There’s no one answer to this question as what makes good web design varies from person to person and project to project.
However, there are general concepts that most people will agree make for good design. Conversely, there are also common mistakes that can make a website look poor and unprofessional.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the critical elements of good web design and what common pitfalls to avoid.
A good website should be easy to navigate and use. The user should be able to find the information they’re looking for without difficulty.
There should also be a clear hierarchy of the site’s structure, and the navigation should be logical.
People are visual creatures, and an attractive website will make an excellent first impression on potential customers. However, it’s not just about looks. The design should also be engaging and encourage people to stick around and explore the site.
3. Well-Organized and Structured
A well-designed website will be easy to scan and understand. The content should be organized in a way that’s easy to follow.
To achieve this, the layout should use headings and subheadings to break up the text and make it more readable. Bullet points and lists can also be helpful for this.
Images, infographics, and videos can also help break up the text and add visual interest.
A good website should be designed with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind. This means using the right keywords and phrases throughout the site to help improve its ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs).
SEO can be divided into two main categories: on-page SEO and off-page SEO.
On-page SEO deals with a website’s content and structure, ensuring that the right keywords are used in the right places. Off-page SEO deals with external factors, such as link building and social media engagement.
5. Mobile-Friendly & Responsive
In today’s world, your website must be designed to be mobile-friendly. With more and more people using smartphones and tablets to access the internet, your website should be viewable on these devices.
A responsive website automatically adjusts to fit the screen size of the device it’s being viewed on. This is done through flexible layouts, images, and cascading style sheets (CSS).
People are impatient, and if your website takes too long to load, they’re likely to click away before it even finishes loading.
A fast website is essential for a good user experience, and there are a few things you can do to help speed things up. These include using a content delivery network (CDN), optimizing images, and using a caching plugin.
A secure website is essential for both users and search engines. Users want to know that their personal information is safe when inputting it into your website forms. This includes things like their name, address, and credit card number.
Search engines also want to see that your website is secure. One way they determine this is by looking for an SSL certificate. This is a type of security that encrypts data being sent between the user and the server.
Your website should be accessible to many people, regardless of their ability or disability. This includes things like using alt text to describe images for those who are blind or visually impaired.
It also means ensuring that your website can be used by people with motor disabilities who may be using a keyboard or voice-recognition software.
Now that you know what makes a good website, here are common mistakes web designers make that produce poor web design:
1. Not Paying Attention to Detail
The devil is in the details, and this is especially true when it comes to web design. Small things like typos, broken links, and incorrect grammar can make your website look unprofessional and sloppy.
Consistency is key when it comes to web design. This means using the same fonts, colors, and overall style throughout your site. If your website looks like it was put together haphazardly, it will reflect poorly on your business.
3. Not Making the User Experience a Priority
The user experience should be your top priority when designing a website. If users can’t figure out how to use your site, they will likely click away and never come back.
4. Not Being Up-to-Date with Latest Trends
If your website looks like it was designed a few years ago, it’s time for an update. Keeping up with the latest web design trends will make your site look more modern and stylish. It’ll also make it more user-friendly and responsive, both essential in the modern online world.
5. Not Testing Your Design Before Launching
It’s essential to test your web design before you launch your site. This will help you catch any errors or bugs so you can fix them before they cause problems for users.
To test your design, create a staging site where you can make changes without affecting the live version of your site. Then, ask friends and family to test it out and give you feedback.
6. Relying Too Much on Templates
Templates can be a useful starting point when designing a website, but relying too heavily on them can make your site look generic and unoriginal. Instead of using a template as is, use it as a starting point and customize it to make it your own. This will give your site a more unique look that reflects your brand.
7. Not Optimizing for Mobile Devices
One of the most common mistakes businesses make when it comes to their website is not optimizing for mobile devices. With over 60% of web traffic now coming from mobile devices, it’s more important than ever to ensure your site is designed for them.
You can do a few things to ensure your site is mobile-friendly, such as using a responsive design, optimizing images, and using a caching plugin.
8. Not Considering Website Accessibility
When designing a website, it’s crucial to consider accessibility for all users. This includes things like using alt text to describe images for those who are blind or visually impaired.
It also means ensuring that your website can be used by people with motor disabilities who may be using a keyboard or voice-recognition software.
By following the guidelines above, you can create a good web design that’ll please both users and search engines. And by avoiding common mistakes, you can avoid making a design that’s anything less than stellar.
