5 common website fails you should eliminate from the beginning

Launching a website can be slightly daunting for anyone whether you are looking to start your own business or promote your online presence. There is a multitude of things that could potentially go wrong in the early stages and we want to make sure that you have the best chances for success and your website gets off to a flying start. We have listed some of the major pitfalls that could crop up in this article with the hopes of giving you the best possible chance to not only engage with the internet community but also put you in a great position to receive consistent new visitors and continue to impress potential clients or customers.

When it comes to successfully launching a website for either professional or personal purposes, there are many things to consider before you dip a toe in the water and start the design your own website. Planning is vitally important and understanding where you want your content appearing on your website is also an important part of the overall process. Once you have the planning part wrapped up, it’s time to start thinking about the finer points of your website so let’s go through some of the common mistakes that are made during the design and launch stages to eliminate these mistakes before they happen.

These are only a few of some potential website fails that have happened often with business owners and we want to give you a head start so that you won’t have to learn the hard way.

Mistake # 1 – Not using a responsive website design

This oversight is massive and could result in losing out on a huge portion of visitors due to your website not being responsive and mobile friendly. If a mobile website audit is performed, the results will show if your website is responsive based on a series of tests and will suggest ways to improve responsiveness. A vast amount of people will visit your website through a tablet or smartphone and that percentage of visitors is only going up. If you own a website that does not respond to ratio changes, this cause major headaches down the road. By ensuring that your website includes a responsive design, you will see a higher number of unique visitors and will generate more leads as a result.

Mistake # 2 – Lack of investment in engaging content

You can have the most technologically advanced website on the planet but if this site cannot engage and hold a potential client’s attention, you’ve failed before having a chance to get started. Quality web content is hugely important, and this importance can be seen when it comes to Google ranking for new websites. If the e-web site contains original and engaging content, you will see a ranking reward from Google because it gives something to the internet community and does not copy content from other sources. Providing your potential customers or clients with quality content that is free of errors and well thought out will keep your audience captivated and will ultimately result in a much higher conversion rate.

Mistake # 3 – Burying important information

One of the most commonly complained about elements of websites, from a consumer’s point of view, is how difficult it can be to find important information and the amount of time it takes to get that information. By making core information such as contact details, opening hours, latest promotions or helpdesk contact information easily accessible, you will be able to keep your customers or clients happy and allow them time to explore your site with a positive frame of mind. Hidden information usually comes down to a design flaw so be mindful that your potential clients or customers may want to just “get to the point” and get your contact details or make a speedy checkout and those functions can be highlighted during the design process.

Mistake # 4 – Too many customisations

It’s easy to get really excited about your website and when you are putting all of that hard work into the design stages, there is a tendency to go a little bit overboard and equip the site with every fancy widget or customisation imaginable. Serious over customisation can cause issues in the future as the site starts to receive a steady flow of traffic and will struggle to perform under the customisations and visitor traffic. Keeping your site simple and minimalistic is a great way to not only keep the overall look and feel of the site tidy but also helps the site to function the way it should.

Mistake # 5 – Forgetting to use analytical tools

This may seem like something to consider after your website has already been launched but thinking about the best analytical tools for your website before you go live is very important and should be put into place before the site goes live. Analytical tools are a great way to adjust pages that aren’t receiving the level of traffic expected and the right tools will give you the opportunity to measure and analyse pages that are not performing or adjust content to increase conversion rates. Some the best websites in the world habitually test and analyse pages on their websites to better understand what needs to be changed and how to keep visitors engaged and coming back for more.

Analytical tools such as Google Analytics will provide you with incredible insight into how your website is performing and where your visitors are spending their time. By understanding and using the data, you can apply this information to other parts of your website and safeguard your site against failing pages or dead zones on the site which lack conversion.

 

So, there you have it – these are only a few issues that can be addressed before you go live with your website to ensure success from the very beginning and if you can avoid some of these issues before they come up, you will be in a great position to impress your regular visitors. A website is an ever-changing entity and the long-term success of your site is heavily dependant on getting things right the first time and learning from the things that don’t go well so you deliver a better user experience next time around.

The most important thing to take away from this article is how to equip yourself with the best tools to ensure your business thrives and continues to make money in the future. If you are equipped with information and given tactics on how to avoid potential pitfalls, you will be in a great position to launch a successful website the first time around.