Web design plays a more important role in your company’s overall success than you might think. Because your website is like your digital business card that can make or break your organization, getting it right is crucial.
While website design may seem simple enough, there are some mistakes that companies can unknowingly make that affect brand perception and deter potential customers.
In this article, we talk about five common mistakes that you should avoid if you want your website to be a success.
What Is Website Design?
Before we get into the errors, let’s first talk about what website design is. In simple terms, web design is essentially the act of setting up a website. It involves choosing and implementing a color scheme, moving around different visual elements, providing a seamless user experience, and ensuring consistent branding throughout all web pages.
What Is Branding?
Branding, on the other hand, is all about creating a unique identity for your business. Using the same logo throughout all platforms and the same brand voice are key elements of branding.
The truth is that branding and website design are often closely related because most customers find businesses using search engines, and a company’s website is often the first interaction a user will have with the organization. Therefore, the site should reflect the brand well.
It’s also important to note that the effectiveness of your branding efforts can be measured by determining brand equity.
5 Website Design or Branding Mistakes That Could Have a Negative Impact on Your Brand Identity
With that in mind, let’s get into the top five branding or design mistakes that many companies make.
Mistake #1: A Lack of Consistency
Effective branding and web design require consistency. Even if you prefer two different logos or color schemes, it’s important to select only one and run with it. When you have differences in fonts, colors, and other elements, your site could come across as unprofessional.
Make sure that you are consistent across social media, web pages, and other marketing channels.
How to Rectify This Mistake
Fortunately, fixing this is relatively simple. Draw up a style guide that lists the fonts, color palette, and other details pertaining to web design. Then, make sure that you’re sticking to these specifications on all platforms.
It is also crucial to ensure that your online visuals match physical ones. If consistency is something that you are struggling with, we highly recommend working with a professional. PGN Agency will gladly assist.
Mistake #2: Poor User Experience
When interacting with a particular brand, users expect user-friendly layouts, easy navigation, and fast load times. If they struggle to find what they need, they will quickly abandon your site in favor of a competitor.
Broken links, a lack of menus, and an overwhelming number of pop-up ads can all have a negative impact on the user experience. It’s also crucial to note that Google and other search engines also place great emphasis on the user experience, so failing to pay attention to this aspect will also affect your rankings.
Fixing It
Make sure that you have clear menus that are easy to use. Check all links, both internal and external, to ensure that they point to the right webpage. Moreover, if you have custom images on your site that are taking a long time to load, try compressing them.
Use brand perception surveys and tools like Semrush to find out whether your website is performing well.
Mistake #3: A Desktop-first Approach
Research has proved time and time again that mobile devices are dominating desktop solutions. This means that your target audience is more likely to visit your website using their smartphone or tablet than a computer. Google also adopts a mobile-first approach, ranking web pages based on their mobile-friendliness.
If you are concentrating primarily on the desktop version of your website, you could be missing out on web traffic and, ultimately, sales!
How to Fix It
Make sure that your website is optimized for different devices. It should easily adapt to various screen sizes and offer quick loading times on smartphones and tablets. Ensure a blend of visual appeal and functionality on the mobile version of your site.
Mistake #4: Weak Messaging
It’s important to understand your website’s purpose. Ultimately, it is intended to reflect your company’s core values and relay them to potential customers. Your web pages should clearly tell the end user what you offer, what your brand promise is, and what you’d like them to do in response.
If all you’re going to do is post relevant content and not tell people how they can interact with your brand, they will likely consume the information and leave without any benefit to your business or your bottom line.
What to Do About It
Make sure that you include clear calls to action (CTAs) and communicate your brand message. It’s also a good idea to place CTAs strategically across your website to encourage action at crucial times. Use design elements to make them stand out from the surrounding text.
Mistake #5: Filling Your Web Pages with Clutter
Your web pages should never be cluttered. Ineffective layouts or too many pop-ups could negatively impact the user experience.
Overwhelming the end user with information can affect the success of your marketing campaigns. The truth is that clutter can cause stress and frustration, making it harder for users to find what they need and increasing the likelihood of them leaving your site.
Decluttering Your Website
Following a minimalistic design can help you cut down the clutter. Make sure that you are including white space to draw the visitor’s eye to crucial elements. It’s also a good idea to break up website content with engaging images or videos.
Looking for Reliable Branding Solutions or Web Design? We Can Help!
If you feel like your website could use work, then it’s a good idea to partner with a reliable web and graphic design expert.
At PGN Agency, we have been helping companies like yours build strong brand identities and create engaging websites for years now.
Whether you are just getting started in the business world or are looking for ways to boost sales with strategic branding, we can help.
Contact PGN Agency today for more information, and follow our blog for more website branding tips!
