31 dont’s that ruin your website

In this blog, we discuss 31 don’ts for websites that hurt your business. They are divided into three categories: formatting, content and conversion. This will help you avoid common mistakes and ensure a website that makes both you and your customers happy.

Formatting don’ts

1. Too creative

Keep it simple. Use patterns and layouts that visitors are used to. Your main menu belongs at the top of every page. Being creative is fine, but don’t go against the basics of usability.

2. Insufficient color contrast

Make sure text and background have adequate contrast. Use tools to check this and avoid glaring colors that hurt the eyes. This not only helps visitors, but also your SEO.

3. Not mobile-friendly

A website that doesn’t work well on smartphones is a thing of the past. Make sure the text is large enough (at least 16 pixels) and test the display on different devices.

4. Too much space at the top

Use the space at the top effectively. Show what is relevant immediately so visitors know what your site offers them.

5. Information only in PDF documents

Place important information on the site itself. PDFs are inconvenient for visitors and bad for SEO. You can offer a PDF as an additional option.

6. Superfluous animations

Don’t overdo it with animations. A clean, professional design appeals more than moving elements that are distracting.

7. Automatically playing videos with sound

Videos on your site are an added value, but make sure they don’t automatically start with sound. This can be distracting to visitors.

8. Unclear clickable elements

Make clear what is clickable and keep it intuitive. Test your site by users and improve where necessary.

9. Small clickable areas

Make links and buttons user-friendly by making them broadly clickable. This will prevent frustration.

10. Clumsy font sizes

Use standard font sizes that are easy to read for everyone. This is also important for people with visual impairments.

11. Too many pages

Combine content on one page whenever possible. No one wants to click endlessly for a little bit of information.

12. Bits of text

Divide text into clear paragraphs, use bullet points and headings to make content scannable.

13. Inconsistent design

Keep your design consistent. If you send visitors to an external site (for example, for a payment), announce it.

Content don’ts

14. Too general content

Show what makes your organization unique and make sure this is evident in your texts.

15. Poor navigation

Use simple and logical terms for menu items. Test usability with your target audience.

16. Illogical reading patterns

Follow the F pattern that visitors look at. Place important information at the top left.

17. Hidden contact information

Make sure contact information is easy to find. A phone number or e-mail address at the top of each page can help a lot.

18. No focus on social media

Make sure content is easy to share on social media channels your target audience uses. Place links to your own channels in a visible place.

19. No price information

Be transparent about prices. If exact prices are not possible, provide a range and explain what determines the price.

20. Withholding information

Answer your visitors’ questions directly. This builds trust and increases the likelihood that they will contact you.

21. Too distant

Show the personal aspect of your organization, such as by showing faces of team members.

22. Excessive use of ‘click here’

Use descriptive link text that is relevant and contributes to your SEO.

Conversion don’ts

23. Lack of call-to-actions

Every page needs a purpose. Make sure visitors know exactly what to do.

24. Too many choices

Limit options to no more than three to avoid choice stress.

25. Asking for too much information

Ask for only the most necessary data. The lower the threshold, the higher the chances of visitors converting.

26. Hide important info

Be upfront about things like shipping costs and delivery times. This will prevent disappointments later in the process.

27. Difficult login procedures.

Keep it simple. Allow visitors to log in without complicated requirements.

28. Strict input rules

Allow different spellings for phone numbers, zip codes and other data. This prevents frustration.

29. Letting visitors find their mistake

If a form is incorrect, immediately highlight the field where the problem is. Make this process user-friendly.

30. Not providing a process overview

Show how many steps a process consists of and where the visitor is located. This provides clarity.

31. Getting everything refilled

Save completed data. This prevents visitors from having to start over if something goes wrong. Want to know more about conversion optimization? Read our blog on increasing your conversions.