions on user research and data to ensure you’re adding value without sacrificing speed.
- Optimise visual content file formats: Use file formats with small sizes, such as SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) and Webp, for visual content like logos, icons, and images. These formats maintain quality while reducing file sizes, contributing to faster load times.
By implementing these strategies, you can significantly improve your website’s load time and provide a smoother experience for your visitors.
For more information on the key causes of slow loading websites listed above, check out our blog post.
Web design mistake 3: Not optimised for mobiles.
Did you know that more than half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices?
It should therefore come as no surprise that a website that’s not optimised for mobiles can lead to lost conversions.
If you want to create a high converting website, it’s essential to ensure that it is mobile-friendly.
You should test your website on a range of devices, confirming that it looks good and is easy to use on screens of all sizes.
Our bespoke WordPress websites are built to be responsive, adjusting to the size of any screen.
Get in touch today for more information on how we can help with affordable website design that’s optimised for use on mobile devices.
Web design mistake 4: Lack of clear calls to action.
A call to action (CTA) tells potential customers what you want them to do once they have read the content on that page.
Without clear CTAs carefully scattered throughout your copy, visitors to your website may not know how to proceed to the next step.
As a result, customers are likely to feel confused and frustrated, leaving your website without taking any action. Alternatively, they may take the wrong action or get stuck in a loop of clicking through various pages, without ever reaching the desired goal.
This website design mistake can therefore lead to missed opportunities for sales and engagement. Clear CTAs are essential to guide visitors towards conversion, as well as improving their overall user experience. CTAs should:
- Be easy to find – Place eye-catching CTAs at regular intervals throughout each page on your site.
- Use persuasive language – Use action-oriented language to create a sense of urgency where appropriate, and encourage your visitors to take the next step.
- Include contact details / links – It should be straightforward for your customers to get in touch with your company, and to find any information they need.
Web design mistake 5: Confusing navigation.
The final common website design and digital marketing mistake that can kill your conversions is confusing navigation.
Visitors need to be able to find exactly what they’re looking for quickly and easily. Otherwise, they may become frustrated and leave your site without taking any action.
Not to be confused with a complicated website design layout (see point 1, above), your navigation should be intuitive and easy to use. Here are some key points to consider:
- All navigation buttons should be clearly labelled and easy to understand.
- Avoid using too many dropdown menus that lead to yet more dropdown menus.
- Steer clear of links that lead to dead ends. All journeys through your site should end in a call to action, whether that’s a sales page, a contact form, or even signing up for your newsletter.
Want affordable website design and digital marketing that gets results?
Creating a high converting website is essential to the success of your business. By avoiding these common website design mistakes, you can improve your website’s performance and boost those all-important sales.
But how do you know if your website is driving results for your business? Do you know how well it is performing, or where your leads and conversions are coming from?
Google Analytics 4 is a free tool, which can give you valuable insights into your website’s metrics. These include conversion rates, engagement, traffic sources, audience demographics and much more.
Whilst it is undoubtedly the best way to measure the success of your website, many people can find Google Analytics a little daunting to use.
Whether you just need help with Google Analytics installation, or you’d like us to measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns, our knowledgeable team is here to help.
Get in touch for affordable website design and digital marketing.
Insight Consultancy is a leading digital marketing agency, specialising in affordable website design, with a strong focus on increasing your conversions and sales.
Our expert team has the skills and experience to design a website for your business that inspires and engages your visitors, guiding them on a seamless journey towards conversion.
We pride ourselves on staying up-to-date with the latest website design trends, user behaviour, and industry best practices. This allows us to create stunning and highly functional website designs that help you to achieve your business goals.
Get in touch today to learn more about how our affordable website design and digital marketing services can help you increase your online conversions and grow your business.
You can give us a call on 0116 218 5621, or send a message via our online contact form for a swift and well-informed response.
Posted on: 07th Jul 2023
