A whopping 88 percent of internet users said they wouldn’t go back to a website if they had a bad user experience. Could your User Experience Strategy be turning off potential customers? Are you unsure of how to make things better?
If you suspect this is the case, keep reading. Listed below are some common mistakes that can prevent you from creating a successful user experience strategy.
What Is User Experience Design?
User experience design refers to all of the processes website and app designers use to provide customers (and potential customers) with meaningful experiences. User experience design focuses on the way apps and websites look and how well they function.
Common UX Strategy Mistakes
Creating a website or app that looks great and is easy to navigate is easier said than done. Here are 10 common mistakes business owners make when it comes to user experience design:
1. Inconsistency
Consistency is crucial if you want your app or website to smooth and easy to use.
Avoid using too many styles or colors when you’re working on your user experience design. Instead, stick to the same color palette and limit yourself to just a couple of fonts.
If you struggle with consistency in your user experience design, consider creating a style guide for your brand. That will help you to avoid deviations that throw off the flow.
2. Unclear Navigation Patterns
Another important part of a consistent design is clear navigation patterns. Make it easy for people to figure out how your website or app works and where everything is located. If the navigation pattern differs from page to page, visitors are more likely to get frustrated with your website or app, and they might click away altogether.
3. Hidden Value Propositions
Don’t make people search for your value proposition. Make it clear right from the start what you have to offer and how people can get to it. You might want to add a header that promotes your products or services, for example, or you could include a video on the homepage of your website that explains what your business is all about.
4. Hidden Exit Buttons
How irritating is it when a popup appears on a website or app and there’s no exit button in sight? It’s pretty annoying, isn’t it?
Don’t make this mistake with your user experience design. Give people a clear and easy out.
Sure, some people will leave without signing up for your newsletter if you do this. However, the same thing will happen if you don’t show them how to exit the popup. People don’t like to be forced into things, and they won’t appreciate you trying to do so by hiding the exit button.
5. Lack of Mobile-Friendliness
When it comes to website user experience design, make sure your site looks good and is easy to use on desktops and mobile browsers.
Don’t spend so much time on the user experience design for desktops that you totally forget about mobile design. Remember, more than 60 percent of searches take place from a mobile device.
6. Lack of Feedback
Every time someone takes an action when using your website, they need feedback from you.
If they sign up for your newsletter, they should be taken to a “thank you” page or at least be shown a pop-up letting them know that their sign-up went through. The same goes for when they add something to their cart, make a purchase, etc.
7. Lack of Text Hierarchy
It’s the job of the text on your website or app to share information with users. Because of this, it’s essential that all text is well-organized and easy to read.
Without a properly formatted text hierarchy, it’s harder for users to figure out what matters most. Use different font sizes and text weights to separate headers from body paragraphs and footers.
Use plenty of white space, too. That way, content is easy to skim through and isn’t overwhelming to website visitors.
8. Low Contrast
Low contrast causes everything on your website on or app to blend together. As a result, content becomes hard to read, and people are more likely to exit the site or delete the app because it’s hard to use.
Use contrast to attract attention to specific points on your website. For example, your call to action should feature a high-contrast color. You can also use different, contrasting background colors to designate headers, footers, and other types of website content.
9. Low-Quality Images
Images play a major role in attracting people to your website or app and keeping them around. It’s not enough just to use any old pictures, though.
If your images are low-quality or irrelevant to your brand, people are going to have a harder time connecting to you. They’re also less likely to become long-term customers.
When you’re choosing images for your website or app, make sure they are related to your business’s services and products. Only use clear, high-quality images, too. If it’s blurry, retake the picture or find a different one.
Avoid stock photos when possible, too. People are good at spotting fake, staged images, and they’re less likely to resonate with your audience.
10. Not Leveraging Website Data
Make sure you’re using web analytics data to improve your website’s user experience design.
When you assess analytics, it’s easier to figure out where you’re losing people and which aspects of your site might need to most work. For example, if lots of people are abandoning their cart or failing to sign up for your newsletter, you might need to rethink the way you present those aspects of your site to the people visiting it.
Improve Your User Experience Strategy Today
Now that you know more about how to create a successful digital user experience strategy, what do you think? Is it time to make some changes to your business’s UX design?
Keep the tips listed above in mind as you move forward so you don’t keep making the same UX mistakes. If you need additional help, check out the Technology and Digital Marketing sections of our site today.
Also Read: 2021 SEO for Lawyers: Smart Ways to Maximize Your ROI
