How to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Web Design

With thousands of websites to select and choose from, it is incredibly difficult for web designers to create an online experience that will keep your clients above the rest, creating an online experience that makes your site different (and better) than all the other competing sites. Your best chance of doing so is to find, and carefully avoid, the most common pitfalls and mistakes of amateur web designers.

Avoid overly complex URLs. URL, which stands for Uniform Resource Locator, is the way people will find your website. It is often the first impression people will get of your site, and so it is important that, though the URL convey almost exactly what the website offers, it should also contain something that draws people in. In fewer words, it should be catchy, so it draws the attention of people who may find it on a search engine.

Limit the amount of animations and scrolling messages you use. These often come across as irritating, unprofessional, and tacky. Instead, use clean, crisp graphics and interesting hyperlinks. These will better draw in the attention of people, as opposed to a red, scrolling banner with multiple exclamation points.

Try to find a web host that will allow your page to load in less than fifteen seconds. This should take a bit of effort on your part-- you will need to limit the amount of large images on your page, and be able to convey your information in few pages. Don't use a website that has a seemingly endless length, through which your clients will have to scroll infinitely. Instead, break your information down into multiple pages, navigable through a search or toolbar.

Include a sitemap and navigational support in your website. In addition to being basic protocol for professional web designers, it is also helpful for your clients and people utilizing your website and looking for something specific.

Do not deviate from standard link colors. This makes finding links easier. Many people know, when looking for a link, that blue is the color they should be seeking, not brown, grey, or another color. Using abnormal colors appears unprofessional, and can be annoying.

Eliminate pages that have been 'orphaned'. If a page cannot be reached from a few clicks, or found from another larger page, it should be eliminated for the sake of saving space and 'trimming the fat' of the website.

Use simple, appealing graphics that will work with the color scheme of your website. Utilize the color wheel if you need help in choosing colors.

Before you start investing your energy, time, and money into web development, you need to spend time studying web design principles, and how they have changed in recent years. You can make fatal mistakes in choosing unprofessional graphic design decisions. These can be detrimental to how clients perceive your work, and make your site viewers and readers annoyed. However, by following these simple tips and tricks, you can have a delightful and professional website that draws in clients seeking websites for their businesses, companies, products, or brands.

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