We all see how the web design industry exploded in the last ten years and there are literally hundreds of thousands of website design companies in the world. However, online folks pay much more attention on a website’s design, usability and so on and this is something any experienced web designer should be aware of.

In a perfect world, every website is great, no mistakes, perfect coding, website SEO-friendly etc, however we are far away from this world and bad things can occur. This article will showcase the worst mistakes a web design firm can do, pay attention to them and try to avoid as much as possible replicating them on your work.

1. Use JavaScript only when it is necessary to use it, do not overdo it.
2. Do not use PDF content on a website. Whenever users encounter a PDF file they tend rather to avoid it than to read it, regarding how interesting it is.
3. Readability should be placed before stylish design. Don’t use complex and fancy fonts that will make you visitors not willing to read the whole content provided.
4. Even if websites created in Flash look fantastic, try to avoid it at all costs. As for creating a whole website based only on it, it’s not so search engine friendly, it means long waiting period to download it and the worst thing, the mobile compatibility problems. Large amounts of people browse online through mobile devices.
5. Music in the background or many animations, or even worse, both. These are just for the past ages.
6. Flashy ads, pop-ups, will make a visitor never visit a website for the second time.
7. Grammatical errors are a no-no. Proofread the content again and again and publish it when you are sure it is perfectly written.

There are tons of other mistakes when building a site from scratch, however these seem to be the most annoying and bad for  business.

E-commerce is a fast-growing industry and it’s clear that there are great rewards to be had. Of course, it’s vital that you source a good and reputable web design company to design your e-commerce or e-retail website. But as an e-commerce business owner you should also be aware of the finer points of a great website.

In the second of a two-part blog series we bring you five tips for a great ecommerce website:

Customising: Many shoppers like to compare products by price, reviews, colours, bestsellers etc. We’re all different. So offering features that allow a customer to customise the ecommerce products to suit themselves is much more likely to create a good user-experience, and therefore increase sales.

Product reviews: Increasing numbers of consumers say that they are swayed by product reviews. If you offer reviews on products, and the ability for shoppers to add their comments, you are more likely to create a shopping experience that people value and trust.

What’s in stock?: Shoppers will become frustrated if they go to the trouble of ordering a product only to find it is out of stock or “expected in”. Make it clear what is available now and what is not. A real-time inventory is the best way forward.

Product specifics: Ecommerce shoppers cannot pick up the product, look at it, feel it or try it on. So it is vital that your product descriptions offer as much information as possible. Make sure that size and colour is detailed. Use images for different product views. And make sizings clear.

Checkout: You want to close your sales so make it clear how to get to the checkout and then keep people focused on the task. Do not use this as an opportunity to offer other sales. It has been found that single-page checkouts have the highest conversion rates. And keep the checkout process simple.

Talk to leading web designers WebCreationUK about their great deals on ecommerce sites.

E-commerce is a fast-growing industry and it’s clear that there are great financial rewards to be had. Of course, it’s vital that you source a good and reputable web design company to design your e-commerce or e-retail website. But as an e-commerce business owner you should also be aware of the finer points of a great website.

In the first of a two-part blog series we bring you four tips for a great ecommerce website:

Good layout: Just like a shop that has clearly marked categories and aisles, so your website should make the process of looking for products as simple as possible. Make tab names as straightforward as possible. For example, women’s shoes, men’s jackets. And make sure there are “bread crumbs” so that shoppers can trace their way back from where they came. A “continue shopping” button also means that shoppers can easily return from their shopping basket or checkout to make more purchases.

In the basket: If you’re shopping in the real world you can take a look in your basket or trolley to remind yourself of the items chosen so far. The same should happen on an ecommerce site. Make sure that when shoppers add to their basket, trolley or cart that they can see the items clearly. It’s also important that there’s a clear label for getting to the checkout from the basket.

Colour perfect: It’s claimed that colour can make a big difference to how website users rect. So when it comes to call-to-action buttons, such as “add to cart” or “buy now”, try to choose shades such as blue and green. Orange and red have been shown to be off-putting.

Search easy: A study has revealed that more than 20% of ecommerce shoppers prefer the direct use of a search feature than searching for products in various categories. Therefore a “search product” feature is vital for business success.

* Talk to leading web designers WebCreationUK about their great deals on ecommerce sites.

A well-designed and clearly written website can do wonders for your business. Meanwhile a website that lacks clarity, clear messages and good looks will be more likely to fail. But it’s not always easy to get it right.

The first point of call should be an experienced web design company. WebCreationUK, for example, has a wealth of experience and a huge portfolio of proven work. Dedicated designers know exactly how to make your website shine against the competition. They can also put you in touch with an experienced copywriter.

Here we bring you some great tips for successful website design:

Focus and goals: Think about the purpose of your website. Is the website simply there as a portal for people to browse? If so, then perhaps one of two pages with simple messages such as a general description of your business and contact info will suffice. Or do you want an e-commerce site with multiple pages, photos of your products, background information etc?

The next step is to communicate these goals to your web designer. Changes in basic design cost time and money so be clear from the outset what it is that you want to achieve. Most good design companies will take the time at the start of the project to discuss exactly what it is that you are looking for with your website.

Content is king: We’ve said this time and again in this blog but still we see websites that are poorly written. Many have basic spelling and grammar errors, which look unprofessional, and so many do not communicate a message. Design is important but so is the content of your website. Your website needs to succinctly convey your business purpose and attributes.

The details: A website that is “over-designed” can be off-putting to the user. So details, such as design elements and colours, should always be “transparent” to the viewer. It’s rather like an overly colourful or designed interior of a house. If it calls attention to itself, it has defeated its purpose.

Gimmicks are old-hat and annoying. So steer clear of the cartoons, singing cats etc. This is just clutter and will be a turn-off to most website users over the age of seven.

Good navigation: Web users are an impatient breed. They want to be able to explore your site with ease and direction. They want access to key information and good labelling. At no point should a user be left searching for info or guessing where they might find it.

Easy contact: Make sure users can contact you. Whether it’s via phone, email, live chat, or a forum. There should be a straightforward process at the click of a button.

With this tips you should find yourself the owner of a potentially successful web business.

One of the fastest growing trends for websites is “interaction”. That is, interaction with visitors/customers and your on-line business. A successful website will offer a range of interactive features that allow customers to offer feedback, such as reviews and comments, and to share information.

Rather like a high street shop that has gained a reputation for being approachable, open and knowledgeable so an interactive ecommerce or e-retail site offers a great degree of service for customers.

Research has shown that on-line businesses that offer interactive features create a more effective web presence with increased customer conversion rates and improved brand loyalty and recognition.

Here are some of the key tools for a more interactive ecommerce site:

Newsletters: Collect email addresses of potential customers and send out direct promotion via newsletters.

Comments/reviews: The usual place for this type of interaction is found on blogs. This also allows you to build on content, especially via user-generated content.

Google map: An interactive Google Map can be used in a number of ways. It can display an interactive map of your location or you can use one of its features, such as distance calculator, to add more functionality.

Related articles: You can improve the readership of your website by offering visitors content that is related.

RSS feed: This makes it simpler for users to subscribe to your website updates by email.

Social bookmarking: Visitors and customers can use social bookmarking to manage favourite content and share it with others. It also helps in promoting your website and therefore generates more traffic.

Feedback forms: These are still an effective and easy to collect responses from visitors and customers. Try to customise the form to the specific needs of your website.

Survey/polls: Another way to collect vital information from customers.

Most good web design companies will be able to work with you to add great interactive features to your website. Check out what leading web design company WebCreationUK could do for your site.

When did you last take a critical look at your website and its design? Is it up-to-date? Does it offer a pleasant and inviting user experience? Here we bring you a short checklist of major web design no-nos.

Background music: So last year – and so annoying. Plus anyone who is still on dial up broadband will need to wait ages for these websites to load. Give this gimmick a miss unless it really will add value, such as if you’re a leading and recognisable brand.

The text: Can visitors read the text on your site. If it’s too small – or even, too big – the website will be a turn-off. Make sure all the copy on your site is legible.

Pop-ups: More annoying than background music, pop-ups, especially those with advertising, are a huge turn-off for potential customers and visitors to your website. Lots of people now have pop-up blockers but if your pop-up has managed to get past this block the users will only find your site more annoying.

Why alienate potential customers with these small features when you don’t have to? To find out more about great website design and some of the best deals in the UK, check out leading web design company WebCreationUK