8 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Building a Website

With all the pieces that go into creating a website, it can be easy to miss some of them. But do not worry, we’re here with 8 common mistakes worth keeping an eye out for so you don’t experience any pitfalls along your web-building journey. By utilising these insights, we hope you build a safe and successful site without issue.

1. Failing to do your research

Doing your research is the key to success when it comes to building a website. Don’t underestimate this step. You’ll want to understand who you’re targeting and what they need from their website, as well as check out competitors’ sites in order to get an idea of how yours could be better suited for customers than theirs would be. Make sure that time spent gathering information at the start will ultimately result in greater satisfaction down the line.

2. Not deciding what you want the site to accomplish

Don’t be tempted to jump into the design process without defining your end goal. To build an effective website, a thoughtfully considered plan is absolutely essential. It’s important to take the time upfront to clearly define the problem your site will address and how it can help its users. This ensures that you create something valuable rather than attempting haphazard additions or styles. Not only does this set up for success from the start of your project but allows others around you who may not be as acquainted with web development to lend their advice in meaningful ways too.

3. Skimping on content

Building a perfect website requires more than simply choosing an attractive design. Content is a vital component that should never be overlooked. It will make your site unique, and help visitors quickly find what they’re looking for – think well-organised headings, subheadings, bullet points & images/videos wherever possible to give them a visual boost in understanding. All these steps combined can turn your page into a powerful marketing tool for getting people interested in you or your business’s products and services.

4. Having a poorly designed layout

Make sure you take some time to consider the layout carefully as it can be easy for visitors to become overwhelmed with too many styles mixed together. If there are any calls to action that need particular attention, like “sign up now!”, think about adding colour or size differences between other elements on the screen so this button stands out and draws in users easily. A well-organised page gives customers an enjoyable experience, no one wants their search engine journey to end in frustration.

5. Creating a website that isn’t mobile-friendly

Optimising your website for smaller screens and touch-friendly navigation makes all the difference in providing an engaging, enjoyable experience. Not only will this impress potential customers with a slick look but they’ll also be able to quickly access content without any hassle – giving you even more chances at having them share your site with their friends via text message or social media. Tap into that growing market of mobile users: make sure critical information is at their fingertips and easily within reach.

6. Getting too fancy with features that aren’t used enough

It can be tempting to go overboard with features when designing a website, but taking the time to consider who your target audience is first could help you make sure that what you include actually gets used. For example, if children are likely shopping for toys on an eCommerce site of yours then advanced search functions may not necessarily need to take priority, however, something like this could prove absolutely invaluable for websites targeting legal or financial professionals looking for new clients.

7. Choosing the wrong hosting company

Don’t let the wrong hosting company cost you time and money. To ensure your website runs smoothly, select a reliable host with excellent customer service. And remember, security, performance and support are essential for keeping things ticking along. So, make sure to look out for these features when making your decision.

8. Relying on free templates and generators instead of hiring a designer

Free templates might sound tempting at first glance, but you should think twice before diving in. Without proper optimisation for search engines or quality assurance tests to spot potential bugs and security issues, it’s easy to wind up with a malfunctioning website that will cause more headaches than solutions. And even if all goes well initially, there won’t be anyone around to help when things go wrong, leaving your business exposed and vulnerable down the road. Put trust into custom-designed websites, they’ll provide peace of mind as well as lasting value.

Don’t let these mistakes prevent you from having a successful website 

If you’re getting ready to launch a website, don’t let these mistakes put the brakes on your success. Do your research – other people’s stories of mistakes and how they fixed them are valuable tools for ensuring an end result that works. Now it comes down to making sure you choose the right approach whether to build yourself or hire someone. Don’t shy away from this decision, make the decision that best fits in with both project goals and budget.