--- title: The Biggest Mistakes in Web Design description: There are many factors to keep in mind when designing a website. Sometimes in the vast scope of Web... image: https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-02-29-06-8405-PM-Apr-10-2023-01-59-10-6623-PM-Apr-25-2023-03-47-47-2478-AM-May-01-2023-10-24-35-3690-PM.png --- [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) [![Website Magazine Logo](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png?width=586&height=145&name=gradient-regular@3x-1.png "Website Magazine Logo")](http://Website%20Services,%20Inc.) - [About](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about) - [FAQs](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/faq) - [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise) - [Editorial Staff](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff) - [Resources](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com) - [Newsletter](https://www.websitemagazine.com/newsletter-sign-up) - More - [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact) [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) Search - [Latest](https://www.websitemagazine.com) - [Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design) - [Development](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-development) - [SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo) - [Ecommerce](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce) - [Content](https://www.websitemagazine.com/content) - [Marketing](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing) - [Advertising](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising) - [Email](https://www.websitemagazine.com/email) - [Infographics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/infographics) - [View All Topics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/channels) # The Biggest Mistakes in Web Design ![Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Peter_Devereaux.png) [by Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/author/peter-devereaux) 04 Jan, 2013 - - - [mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/the-biggest-mistakes-in-web-design](mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/the-biggest-mistakes-in-web-design) - Link Copied! ![The Biggest Mistakes in Web Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-02-29-06-8405-PM-Apr-10-2023-01-59-10-6623-PM-Apr-25-2023-03-47-47-2478-AM-May-01-2023-10-24-35-3690-PM.png) There are many factors to keep in mind when designing a website. Sometimes in the vast scope of Web projects, however, some simple design mistakes inadvertently occur and may have a detrimental effect on website success. There are so many preventable errors that occur when creating new websites that listing them all would be impractical, but here are the design flaws seen over and over again on the Web. Perhaps the single biggest mistake is designing around what is important to your company, and not what's important to your visitor. Too many websites have an air of self-righteousness, believing that readers want to read about 'company goals' and 'organizational ethos', but they couldn't be more wrong. There are three basic needs that readers may be looking to satisfy when they arrive on a site: to be entertained, to be informed about a solution to a problem they have or to be engaged in a communal activity, such as sharing thoughts with other individuals with the same issue. In short, website visitors need problem resolution. Companies need to address the needs visitors had before arriving at the website. There are numerous other common mistakes in Web design that must be addressed. How many of these is your company website guilty of? ## Forcing Registration Viewing a website is called "browsing" for a reason. When you enter a clothing store you wouldn't expect to surrender your credit card details at the door before you've had a chance to look around. The Internet functions on the same principle. Unless it's absolutely necessary for the functionality of your site (or you purposefully want to screen out most of your site's visitors), do not force visitors to submit their e-mail addresses or personal information early in the visit. Most people simply will not share this information until a site has proven that it contains valuable information. ## Not Communicating Purpose Company websites needs to explain their purpose, and fast. If viewers have to rack their brains to figure out what is being offered, the game is over. Make sure that your company name, slogan and introduction make its purpose immediately clear. Frequent offenders of this are often non-profit organizations with nice sounding names and slogans that say little about their purpose. A slogan such as 'leading the way' may be true, but leading the way in what? Don't be afraid to say exactly what it is that you do or are offering your reader. If your company helps fight poverty in the third world then say so. 'Leading the way in fighting poverty in the third world' is much clearer than just 'leading the way'. ## Burying Important Features Sometimes, in the effort to keep a website 'clean', an important feature might end up hidden, forcing the user to search for it (assuming they are even aware of it). Well-designed websites should consider making use of tip balloons that highlight key features and walk users through them, so users don't get lost in the middle of a process. Since it can be complicated to develop complex, multi-step tool tips on your own, look for solutions that can help you create these features. ## Unreadable Text There is no point having a compelling slogan or clever idea if your visitors cannot read it (e.g. dark green text on a black background, or impossibly small font that require microscopes to read). The key here is simplicity. Make sure your text is in a readable font and in a size that most human beings can read unaided - read ![Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Peter_Devereaux.png) [Peter Devereaux](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/author/peter-devereaux) As the Editor-in-Chief of Website Magazine and President of Website Services, Peter has established himself as a prominent figure in the digital marketing industry. With a wealth of experience and knowledge, Peter has been a driving force in shaping the landscape of digital marketing. His leadership in creating innovative and targeted marketing campaigns has helped numerous businesses achieve their revenue growth goals. Under his direction, Website Magazine has become a trusted source of information and insights for digital marketers worldwide. As President of Website Services, Peter oversees a team of talented professionals who specialize in SEO/SEM, email marketing, social media, and digital advertising. Through his hands-on approach, he ensures that his team delivers exceptional results to their clients. With a passion for digital marketing, Peter is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and technologies, making him a sought-after thought leader in the field. - - - - - [mailto:peter.devereaux@websitemagazine.com](mailto:peter.devereaux@websitemagazine.com) #### Popular Post ### [6 Sexy Web Design Agency Websites ![6 Sexy Web Design Agency Websites](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-02-19-54-9734-PM-Apr-10-2023-01-58-57-4342-PM-Apr-25-2023-03-47-11-5390-AM-May-01-2023-10-24-02-6643-PM.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/6-sexy-web-design-agency-websites) ### [Six User Testing Questions to Ask While Navigating Website Redesigns ![Six User Testing Questions to Ask While Navigating Website Redesigns](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/question-mark483bf98ec5e163acbc5dff0000ff1aaa-3-1-1-1.png)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/six-user-testing-questions-to-ask-while-navigating-website-redesigns) ### [The Most Popular Fonts of 2015 ![The Most Popular Fonts of 2015](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/serifshot-3-1-1-1.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/the-most-popular-fonts) #### Subscribe to Our Newsletter! 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All Rights Reserved - [Privacy Policy](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/privacy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Peter Devereaux", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/author/peter-devereaux" }, "dateModified" : "2023-05-01T22:25:49.497Z", "datePublished" : "2013-01-04T06:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "The Biggest Mistakes in Web Design", "image" : [ "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/gradient-regular-logo-mark-Jan-23-2023-02-29-06-8405-PM-Apr-10-2023-01-59-10-6623-PM-Apr-25-2023-03-47-47-2478-AM-May-01-2023-10-24-35-3690-PM.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design/the-biggest-mistakes-in-web-design", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png" }, "name" : "Website Services, Inc." } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "NewsArticle", "author" : [ { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Peter Devereaux" } ], "headline" : "The Biggest Mistakes in Web Design", "publisher" : { "name" : "Website Magazine", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/" } } ```