Discover 14 Dos and Don’ts of Website Design and Development. One of the essential aspects of your brand’s online presence is your website. For starters, it is the place where you nurture bottom-of-the-funnel leads to get conversions. That said, it is crucial that you design it right. After all, the last thing you want would be prospects bouncing off your website. It is recommended that your website is designed with your audience in mind. You need to also make sure that you provide a superb user experience.
So, let’s discover 14 dos and don’ts of website design and development!
1. Do: Ensure a Consistent Experience Across All Devices
This is where responsive web design (RWD) comes in. In essence, responsive web design aims to make web pages render well on various devices.
2. Don’t: Make Your Visitors Wait
Several factors can impact page speed, including cache mechanisms, file sizes, and hosting providers. One quick way to audit your website speed would be to use Google’s Page Speed Insights tool.
3. Do: Make Use of Design Features and Headings to Break Up Your Content
Seeing a massive block of text is the last thing your visitors want. Use call-to-action buttons, images, headers, and other design options to break up your content visually.
4. Don’t: Flood Your Pages With Promos or Ads
While this does not apply to every website, this is one thing to keep in mind. When users visit your site, they want to see and read content and not be bombarded by ads and other pop-ups.
5. Do: Make your Website Accessible
If you want to make your website accessible, you need to ensure those with disabilities and impairments can use and navigate your website with ease.
6. Don’t: Make Assumptions About What Your Visitors Find Enjoyable
It’s easy to get caught up in what seems cool and novel. Understandably, it would be great to have unique effects and animations that will impress users. However, the cool animations and effects may not always be ideal at the end of the day.
7. Do: Double-Check All Your Links
Your visitors can become easily frustrated when they click a link on your site and be prompted with the 404 error page. When your visitors search for content, they expect a link to take them where they say it will.
8. Don’t: Overlook The Power of Conventions
While uniqueness and creativity are considered worthwhile pursuits when designing your website, they should not replace the strength of convention. Keep in mind that the more unique your web design is, the more tricky it will be for your visitors to navigate.
9. Do: Use Typography Wisely
One of the most powerful tools in any designer’s arsenal is typography—it can make or break your design. When choosing a typeface, the rule of thumb would be to avoid using more than two typefaces in the design.
10. Don’t: Allow Your Content to Go Stale
One thing that can turn visitors off quickly is seeing old and outdated content on your site. Updating your site with quality content regularly is critical if you want your website to appear polished and professional.
11. Do: Have a Focal Point
When designing your website, you must determine the key areas you want your visitors to visit. To do this, ask yourself one key question: What is the purpose of your website?
12. Don’t: Play Background Music or Have Autoplay Videos With Music
While background music can work in some instances, like running a promo website, it is not recommended for most websites. Unexpected sound or music will not only annoy visitors, it might also cause potential problems.
13. Do: Ensure Your Website’s Navigation is Done Accordingly
The navigation feature of your website is the cornerstone of site usability. After all, it is the primary interaction button of your website. That said, you need to make sure you get this one done right.
14. Don’t: Compromise Usability for Aesthetics
No matter how attractive a design is, it should not interfere with the visitor’s ability to interact with the site or use content. One classic example of a design decision that creates an undesirable user experience for the sake of beauty is the use of light grey text on light backgrounds.
When users interact with your website, they expect to have an exceptional experience. Your inability to satisfy their needs might cause them to check out your competition which is often just a click away. That said, every website decision you make should have your visitor’s best interest in mind.
If you want to go further and enhance your website’ design and development, you’re just an email away.
Best Regards,
Adebanjo Adedayo .B.
Founder & CEO at Cayene Hands – Your IT Growth Partner…
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