​A well-designed website can be a powerful tool in engaging visitors, promoting a brand, and driving conversions. However, there are certain elements that can quickly turn a website from good to bad.  And a bad website, of course, is an under-performing website, which is just going to hurt your bottom line.

In this post, we will explore the five things that make a bad website, and how to avoid them.

1. Poor Navigation

One of the most frustrating experiences for users is navigating through a website that lacks clear and intuitive navigation. A bad website fails to provide easy access to important pages and information. Users should be able to find what they are looking for quickly and without confusion. Implementing a clear menu structure, using descriptive labels, and providing search functionality can greatly enhance the user experience.

2. Slow Loading Speed

In today’s fast-paced digital world, users have little patience for slow-loading websites. A bad website takes forever to load, forcing visitors to abandon it in frustration. Optimising images, minimising code, and leveraging caching techniques are just a few ways to improve loading speed. Remember, every second counts when it comes to retaining visitors and keeping them engaged.

3. Cluttered Layout

A website with a cluttered layout overwhelms visitors and makes it difficult for them to focus on the content they seek. Excessive use of flashy graphics, multiple fonts, and intrusive advertisements can confuse and frustrate users. A website should aim for simplicity, with clean and organised design elements that guide users’ attention to the most important information.

4. Lack of Mobile Responsiveness

With the rise of smartphones and tablets, well over half of all website visitors are using mobile devices so responsiveness is no longer optional; it is essential. A bad website fails to adapt its layout and functionality to different screen sizes, resulting in a poor user experience on mobiles. Designing a responsive website ensures that it looks and works well on all devices, providing a seamless experience for users across platforms.

5. Outdated Content

A bad website neglects to keep its content fresh and up to date. Outdated information, expired promotions, and broken links create a sense of unreliability and diminish trust in the brand or organisation behind the website. Regularly updating content, removing outdated elements, and fixing broken links are vital to maintaining a good user experience.

6. Broken Links and Error Messages

OK, I said 5 things. Here’s a sixth. Nothing is more frustrating for users than encountering broken links or error messages when trying to access information on a website. These issues not only disrupt the user’s journey but also reflect poorly on the credibility and professionalism of the business.

Broken links can occur when pages are moved or deleted without proper redirects. Error messages, such as “404 Not Found,” indicate that the requested page could not be found. Regular maintenance and monitoring are necessary to identify and fix broken links promptly.

7. No Calls-To-Action

Make that 7. Probably the most important, so I can’t leave it off.

Without well-placed CTAs, visitors may browse your website without any clear direction on what action they should take next. This lack of guidance can result in missed conversion opportunities. Whether your goal is to generate leads, make sales, or increase subscriptions, CTAs are essential for guiding visitors towards the desired outcome. By incorporating persuasive and strategically placed CTAs, you can significantly increase your chances of converting visitors into customers.

Having good CTAs on your website is so important, that will be the subject of my next post.

Impact on Business Success

The impact of poor performing websites extends beyond user frustration. It can directly affect a business’s bottom line. Research has shown that users are more likely to abandon their online purchases if they encounter difficulties with a website. High bounce rates and low conversion rates can significantly hamper business growth and success.

In addition, poor website performance can also negatively impact search engine rankings. Search engines prioritize websites that offer a seamless user experience, including fast loading times, mobile-friendliness, and relevant content. A poorly performing website may struggle to rank well in search engine results, leading to decreased visibility and fewer organic traffic.

In conclusion, a bad website is characterised by poor navigation, slow loading speed, cluttered layout, lack of mobile responsiveness, and outdated content. By avoiding these pitfalls and focusing on user-centred design principles, you can create a website that engages visitors, builds trust, and achieves its goals.

Remember, your website is the face of your brand online. Invest the time and effort into making it a good one!

We all like a bit of novelty. Many like the buzz of being different. And if that rings true for you, and you want your website to stand out and be different from your competitors, fantastic. Fill your boots.

But one area where you need a bit of conformity is in your navigation.

There’s a simple reason for this – user experience. You want your visitor to find their way around your site easily. And for this to be easy, your navigation needs to be where your visitor expects it: links across the top, or down the lefthand side.

Keep your navigation as simple as possible. If you have many pages, review your visitor stats (you have got Google Analytics installed, right?). If there are any pages with no views, then either no one is interested in that page’s content, or your navigation is too complicated. Time for a rethink

And if you have a page structure that’s more than two deep, then make sure you’ve got breadcrumbs to help people find their way back.

There’s no point in having a well-designed, mobile-friendly website if it is full of ineffective text.

But this part isn’t difficult. You just need to keep some simple things in mind when you are writing:

Make it clear what you do and how you can help

Keep your paragraphs and sentences short. People are genuinely put off by big, long-winded chunks of text

Don’t be boring!

Don’t make it about you, even if it is. So if you want to say how long you’ve been in business and how good you are, rephrase it. Make it something your visitor would want. “You can be confident that you are teaming up with an award-winning web designer and you will benefit from over a decade’s experience of satisfying clients.”

Talk to your audience about their problems, interests and needs. In most cases, this also means avoiding jargon. You can’t see the blank look on your visitor’s face when they read something they don’t understand, so keep it at a level everyone should be able to follow.

Keep it fresh. Your website isn’t a tablet of stone. Adding to it, and updating any out-of-date references makes you look vibrant. And Google loves fresh content – You’re going to climb up the search results if you add news stories and fresh content on a regular basis

It should go without saying now, that a website must work well on a mobile phone.

Many still don’t though.

Which is negligent. That’s right – you are neglecting the majority of your visitors if your website isn’t mobile friendly. Typically, a website’s visitors using a desktop or laptop will be around a quarter or a third of all traffic. That means the other three quarters are on their phones or tablets.

So now “mobile-friendly” really should mean mobile first. The mobile version should be the one you concentrate on to get your desired result. (Your site does have a purpose, doesn’t it?)

Mobile friendly website means (amongst other things)

• the images and text have to align to the mobile browser’s narrow layout.
• the text has to be readable
• the site has to be easily navigated using your thumb.

And if your website isn’t mobile-friendly yet, here’s something that will blow your mind and transform your business:

A Tap-To-Call button

An ever-present button on your mobile site so a visitor can tap it, they are ringing you up.

And you’ve got another customer.

You need to do this now, so tap my button!

That’s right. You’ve got around 7 seconds to persuade someone to stay on your website.

Which means that first impressions count. They mean everything. So good design doesn’t just make your website look fantastic, it also gives it credibility.

To drill down, in those 7 seconds you’ll have to answer these three questions:

1. Am I in the right place?
2. Is this business reliable and trustworthy?
3. What do I do next?

Am I in the right place?

In some cases, you might want the visitor to realise that they are in the wrong place.

For example, I have a web design client that does, amongst other things, dance fit classes for seniors. Younger visitors will see a photo of senior ladies exercising and move on. Great. This means all the enquiries will be age-appropriate.

But for the visitors that are in the right place, tell them what they need to know about what your company does, visually and with a simple headline. And in sight – ie above “the fold”, without scrolling.

And keep it simple.

Is this business reliable and trustworthy?

You need to come across as competent. And good design can help you do that. 

Use your company brand colour scheme consistently and appropriately. 

Have an easy to follow layout that doesn’t confuse and uses a simple font that is easy to read. Most people are initially put off by huge paragraphs of text so keep it short and to the point.

What do I do next?

Think of what your website visitors would want to do after landing on your site. 

They might:

• Want to know more
• Want to get in touch
• Want to buy your product

 So help them get there with obvious links and buttons. Like the ones I’ve put on this page to help you get in touch 🙂