Ever been impressed by someone when you meet for the first time, hear them speak, or talk on the phone, only to get to their website and feel disappointed by their online presence?
Ever wondered if that might happen when people come to your site? It probably is if you are making website design mistakes that can ward your customers off. Your website is the centerpiece of your online business, and it is your client’s first point of contact with your brand. A “client-focused site” can greatly attract and convert visitors to buying clients.
A poorly designed website, on the other hand, can completely put them off.
And it is not just the obvious mistakes like visuals that can hurt your online activity. Even the most beautiful and professionally looking websites can have huge shortfalls with respect to their effectiveness at attracting and retaining your clients.
Here are various ways a poorly designed website can ward off potential clients
Poor or no content
Imagine walking into a store only to find nothing (or almost nothing). Worse still, imagine walking into a disorganized store. Your website is no different. Imagine have a website with no content or poorly organized content. Will your visitors stick around? Probably not. As the owner of your site, you are not just seeking to get your potential clients there.
You want to capture their attention and offer them what they are looking for. Most Internet users will be coming to your site in search of information, so it is imperative that you give them substance. If you are a business, this calls for letting your site visitors know what you do, with clear images of your products and services.
Product reviews, descriptions, and testimonials are even better! Poor content will not only frustrate and keep off potential customers, it will also hurt your SEO efforts. So be sure to invest time in filling your website with quality and relevant content. If you need help with all that you could seek out help from a company like this one. Don’t hesitate to invest a bit, it could go a long way!
A slow loading site
Truth is, web users are inherently patient. Even with a wonderfully designed site, with useful content, no one is going to sit around waiting for your web pages to load. According to studies, 40 percent of website users walk away from sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load. This can translate into huge losses. A one-second delay in a website’s response time translates into a 7 percent drop in conversions. Here are things that can slow down your website.
- Large files
- Too many videos and images
- Bits of unnecessary codes
- Flash
- Excessive use of JavaScript and CSS
Buried or missing contact information
One of the pro (and con) of the Internet is that is can be an anonymous place. If clients are not familiar with your business, they need some form of reassurance that there are real people behind your eCommerce site.
They should have peace of mind knowing that when they order your product, they will get exactly what they are paying for. Something as simple as having a clear contact information in a visible place can add significant authenticity to your site can boost your prospective clients’ trust levels. Ensure that your email, phone number, and physical address are clearly visible on your site.
Lack of proper organization
People come to your site to learn more about your business and products. Do not let them work too hard to locate what they are looking for! Here are two things that will give your website the organization it deserves:
- An easy to locate search box – this allows your prospects to hone in on what they are looking for with ease
- Clear headings and titles – this lets your customers know exactly the kind of content they should expect on every page and section.
An uninspiring design
While organization and substance are crucial, it is equally important that you keep the appearance of your site in mind. An outdated and clunky website that has poor color combinations will quickly ward potential clients off.
Do not overlook the simple design elements. Even minor tweaks like the right fonts matter. Not sure what your clients are looking for? Test it on them to find out! Facebook and Twitter feedback can go a long way in helping you get a clearer picture of what your clients are looking for.
Lack of a call-to-action
While this seems to be pretty obvious, most webmasters overlook the importance of having a clear call to action. You may be thrilled that your site is getting a lot of traffic, but that is not the end goal.
Your goal is to convert these visitors to purchasing clients. You can only accomplish this if there is a specific action you want them to take once they have visited your site. This can be in the form of downloading an ebook, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase. So be sure to include a clear and specific call to action in your site.
Having an unresponsive site
The number of people using mobile devices to browse the internet is constantly on the rise. It is estimated that there are 2.6 billion smartphones around the world today. A large segment of your prospects will definitely be reaching your website using mobile devices.
As such, you cannot afford to give them a lackluster experience. You may have a wonderful website, but if it cannot load on mobile devices, then chances are you will ward off potential clients.
These days, web users tend to conduct their online search in chunks. They might start by accessing your website from their computers before jumping over to smartphones or tablets. It is, therefore, important that your site is looking consistent no matter the device they are using. This is why you need to ensure that your website is interactive.
You would have to be living under a rock not to appreciate how your business can benefit from a professionally designed website. These days, putting up a simple site and calling it a day is never enough. It is important that you invest time in developing a professional website, create quality content, have a clear call to action, and optimize it for search engines. Then, and only then, will you attract and convert your site’s traffic to paying customers.
