Introduction

Designing a website can seem tricky, but following some basic rules can make it easier. Whether you’re starting from scratch or updating an old site, knowing the dos and don’ts of web design will help you create a user-friendly, attractive site.

In this blog post, we’ll cover the key things to do—and avoid—when designing a website. These tips will guide you toward a site that works well for your visitors and looks good too.

Summary 

1. Do Focus on the User Experience (UX)

2. Don’t Forget to Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly

3. Do Keep Navigation Simple and Clear

4. Don’t Use Too Many Fonts or Colors

5. Do Make Your Website Fast

6. Don’t Ignore SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

7. Do Add Clear Calls to Action (CTAs)

Your website should be easy and enjoyable to use. User experience (UX) is the overall impression and emotional response visitors have when navigating and engaging with your website. Good UX makes it simple for people to find what they need quickly.

• Do keep your design simple and easy to navigate. Visitors should not have to search too hard to find important information.
• Do make sure all buttons and links are clear and easy to click. Make it simple for visitors to get from one page to another.

Don’t confuse visitors with too many options or cluttered pages. Overloading your site with too much information can drive users away.

A large number of users access the web through their smartphones or tablets. So, it’s important to make sure your site looks good on any device. A mobile-friendly or responsive website automatically adjusts to different screen sizes.

• Do test your site on different devices (phones, tablets, and desktops) to make sure it works well on all of them.
• Do keep page load times fast on mobile devices. Slow websites can frustrate users.

Don’t design your site just for desktop users. If your site doesn’t work well on mobile, you’ll lose many potential visitors.

Navigation is how visitors move through your site. A clear navigation menu helps people find what they’re looking for without getting lost.

• Do use a simple and clear navigation bar. Use standard terms like “Home,” “About,” and “Contact” so people know where to go.
• Do make sure visitors can get to important pages within a few clicks.

Don’t confuse visitors with too many links or overly creative names for your pages. Keep it straightforward so users can find what they need easily.

Using too many fonts or colors can make your website look messy. A simple and consistent design helps your site look professional and organized.

• Do stick to two or three colors for your design. This helps keep everything looking neat and on-brand.
• Do limit yourself to one or two fonts. Choose one font style for headings and a different one for the body text to create visual contrast and improve readability.

Don’t use lots of different fonts or bright, clashing colors. This can distract visitors and make your site harder to read.

A fast website is crucial. If your website takes too long to load, visitors might leave before they even get a chance to see it. Speed also affects how search engines rank your site.

• Do compress images and reduce file sizes to speed up your site.
• Do check your site’s speed regularly using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and make improvements where necessary.

Don’t overload your site with too many plugins, videos, or large images. These can slow down your website and frustrate visitors.

SEO is important because it helps your site show up on search engines like Google. If your site isn’t optimized, it will be harder for people to find it.

• Do use proper headings (H1, H2, H3) to organize your content for both users and search engines.
• Do add descriptive text to your images, known as “alt text.” This helps search engines understand what’s in the images and boosts SEO.

Don’t forget to include keywords, meta descriptions, and proper tags on every page. Ignoring SEO will hurt your site’s visibility in search results.

A Call to Action (CTA) is a prompt that tells visitors what to do next. For example, a CTA might ask visitors to sign up for a newsletter or buy a product. Clear CTAs help guide users toward taking specific actions.

• Do use strong, simple language for your CTAs, like “Sign Up Now” or “Learn More.”
• Do place CTAs in key spots, such as at the end of a blog post or in the middle of a product page.

Don’t overload your site with too many CTAs. This can confuse or overwhelm visitors. Stick to one main CTA per page to keep things simple.

FAQs:

Q.1. Why is user experience important in web design?
A.1. A good user experience helps visitors find what they need quickly and easily. It keeps them on your site longer.

Q.2. What is mobile-friendly web design?
A.2. Mobile-friendly design means your site adjusts to different screen sizes, like phones and tablets, so it works well on all devices.

Q.3. How can I speed up my website?
A.3. You can speed up your site by compressing images, reducing large files, and removing unnecessary plugins.

Q.4. What is SEO in web design?
A.4. SEO helps your site rank higher on search engines like Google, making it easier for people to find your website.

Q.5. What is a CTA, and why is it important?
A.5. A Call to Action (CTA) is a prompt that encourages visitors to take a specific action, like signing up for a newsletter or purchasing a product.

Conclusion

Designing a website doesn’t have to be complicated. By following these dos and don’ts of web design, you can create a site that is easy to use, looks great, and performs well. Remember to focus on your user’s experience, make sure your site works on all devices, and keep your design clean and organized.

Pay attention to key details like navigation, SEO, and page speed to ensure your website works for everyone. By avoiding common mistakes and sticking to best practices, you’ll be on your way to building a website that visitors will love.

For more information, check out our website at https://srutatech.com/ or give us a call at 215-650-3185. We’re ready to help with any questions you may have!