A majority of small business owners know how important it is to have a website. However, as the competition is quite high, creating a simple website is not going to bring any special results.
Therefore, it is essential to establish a web presence that you, as the business owner, are going to be proud off. In order to get to that point, it is essential to avoid design mistakes small businesses make.
Saving money
Your website is going to directly resemble everything you business and brand stands for. Therefore, don’t try to save money in the creation process; it is only going to backfire. If you decide to go down this road, you will likely work with an inexperienced developer and designer who are not going to create the best website for your business.
This does not mean that you should spend thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. Simply do your homework and see what the usual prices are, and you will get the right idea about the budget needed to start it all.
Choosing the DIY method
There are many stories where people have started their own websites without anyone’s help. But nobody mentioned that they were in that business long before they started working on their website. Therefore, abandon the idea of this process being a DIY project. There is a lot of new information that will move your focus from important business and experts will take care of it in minutes.
You are going to lose time and give off a bad first impression. Invest in professionals with plenty of experience; it is the only way to ensure your website is going to be well designed.
Old content
Okay, the website is online and that’s it, right? Wrong. It is only a starting point from which you are going to actively work on your website content. The worst impression is left by businesses that do not maintain their content regularly.
There are two problems about this practice:
- Client impression – If you do not maintain your content consistency, it is going to be noticed by your clients. Those who visit your website might conclude that you are not professional enough to work with them. Therefore, make sure that all of the content on your website is updated regularly.
- Bad SEO practices – If you are hoping to rank for certain keywords, forget about it. Website inactivity is one of the parameters that search engines use to rank your website.
Therefore, from the moment your website is created, make sure that you dedicate enough time to regularly update it with news and new content.
Forgetting design should be practical
If you are working with a professional designer, he will let you know how important practicality is. Working with designers who want to make your website beautiful, colorful, and interesting might not be the best option. This especially depends on the niche you are in.
The goal is for the website to be clean and easy to use. This puts more emphasis on website navigation, making it more user friendly. Therefore, make sure that your website is going to be easy to use.
Clear message is missing
Your homepage should tell a clear message to the visitor. Therefore, make sure to work with your designer on delivering that message. Use a design that is going to put text or video, depending on what you are using, in the forefront of the homepage.
Without taking this step, your visitors are going to need more time to learn about your business. Remember, if someone needs time to do something that should be straightforward and easy, they are going to leave.
Not knowing target audience
Before you start creating your website, make sure that you know who your target audience is.
For example, if you are targeting older generations, it might be better to use bigger fonts. On the other hand, if your target audience are teenagers and younger audiences, it is important to have the website optimized for mobile devices.
Paying attention to these little things will make your website a better experience for your audience.
If you are planning to start a website, these tips will help you avoid design mistakes that many businesses are making today.