Creating a unique and professional website can be challenging. It takes careful planning, execution, and attention to detail to succeed. However, many websites make errors that could give off a less-than-professional impression and cost your business or potential consumers.
As a web development company in the Netherlands, knowing that a professional looking website is critical for any business that wants to establish a strong online presence is essential. Mistakes on your website can make it look unprofessional, potentially damaging your reputation and deterring potential customers. Below are some examples of mistakes that you should avoid to keep your website looking professional:
What are the Mistakes That Can Make a Website Appear Unprofessional?
1. Incorrect Use of the Template
A premade template can be a convenient way to create a website quickly. However, it's crucial to customize the template thoroughly by adding unique content, images, and features to avoid an unprofessional look. It's highly recommended to enlist the services of a designer to properly customize the template and make it consistent with your branding.
2. Using the Bootstrap Default Look
Another mistake that can be as concerning as others are utilizing the default Bootstrap layout for your business website. Even though you use Open Sans, it won't hide the fact that your website looks indistinguishable from others using this design. This is negatively impacting your brand.
One indication that your website was built with Bootstrap is the use of font-awesome. While it has become extremely popular, like Bootstrap, as it provides a comprehensive collection of icons with a consistent visual style, it's alright to use it as a valuable addition to complex interfaces.
3. Using Inappropriate Background Colour
As a web development company, they want to emphasize that the background color of a website is crucial for its design and user experience. It covers a significant part of your website, and choosing the right color can make it look unprofessional and appealing to visitors.
While white is a safe option, some designers prefer light shades of gray for a softer and more modern look. It is important to use gray shades carefully because if the gray is too dark, it can be difficult to read black letters in the background.
4. Readability Issues
If your text is difficult to read, it can harm your business even if the content is excellent. The size of the font, the distance between lines, and the contrast between text and background can greatly affect how easy it is to read and how your brand is perceived. Ensure you address these issues on your website, as they can make it appear unprofessional, even if most people can still read the text without difficulty.
5. Inconsistency
Maintaining consistency in design elements is essential for creating a cohesive user experience on your website. This means using the same font and color scheme on every page and sticking with a consistent layout. Using too many different layouts can make your site appear disorganized and unprofessional.
It is important to maintain consistency in your brand across all platforms. This will make it easier for customers to recognize your brand, whether they encounter it on social media, in advertisements, or person.
6. Alignment and Spacing Problems
Proper alignment and spacing are essential for a well-designed website. Small errors like uneven margins, overcrowded elements, and misaligned text and images can harm the website's overall appearance.
Finding the right balance between providing enough white space around elements and not leaving too much can be a challenge regarding proper spacing. However, you can simplify the process by two rules: group elements correctly and provide adequate white space around those groups.
7. Several Similar Calls to Action
It is recommended that each page of your website has only one primary call to action. If several tasks are to be done, visitors may require more explanation, take a longer time to decide, or even exit the website. Therefore, website development companies should provide visitors with a clear path to conversion, minimizing the number of calls to action.
The goal is to simplify the process and make it easy for people to act without much effort. To clarify which action you want users to take, use graphical accents for the sign-up button or plan selection and make the other options less attractive visually.
Final Verdict
A website is often the first touchpoint between a customer and your business, meaning it should convey professionalism. If you want to ensure that your visitors perceive your brand as professional, avoid making any of these common mistakes with web design.
Hire high-quality web development services to ensure your website looks modern and offers a great user experience. This will help you create a strong, long-lasting relationship with your customers.