Avoid These Web Design Turn-Offs

The internet has become cluttered with information. No matter what you search for, you’re likely to be bombarded with tons of sites, blogs and videos related (or not) with the keyword you typed in Google search. With all this excess of information, good and functional website design is a must. However, many developers have been trying too hard to eye-ball users and have been leaving a lot of internet surfers annoyed in the process. If you’re a developer, read on. I’m going to give you the 5 web design turn-offs to avoid.

1. Autoplay videos, images or gifs

While that may have looked cool back in the late-90’s, autoplay media just doesn’t cut it anymore. Even though a few developers are still able to do it right, you’re likely to have a website that looks cheesy, annoying and outdated. So for all intents and purposes, stay clear of those.

2. Ah, those animations…

Please don’t get me wrong. Animation CAN make your site more intuitive and cutting-edge, as long as they’re not overused. You see, many developers like to use animation on everything. As a result, instead of having animation that makes their website stand out, they end up with a site that is cluttered with moving objects and flashy icons. Do use animation, but in well-dosed and well-placed spots.

3. Not optimised for mobile

If there’s one thing that has changed web design in recent years is the cell phone. Nowadays, more than 50% of website traffic comes from mobile devices, which means that people are surfing the web more on their phones than on their desktop or laptop computers. If your websites are not mobile-friendly, you’re seriously hurting their overall performance. What was once thought of an extra, creating a mobile-friendly version of your website has become a must.

4. Popup pain

There’s been a lot of debate over popup usage. Some developers swear by them, saying that they help increase conversion rates. Others, on the other hand, hate to use them. What I’m going to tell you is this: if you’re going to use it, use it strategically. You know those websites that won’t let you leave them? You know those websites that every time you refresh the page a “join our mailing list” button shows up? Don’t make one of those. The point here is that popups should never detract from the main content your visitor wants to consume.

5. Too slow

While technology has made our lives easier and more practical, it has also made us more spoiled when it comes to loading time. If a site takes more than 3 seconds to load, we start fidgeting. If it takes more than 5 seconds, we leave and go look somewhere else. Make sure you optimize your website so it loads as fast as possible. Having a slow website is traffic suicide.
So there you have it. These are the 5 web design turn-offs to avoid. If there is one thing you take from this article, let it be this: Always put your content first. Use the tools at your disposal to enhance the user’s experience, not detract from it. If you focus on delivering good content that is relevant to your visitor, your websites will stand out.
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