Top 5 Common Mistakes Found On Websites

Many consumers come across dozens of web pages every day, so they have an innate knowledge of what makes a website worth their time. When they’re confronted with a site that is mediocre at best, they simply click away and find a better option.

Businesses should create their website in a way that prioritizes functionality, easy navigation, and design, all while avoiding common mistakes. 

This article will go over 5 common mistakes found on websites, as well as solutions to these mistakes that will allow your site to thrive.

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Not Making Mobile Friendly Top Priority 

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A mobile-friendly website is a website that has been optimized to give mobile users a better experience. This often consists of making certain design and user interface changes to create a different version of your site.

As of the end of 2021, searches on mobile devices made up 63% of all organic search traffic online. This means that making your site mobile-friendly is more important than ever. A truly user-friendly website should allow users to find information with minimal effort no matter which device they’re on. 

One way to achieve a more mobile-friendly presence online is by creating an app. People who are on the go care about accessibility and convenience, and applications make it easy for mobile device users to interact with your platform whenever they need to.

Google Search Console can tell you how mobile-friendly your website is.

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Displaying Too Much Information 

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If people have to wade through your site to find the information they’re after, you likely need to make some changes. The way you present content on your web pages should encourage the audience to stay engaged throughout their time on your site. No matter which device people are using to access your site, they do not want to continuously scroll to find an answer to their question or to get to the ‘point’ of the page. 

You can cut out unnecessary information by following tips for writing for the web to take big chunks of text and turn them into a tasteful read. Some of these tips include keeping the language simple, layering your writing for skimmers and scanners, and being generous with visuals.

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Increase Your Website’s Speed

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There are few things more frustrating than when a website won’t load. In many cases, it causes people to simply click away and visit another page. You can use tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights, which allows you to track your website’s speed. It’s time to kiss the days of painfully slow websites goodbye.  

Here are a few steps you can take to improve your website’s speed:

• Compress your images and videos, preferably 300 KB or less for small graphics. Kraken.io is an online tool that allows you to reduce the files of your images and videos.

• Embed videos instead of uploading them.

• Consider hosting videos with a third party, which will allow webpages to display their videos but ensure a faster loading time.

• Choose a web hosting platform that is strictly for speed.

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Copy Length 

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It’s good to have enough content to engage readers and site visitors, however, having them scramble to find the meaning behind your points is not. Consider what your site looks like through the audience's eyes and remember what kind of information site visitors are looking for.  

Your copy strategy will depend on your business model and your brand voice, but you typically want your copy length on web pages to be no longer than 3 sentences. If you really have more to say, be sure to separate your text to increase readability. No one wants to read a wall of text when they’re just trying to figure out which service or product is the best fit for them.

Websites should be short, informative, and to the point. Overloading people with information in the form of lengthy paragraphs will deter consumers and they will move on to a different website.

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Social Proof Equals Better Results 

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Social proof is all about showing people that you’re well-liked and accepted by others in society in an attempt to come across in a positive light. There are different kinds of social proof in marketing and business, some of which include:

• Testimonials and reviews
• Proof of affiliation or partnership with certain brands
• Case studies
• Awards and certifications
• Influencer associations

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First impressions are crucial when trying to get people to dive deeper into your website. If the site is experiencing a drought in traffic, there’s a chance that you aren’t utilizing the space above the fold in an effective way. To be ‘above the fold,’ content has to be visible to visitors before they scroll down the page at all.

This is where social proof comes in! When deciding what to put above the fold on your site, remember the key is to compel readers enough to capture their attention without them having to scroll. Displaying your social proof front and center can pique users’ interest and lead to implicit trust in your brand.

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Final Words 

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Despite how well-made you believe your company’s website is, the five common mistakes outlined above could be causing it to suffer. 

An optimized website is a successful one, so take some time to test out your website display on mobile, audit your loading speeds, and brainstorm new strategies for website copy and above-the-fold content. If you could use some guidance as you reimagine your website, Madak is more than ready to help.