Is Your Website Making These 25 Mistakes? Upgrade Your Design IQ Today!

In the vast ocean of the internet, where websites compete like colorful fish vying for attention, the design of your website is like the bait on your hook.

It needs to be enticing, easy to digest, and above all, effective.

But in the quest to be the most eye-catching fish in the sea, many websites end up floundering due to common design mistakes.

We’re here to navigate you away from the treacherous waters of bad design with a comprehensive list of 25 design blunders that could be sinking your website faster than you can say “refresh”.

1. Stop Using Sliders Picture this

You land on a website, and before you can even say “hello”, a slider bombards you with images like a hyperactive PowerPoint presentation. Sliders might seem like a cool way to showcase multiple messages, but let’s face it, most people barely click past the first slide. So, save your visitors the hassle and ditch the sliders. Trust us, your audience will thank you for it.

2. Avoid Center Aligning

Everything Center aligning text might give your website a touch of symmetry, but when it comes to readability, it’s like trying to read a book with pages that keep shifting left and right. Stick to left alignment for longer passages to keep your readers’ eyes from doing the cha-cha slide.

3. Say No to Justified Text Alignment

Justified text might look neat, but the irregular spacing between words can turn reading into a game of hopscotch. Stick to left-aligned or ragged-right text for smoother reading experiences.

4. Don’t Use Right Alignment

The right-aligned text might seem like a rebel breaking the left-aligned norm, but let’s face it, it’s just plain awkward to read. Save the right alignment for poetry and resumes, not your website.

5. Eliminate Splash Pages

Splash pages are like those annoying bouncers outside clubs, making visitors wait in line before they can enter. Don’t make your audience jump through unnecessary hoops. Get straight to the good stuff and watch your bounce rate plummet.

6. Avoid Slow-loading Animations

Sure, animations can add flair to your website, but if they take longer to load than a sloth on a Monday morning, you’re in trouble. Keep your animations snappy, or risk sending your visitors into a clicking frenzy.

7. Don’t Hide the Scroll Bar

Hiding the scroll bar is like trying to hide a giraffe in a phone booth — ineffective and downright silly. Let your visitors navigate your website with ease by keeping that scroll bar visible and proud.

8. Stop Styling the Scroll Bar

Sure, a neon pink scroll bar might seem like a fun idea, but trust us, it’s more cringeworthy than cool. Stick to the classics and let the content do the talking.

9. Don’t Change the Background Color

While Scrolling Imagine reading a gripping article only for the background to suddenly change color, throwing you off like a plot twist in a bad movie. Keep your backgrounds consistent for a smoother reading experience.

10. Avoid Customizing the Cursor

Unless you’re running a ’90s nostalgia website, leave the custom cursors in the past where they belong. Stick to the default cursor for a professional and user-friendly experience.

11. Don’t Hide Navigation in Drop-downs

Hiding your navigation in drop-down menus is like hiding the treasure map in a maze — it just frustrates people. Keep your navigation clear and accessible to avoid losing visitors in a digital labyrinth.

12. Say No to Emojis

While emojis might be all the rage in texts and tweets, they have no place in the serious business of web design. Save the smiley faces for social media and keep your website looking professional.

13. Stick to Web Design Standards

Sure, reinventing the wheel might sound exciting, but when it comes to web design, stick to what works. Follow established standards for a smoother user experience and fewer headaches.

14. Avoid Time-consuming Opening Messages

Nobody has time for long-winded opening messages that read like a Victorian novel. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point to grab your visitors’ attention before they click away.

15. Don’t Ignore Web Design Standards

Did we mention sticking to web design standards? Seriously, they’re there for a reason. Don’t ignore them unless you want your website to look like a digital Frankenstein’s monster.

16. Limit Menu Animations

Menu animations might seem like a cool way to impress your visitors, but too much of a good thing can quickly turn into a headache-inducing nightmare. Keep your animations short and sweet to avoid driving your audience to the exit button.

17. Make Hamburger Icons

Recognizable Hamburger icons might be ubiquitous, but that doesn’t mean they should be unrecognizable. Ensure your visitors can find the menu without playing a game of “Where’s Waldo?”.

18. Use Clear H1s

Headings are like the signposts of your website — they should be clear, concise, and easy to follow. Ensure your H1s do their job and guide your visitors to the promised land of content.

19. Avoid Typewriter Text Effects

Typewriter text effects might seem charming at first, but trust us, they get old faster than last week’s leftovers. Keep your text steady and avoid unnecessary distractions.

20. Say No to Horizontal Submenus

Horizontal submenus might look sleek, but in terms of usability, they’re about as helpful as a screen door on a submarine. Stick to vertical menus for a smoother navigation experience.

21. Use Contrasting Colors for Call-to-action Buttons

Call-to-action buttons are like beacons guiding your visitors toward their destination. Make sure they stand out from the crowd with contrasting colors that scream “click me!”.

22. Ensure Sticky Menus

Have Background Colors Sticky menus might be convenient, but without a background color, they’re about as noticeable as a ninja in a snowstorm. Make sure your menus pop against the background for maximum visibility.

23. Use Arrows for Menus with Submenus

Arrows are like breadcrumbs guiding your visitors through the maze of your website. Make sure they know which way to go with clear indicators for submenus.

24. Combine First and Last Name Fields

Filling out forms is about as fun as a root canal, so don’t make it any more painful than it needs to be. Combine first and last name fields for a smoother user experience that’ll have your visitors thanking their lucky stars.

25. Avoid Horizontal Scrolling

Websites Horizontal scrolling might seem edgy, but in reality, it’s about as user-friendly as a Rubik’s Cube with missing pieces. Keep your scrolling vertical for a smoother ride.