What are the most common mistakes in website design?

A website is more than a pretty design, it's a business tool that needs to work. However, even a neat-looking website can lose enquiries if it doesn't have a clear purpose, a convenient path to action or a normal mobile experience. Most often, problems start with small solutions. It seems small, but then it costs visitors.

A website is created without a clear purpose

One of the most common mistakes is to start a website „because you have to“ without knowing what it's for. If it is not clear what purpose the website is supposed to fulfil (to inform, to generate enquiries, to sell), the whole structure becomes chaotic.

Tip: it's worth starting with a strategy. Read more about how to clarify your website goals.

Design over functionality

Beautiful design is important, but if the buttons are unclear, the fonts are hard to read and the contact form is hidden, the design becomes an obstacle.

UX problem: the user doesn't know where to click, what to do and walks away.

Tip: The design must not only be beautiful, but also intuitive. Everything has to be where the user expects it.

No or ineffective call to action (CTA)

Often, websites have no clear call to action. Or the CTA is too weak: „Learn more“, „Click here“ - it doesn't work.

Tip: Use clear invitations that encourage the user to take a specific action, e.g. „Get a quote“, „Book a time“, „View prices“.

The website works poorly on mobile devices

There are still some websites that display distorted on mobile, with slow loading times or broken buttons. This is not only a bad experience, but it's also bad for SEO.

Tip: design must be „mobile first“. Make sure everything works as smoothly on your phone as it does on your computer.

Read more, why mobile-friendly design is essential today.

Content is inconsistent or unprepared

Even the best design won't help if the content on the website doesn't reflect the actual services, is full of generic phrases or is written in a rush. In this case, the visitor will simply not understand the offer and trust will quickly evaporate.

Tip: to avoid this error, Radeimo Solutions always provides its customers with a questionnaire and a content planning questionnaire, which allows for a clear and concise collection of all the necessary information. This helps to create targeted, meaningful and easy-to-understand website content.

Avoiding investment in SEO

Although the website looks clean, it is not visible in Google searches. Why? Because it's not optimised.

Tip: SEO is not an add-on, but a necessary part. Every page must have keywords, meta descriptions and fast loading times.

Read more, how local SEO helps your website be more visible.

How to avoid mistakes before design

Many website errors occur even before the first design version. If the goal is unclear, pages are planned out of habit. If the audience is unclear, texts become generic. If the logic of the services is unclear, it is up to the visitor to understand what to choose.

Preventing errors therefore starts with structure and content. An article very close to this topic how to plan the content and structure of your website. It helps you see errors before you create pages.

• first define the purpose of the website
• don't create menus based on competitors alone
• don't leave important answers just for conversation
• test the site on your phone, not just your computer

If this topic is relevant, it is worth moving on to How do I prepare for the website development process?. Alongside this topic, it's worth looking at Why is mobile-friendly design necessary today?.

Some mistakes are made at the beginning of the planning process, when it is not clear what pages are needed. This is helped by the article Which pages are essential for every website. If the site is already up and running but not visible in search, it's worth checking the topic too What to do if your website doesn't show up on Google.

If you would like to assess which site direction would make the most sense for your situation, get in touch. You can calmly review your needs, the scope and a realistic first step.