The following is a short list I’ve compiled of mistakes that some make when designing and building a website. In most cases, these things shouldn’t be done, however, there are always exceptions. The key is to seek guidance from an expert. A web professional who remains updated on standards and best practices should be able to give good insight as to what would benefit or hinder your web endeavors.
1. Legibility
According to studies done by Jakob Nielson, the number 1 problem people have with websites is legibility. This is caused primarily by two culprits: small fonts and low contrast.
Small fonts might look good when you see that design… but their advantages end there. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when a small font is okay; for “blurbs” of a longer article (after which follows a “read more…”), for example. The problem is when small fonts are used for content in general. When your font is small and there is a lot of text, your web visitors will not read it. They will go to your website, glance over the content, and move on to the next page. Or, they’ll leave the site altogether – GASP!
As for contrast, you must make sure that the contrast between your text and the background is not making it difficult to read. Try checking out graybit.com to see how your website looks in all gray. This will give you a good idea of how difficult it may be to read in different situations (monitors, lighting, etc.) and for people who are color blind.
Rule of Thumb:
Use larger fonts to draw people in and get them interested in what you are talking about. Use small fonts for things that may not be as important. Keep it larger than 11px for body content. For contrast, utilize online tools to make sure the contrast is high enough between your text and background.
2. Splash Pages
Raise your hands – who here clicks that “Skip Intro” button as soon as they see it? Web users don’t care about a fancy show (unless that is specifically what your website is) – they want the information they came for and they want it NOW. People are so accustomed to attaining what they need quickly, patience does not exist anymore, particularly online. A Splash Page isn’t foreplay anymore – it’s a moment killer.
In fact, when you have a Splash Page, you are actually aiding in decreasing the amount of visitors who will make it to the content on your website, as some people will only get frustrated and leave. This is especially so in cases where a “Skip” button is not offered, difficult to find, or part of a Flash movie (some of your users may not have Flash and will therefore never make it to your actual site).
Splash Pages reduce credibility, hinder search engine optimization, and increase user frustration.
Rule of Thumb:
The only time a splash page is acceptable anymore is when you need to have a language/country selection page or an age confirmation page (normally seen on pornographic sites and alcohol or cigarette related sites). Otherwise, don’t bother.
“I try to tell clients that Web design should reflect the real world, and you don’t see real-world equivalents of a splash page. Think about Wal-Mart. Are you forced to wait at the front door and watch a thirty-second movie before you’re allowed to enter? No. Then why would you make your visitors wait to get inside your Web site?” (Flanders 2002)
3. Not Enough White Space
Unfortunately, not enough web developers pay attention to the importance of white space. White space is not just white, it merely is the amount of space between objects. White space is an extremely valuable tool that can be used to draw the eye, keep the user’s vision focused, and even helps to make things more visually appealing. Line height is underestimated most often, as most developers will leave the line height at a default setting.
Rule of Thumb:
Leave enough spacing between lines and elements, and utilize white space to draw the user’s eye to important elements. Don’t be afraid of white space. If your site is designed properly, there can never be enough! And as a bonus – white space improves legibility.
If white space seems to be a continuous problem, using a grid template as a guideline can help. The 960 Grid System is a great starting point.
The 12 column grid is divided into portions that are 60 pixels wide. The 16 column grid consists of 40 pixel increments. Each column has 10 pixels of margin on the left and right, which create 20 pixel wide gutters between columns.
4. Content
Too many people write their own content for their websites. While you may know your business better than anyone else, and while that should be the case, it doesn’t mean that you can write about your business so that people outside of it can understand or write most advantageously for the web.
Rule of Thumb:
Write content for your website and send it to a professional copywriter with extensive experience writing for the web to rewrite it. Don’t be afraid if they make it a lot shorter. Some key things to keep in mind with web copy is that it should be short and sweet (again, it’s that short web patience that comes into play). Say what you need to say as quickly as you can say it. Writing for the web is an art unlike any other; keeping things short while still sounding professional and being informing. A talented professional will be able to present your words in a way that will make you look better and sound more credible.
5. Movement
Some still have that crazy idea in their head that movement is the only thing that will catch people’s attention and keep them on a site. Think about it, though. You don’t want to distract them from the content they are coming there to get. Most people online today are not impressed by movement. In fact, studies have shown that most web users have grown so accustomed to seeing movement that they now ignore it completely. Why? Because there are so many ads that move. So when they see movement, they subconsciously register it as an ad.
Rule of Thumb:
Use movement cautiously in designs. Make it very subtle and gentle. Instead of keeping people’s attention with movement, choose better pictures and design your (professionally written) content more interestingly.
6. Flash
For a while, using Flash on websites was all the rage. The problem is that Flash was never intended to be used to build websites. It was meant as a supplement to content. It now is being used mostly as intended, and any creditable professional will recommend against Flash in most instances.
Rule of Thumb:
Use Flash for media intensive sites: Audio, Video, Interactive Maps and Games, but only for individual elements. Unless you own a Media or Design Firm, don’t use Flash for the barebones of your website (and even then there are usually better alternatives). One of the most important things in creating a web site is accessibility. What is the point of having a site if there is the chance that your audience will not be able to get to your content? Flash also takes away from SEO, and having a site that is created with XHTML and CSS (with separation of content and design) is much more advantageous.
Occasionally use Flash for elements on your site, but don’t forget that you can use Javascript and other programming languages to accomplish many of the same things, and Javascript can degrade very nicely (which allows your site to be viewed on browsers that may have Javascript disabled).
Resources
- 5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Web Site’s Legibility
- Sink the Splash Page
- Flash: 99% Bad
- 960 Grid System
Related Articles
- Signs of A Good Designer
- 10 Reasons to be Skeptical of Your Web Designer
- Four More Mistakes to Avoid on Your Website
Written by Sarah Camp
Sarah's passion for design built Camp Creative Group. Educated in design, she has applied and evolved her knowledge for 10+ years. You can chat with her on twitter or view more posts that she has written.
