Search Engine Marketing and More: 3 Mistakes in Web Design to Avoid

When was the last time you surfed the Web and came across a site that just made you cringe? Maybe it was the achingly bright colours, or the high number of animated things taking up space on your screen.

Whatever it is, you don't need to be a search engine marketing expert to know that there are just some things best left not added to a website. After all, you were a potential user for that site, but you opted to leave it.

Whatever kind of business you run, whatever size, you may have considered putting up a website at some point, if you haven't already. So to help you on your way to building your firm's online presence, here are some web design mistakes even experts make, so you know what to avoid.

1. An all-Flash website. Are we still in the early 2000's? Using Flash for everything on a site was in vogue back then, but definitely no longer; it's all about HTML now. Seriously, though – if your site doesn't have an HTML version, it has an impact on the number of visitors Mobile users on iOS, for example, will definitely not be able to view it.

Image From: iclipart.com

 2. Blocking mobile users. Speaking of which, maybe it wasn't intentional, but some sites just appear awful on mobile devices. Maybe the navigation goes funny, or you have to scroll all the way to the right to find the drop-down menus.

Image From: iclipart.com

Either way, you have to remember that there are just as many mobile users as desktop and laptop users, if not more so. Get your developer to help make sure you don't have too many plug-ins; if you do, they should all be able to run on mobile platforms. While you're at it, make sure the site resizes itself to fit on a smaller screen.

3. Looking too generic. You don't have to use drastic measures to stand out, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for a website that doesn't look unique at all. Use your company logo for a colour palette you know will work, for instance.

Image From: iclipart.com

In addition, you can work with great website content writers to ensure that any content on all your webpages have a certain quirk that people directly link with your brand. That way, you have a look and a voice that's all your own.