Common Mistakes made by Web Designers

Web designers these days are extra careful when designing websites. They take great care to make their websites optimized, responsive and fit all kinds of devices. In their quest for perfection, some errors may creep in; they need be checked and rectified then and there.

Using Flash instead of HTML5

Flash is something outdated; its ‘glory era’ is gone, thanks to the advent of smart phones. Since a major percentage of web users are using mobiles, and all major phones including Android and iPhones do not support flash player, which is needed for flash sites to run. Obviously using flash in websites doesn’t work anymore. Therefore it is better to switch over to HTML5 technology while designing.

Using High Quality Images

One more mistake done by web designers is the addition of huge images as part of slideshow or welcome banner. These images take up a lot of load time, especially when you access the site via mobile devices. It is always better to optimize the images and then have them on the website. You may even switch to Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) for creating interactive animations for enhancing the user interface without worrying about the size.

Being Overconfident that your design fits all devices

Never assume that your website fits every possible device. You may definitely draw your conclusions after testing your site on a various mobile devices to be sure.

Too many Bells and Whistles

A website must be visually attractive as well as meaningful in is content. A perfect balance must be reached between the two. Having too many special effects like transitions and ‘mouse over’ effects will definitely slow down the site, especially when accessed via mobiles.

Links or Navigation not Visible in Mobiles

Make sure that the links, which are the gateway to good navigation, are visible to the beholder. They must be easily recognizable by the visitors, so as to facilitate quick access to the needed information.

Focusing more on Exterior Looks

A website design must be centered on its content. The content must determine its structure and final layout; it should not be the other way round. If the users doesn’t get the information they need from the site, the will not return, even if you have the most beautifully designed website in the world. So, it best to put content first, and work on the user experience next.

Contact Form not Working

When the user submits an enquiry form, he must be notified that it has been received in the first place. If not, the user will think that your website is non functional and switch over to some other website which responds better.

No Contact Info

A website without contact information gives the impression that it cannot be trusted. At the most, such websites may have a Google map attached in the contact page, which in turn doesn’t specify the exact address. Such a website is indirectly telling the user, "Trust me and you are in trouble"!

Website designers and developers must take into consideration the above points while working on a site, in order to avoid common mistakes. For more information on web design contact WebCanny.