It’s 2022 and we’ve never had better access to technology. Small and independant businesses are all the rage and people are becoming more aware of how and where they shop. That’s why it’s never been more important for you to have a great online presence, in the form of a user-friendly, on-brand website that engages your traffic and converts them into customers.
Websites are a prominent part of a lot of businesses now and with the era of accessible-technology upon us, online web builders are increasingly popular. But…just because they’re accessible, does that mean they’re useful? Of course they are! However, we’ve had countless customers come to us with DIY sites for their businesses, having issues and either not knowing how to fix them or having found tech gurus that charge unreasonable amounts in return for their help.
Here are 5 common mistakes that people often make with DIY sites:
1. The site isn’t mobile friendly
Having a site that looks great on a desktop is one thing, but with more and more people accessing websites on their phones and tablets, not having a mobile friendly site is an over-sight that you just can’t afford. Ensure that all content reads well on both desktop and mobile, as well as making sure that your text fits onto the page and is easy to read.
2. Mis-guided branding
Branding is the foundation for a great site. Creating a clear brand and establishing your brand voice is arguably *the* most important way to connect with your customers. Having a clear brand makes for a more polished and professional looking site, if you have a consistent vision across all the pages. A strong brand builds customer trust and brand identity – which you can’t achieve if you don’t have one, right?
3. Lack of usability
So you’ve created an amazing site, it reflects your brand and it is responsive on mobile…but it’s not very user-friendly. If your site isn’t straightforward and easy to use, then customers just won’t use it. Making sure all your links work and you have clear navigation are great first steps to easy usability. To convert as much traffic as possible, you need to have as little barriers to sale, don’t let complicated navigation be one!
4. Assuming ‘more is better’
Quality content brings a lot to a website, but try to keep it to the essentials. Does everything you’ve included bring value to your site? Keep it simple, make your point, then add a call to action.
5. Bad quality media
Do you remember the VistaPrint advert that included the line about business cards, ‘handing over a scrappy bit of paper will give the impression of a scrappy service’? …your website is the same. Your media is one of the first things that a potential customer will see on your website. Make sure that it’s top quality and in-line with your brand message. One of the most common mistakes we’ve come across when replacing a client’s DIY site, is that they’ve used poor quality media. In the same way that great quality media can enhance your website, poor quality media can damage it.
Are there any other common mistakes that people make when creating DIY websites?
If you want a hand with your website, simply don’t have one yet or don’t know where to start, get in touch. We’ll be more than happy to help.