beginner mistakes in website design
Suppose you have an online or offline business. In that case, you understand the importance of having a website and online presence, and mistakes in website design will undoubtedly affect the performance of your website. However, if this is your first website and you designed it yourself, you may have made some mistakes while building it. Fortunately, many of these mistakes are easy to correct.
What is website design?
Website design or web development is the process of designing and building an internet site to inform, introduce the company, and present its products. It consists of web page layering, content creation, graphic design, and compliance with SEO principles. Before reviewing the steps of website design, let’s briefly examine its design history.
What is the history of website design?
Tim Berners-Lee, the web inventor, made his name as the first web developer by launching the first website in 1991. The first website used hypertext and communication to send email. This simple text site does not use graphics, images, or even coloring, and it is still available.
What are the stages of website design?
As mentioned, website design means designing, building, and launching a website or optimizing an old website on the Internet. Web Design consists of four main steps, each of which is described below.
Step 1: Wireframe design
First, we design an overview of the site according to its type and the customer’s needs. This view includes a general map of the site’s pages and determines the location and arrangement of various elements. This stage of website design is called “wireframe design.”
Step 2: Website graphic design
After determining the placement of site elements, we need to design the site. At this stage, the site is designed according to the internet business type and uses special coloring and graphics software.
Step 3: Coding and programming
Different methods can be used to manage the site, such as content management systems, WordPress, or designing a dedicated programming framework, according to the designed site and the customer’s needs. Decisions in this section are made based on costs and customer needs.
Step 4: Setting up the site
After completing the previous three steps, we will launch the site on the global Internet platform. At this stage, after preparing a “host” and a “proper domain name”, we configure the site and make it available to the public.
What are the duties of a site designer?
The duties of a site designer depend on which part of the site he is responsible for designing and building. To set up a professional site, two teams or two people are needed: a team to create the site’s shape and appearance, and a team to design server codes and code that is not visible to users.
Types of website design
In the previous part, we familiarized ourselves with the concept of the site’s Frontend and Backend. Now, we will examine the types of website design.
Sites are divided into two general categories: Static Website and Dynamic Website.
In static sites :
Only the frontend part is done.. This means that the site’s contents are collected only once, and each page is designed and loaded separately. In these sites, any changes must be made by the site’s designer and expert. This model is usually used to design introductory websites (the content of which does not change for a long time).
Dynamic site :
Both the frontend and backend parts are programmed in the design of these sites. Dynamic sites require constant content changes and are designed and developed according to their use. The backend programmer is responsible for making the website dynamic and must design a script that makes the site fully dynamic.
But what we will discuss next is examining the question of “What is the point of web design, and what can be the purpose of its design?”
In today’s world, for almost every purpose, a site is designed to be used as a base for information, sales, etc. The most successful of these sites are those that have properly followed the principles of site design and optimization to display content to their audience. Designing and building an efficient and successful website makes it possible to quickly provide the audience with the latest products and their specifications.
Where do we start to design a website?
The most important factor in becoming a professional web designer is learning basic concepts and gaining experience. The best reference for learning web design is project-based training in website design. You can gain initial experience in developing and designing an online site by doing various projects during training. In the following, we will explain what steps you should take to become a professional web designer.
First step: learning the HTML language
HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language, which is called “hypertext markup language” in Farsi. HTML is used to create the main body and overall structure of web pages. This language works with tags (categorization and labeling in the presentation of site content), and these tags determine what elements are used on the web page.
Second step: learning the CSS language
The second step for someone planning to design a website is using CSS ( Cascading Style Sheets). This language is used to beautify and format web pages. With the help of CSS, you can determine properties such as color, font, dimensions, and size, and how to arrange elements on the web page.
The third step: Learning the JavaScript language
By mastering HTML and CSS languages, you will be able to design static web pages. However, today, users are more accepting of interactive and dynamic sites. JavaScript is one of the most popular programming languages for making websites dynamic, and it supports different programming methods. This language can be used for server-side programming, mobile applications, games, and desktop applications.
Fourth step: Learning a server-side programming language such as PHP
Web developers are divided into two categories:
- Client-side programmers: design the appearance of the site
- Server-side programmers: implement the logic of the site
In order to have a useful site, it is not enough to have a beautiful design. In addition to form and beauty, sites also need correct and efficient content. Sites should be designed to fulfill the needs of users properly.
In large web projects, a server-side language is necessary. The importance of using a programming language is clearly defined when we want to communicate between the user, the database, and the server. By learning PHP, you can write scripts to get information from users and, after processing this information, return it to the user.
Site design conditions
In addition to the things mentioned above, the terms of website design are also important things that should be considered. Setting up a website is just like setting up a store, and you should consider a suitable place, name, manager, etc. Setting up a successful website requires four main parts, which include the following:
- Choose the right domain name
- Hosting (space rental for logging in, storing information, and site contents)
- Beautiful and functional template design
- Site management and control system
Website design cost
So far, we have learned about the concept of website design and its steps. However, the correct and principled start of any activity requires spending money. This section will examine the costs of having a professional website. According to what we will say, you can estimate the approximate web design costs.
You have to pay for the design and construction of the site. In this section, we examine how to estimate and calculate the cost of website design
If you rely on your website to drive user traffic, then you want your website to be smooth, clear, and straightforward. Below we have mentioned ten mistakes in website design that many beginners make in building their website, and solutions to fix them:
1. Lack of perspective
Your website should exist for a definite reason, not just because you think you should have an online presence. You must decide on the website’s purpose before building it.
The website should have a specific purpose, and every page should work to fulfill that purpose. For example, your website can build credibility and influence, source new leads, sell products or services, provide information about your business, and much more.
Users who enter your website should immediately know what the website is about.
2. Rushing to market
Do your market research first instead of getting your website up and running as soon as possible. For example, if you have an older target market, you must ensure your website is easy to read, digest, and navigate.
By understanding your market rather than simply taking up space, your website can serve your target market.
We suggest you read the article What is Angular?
3. Complicated design is one of the biggest mistakes in website design
A successful website should be designed as simply as possible without frills. Having an overly complex design will only lead to confusion.
Your design goal should be to create the best possible user experience throughout the website.
4. Overly conventional design (fashionable)
Hot topics come and go, but timeless design remains forever. By building your website based on consistent design principles, you will stay ahead of the curve. The biggest mistake in website design is websites that rely on fashion; they will quickly become obsolete.
5. Expired content
If you haven’t updated your website content for years, it probably isn’t up to date with your current business or the latest web standards. If your website’s mojo content is outdated, visitors may assume you’re out of business or that you’re not as innovative as your competitors.
If you manage a blog, be sure to update it regularly. There is nothing worse than an empty blog without content.
6. Low-quality photography
Low-quality or outdated photography will make your website look amateur and will not attract visitors’ attention.
Your images will only help you connect with your audience if they are aligned with your message and business. Therefore, you must use a professional photographer or valuable, high-quality photos available online. Remember that the photo should be of low and optimal size. We suggest that you get more information in this field. Please read our article on optimizing website images for search engines.
7. Having broken elements/links
Every element of your website must work. This means that you should regularly test and check all the links and pages on your website, so that users do not encounter the 404 error page. It is suggested that you read our article for information on what a 404 error is. You should also check all your internal links to ensure that you are not driving your users to dead ends.
8. Poorly designed logo
Your logo is a central part of your brand. By designing your logo or getting a cheaply designed logo, the biggest mistake in website design, you are not doing much to promote your brand or website. Although your logo is a small part of your design, it has much to do with your business.
9. Poor choice of font
Font selection is another subtle element that many business owners overlook. The font you choose should complement your design and increase the readability of your content.
In this case, it is very beneficial to consult a professional designer. But if you prefer to choose the font yourself, a simple font is often better.
10. No Call-To-Action
You should direct your visitors to where this is possible through a Call-To-Action. A website without a contact form is a virtual business card. Once you have introduced your website as valuable and reliable to visitors, you should lead them to act, such as commenting, suggesting, and criticizing. This action can be signing up for your email list, contacting your business, or many other options.
If your website is implemented with WordPress, you can use the Contact Form 7 plugin to create a contact form. To install and set it up, refer to the Contact Form 7 plugin settings article.
Building a website based on the above tips can take much work and time, but it’s well spent. A basic and well-designed website will definitely help your business grow long-term.
