The 7 Deadly Sins of Web Design

Bad design can kill your website. Just like the seven deadly sins that can lead to damnation, these web design no-nos can doom your online presence. Avoid them at all costs! (Or better yet, learn from others’ mistakes and don’t commit them yourself!) Here are the seven deadly sins of web design:

1. Not mobile-friendly

In 2019, there’s no excuse for not having a mobile-friendly website. With over half of web traffic coming from mobile devices, it’s more important than ever to design with smaller screens in mind. If your site isn’t responsive, you risk losing visitors – and potential customers – to a competitor with a better user experience.

2. Slow loading times

A study by Google found that 53% of mobile site visitors will leave a page that takes longer than three seconds to load. That’s a pretty significant number, especially when you consider how short people’s attention spans are online. Make sure your webpages load quickly by optimising images, using a content delivery network (CDN), and minimising HTTP requests.

3. Intrusive pop-ups

We’ve all been there: you’re trying to read an article on your favourite website when a giant pop-up appears, blocking the content and demanding your email address. It’s annoying, intrusive, and downright rude. And it’s one of the quickest ways to lose visitors. If you must use pop-ups on your website, make them small, unobtrusive, and easy to close.

4. Cluttered design

A cluttered web page is hard on the eyes and can be overwhelming for visitors. Too much text, too many images, and too many ads can make a web page feel chaotic and busy. Stick to a simple design with plenty of white space to keep things clean and easy to read.

5. Non-standard fonts

When it comes to web design, sticking to standard fonts is always a good idea. That’s because not all computers have the same fonts installed, which can cause text to display incorrectly on some screens. If you want to use a non-standard font, make sure there’s a fallback font in case the first one doesn’t work. And avoid using too many different fonts on one page, as that can also look messy.

6. Auto-playing videos and audio

We get it, you want people to watch your latest video or listen to your new song. But blaring auto-played audio or video is just annoying. If you must use auto-play features on your website, give visitors the option to turn them off. And make sure the volume is set low enough so it doesn’t startle anyone who happens to be browsing your site.

7. Broken links

Nothing is more frustrating than clicking on a link only to find that it’s broken. Not only does it ruin the user experience, but it also makes your website look unprofessional and outdated. Make sure to regularly check your links to ensure they’re still working. And if you do find a broken link, be sure to fix it as soon as possible. By avoiding these seven deadly sins of web design, you can create a website that’s user-friendly, professional, and easy on the eyes. So put your best foot forward and start building a great online presence for your business today!