Your website speaks volumes about your company! A well-designed website should attract visitors, move them through the conversion process, and solve a problem for them!
A website that is ?done correctly? is one that reaches your ideal buyer persona, meets your company goals, and solves problems for your customers. It isn?t all about creating a website that you think ‘looks good’. Your website should be created for ?robots? (think search engines like Google) and ?humans? (think great design, calls to action, and landing pages). Poorly designed sites translate into instantaneous loss in revenue from potential clients turning away and bouncing.
To help you avoid this, and grow your bottom line, you have to avoid these all too common web design mistakes companies often make:
This is a far to common problem for most businesses. Whether it?s digital or traditional marketing most companies don?t understand how detrimental it is to your customers and your business. We know how urgent and important it feels to merely get your website complete, but if you are not reaching the appropriate target audience, you are wasting your time and money. Website design revolves around your business needs, which it can?t successfully do without a clear understanding of your target market. The biggest mistake clients make is they design the website for their own taste and liking, but they are NOT their usual target audience.
One of the critical marketing aspects your website should provide is a clear indication of problems and solutions. And nowhere should those solutions be flashy or busy. Focus on what matters and is important for your customer, not on what will turn users away with a headache. Don?t use pop-ups, audio or auto-starting videos. Visitors need to find information easily and clearly, especially if they are using mobile devices. Did you know that if a visitor to your site can?t find what he or she needs within literally 3 seconds, it?s too late? Don’t overdo it. Think using the ?blink-test?. Have someone look at your homepage for 5 seconds – have them look away and see what they remember. You might be surprised.
If your site is clean, clear, and organized, what do you want a customer to do? Maybe your call to action is to buy a product, make a phone call, or maybe it?s to fill out a contact form. Regardless, this needs to be in an easy to find, clear location that users will understand and choose. You have to make sure that your call to action isn?t so overwhelming that your customer chooses not to act. If the content on your website answers the question ?What?s in it for me?? your call to action should tell them how to get what they are looking. A great website holds the visitor by their hand and directs them where to go next and makes the conversion process easy!
Countless times, we interact with companies who have hired a cheap designer and it tends to lead to undeniably lousy products. It may result in poor on-page optimization, poor loading speeds, or maybe it becomes impossible to make changes later on. On the other end of the spectrum it can be easy for you to fall for the expensive, big brand agencies that may not be able to help a small business reach their return on investment. What is the best answer? Do your research to make sure what you build is the right value for your business. Determine how many leads you will need to reach an effective ROI and determine if your website can provide that volume. Don’t overpay, you’ll never see ROI. Don’t underpay, it will never be effective and won?t accomplish what you need.
A lack of targeting your buyer persona leads to a lack of success. Of course, if people outside of your demographic decide to purchase your service or product, you would never turn them away. However, your website should cater to your ideal customer, and focus on them. Trying to please everyone tends to lead to never pleasing anyone. Use the 80/20 rule. Focus on 80% of your target audience.
You may be able to do most Do-It-Yourself projects like putting together an impossible bookcase from a big box store, but building your brand is no coffee table. Your website is the first impression of your brand, and first impressions are everything. Your website should be done professionally! The most successful companies are those who invest in their marketing and don?t just view it as an expense. Be a company that invests in their future and doesn?t operate out of fear!
Have you made some of the web design mistakes above? Get A Free Inbound Marketing Assessment to find how you’re doing!