Small Business Owners, Avoid these web design mistakes to boost site traffic

Does your business have a website that barely gets site visitors? (If you're not sure, you can easily track your web traffic by visiting sites like Alexa.)

Your website's lack of traffic may have to do with your web development. Good practice in web design is a major part of web solutions. Make sure to avoid the following web design mistakes and watch your website traffic grow!

Most companies hire web designers to create and build a beautiful site. But if you are a small business owner just beginning to build your online presence, you may not have the budget for an expensive site.

Here is what to steer clear of when designing a website:

• Clutter
  The website should be designed in an organized and fluid manner. Less is definitely more for website design. Avoid too much noise and arrange content layout effectively. 
  
  
• Automatic Background Music
  Nothing is more annoying than going on a website and music immediately playing. Most people will instantly exit or close out of your site if this happens. This is also the same for automatic video. 
  
  
• Complicated Forms
  Registration or sign up forms are great for websites but they should request only the most important information. Patience in our digital age has gone out the window; people do not want to fill out long and drawn out forms. 
  
  
• Excessive Use of Flash
  Gone are the days of dial up, Internet users expect and demand speed. Too many Flash applications on your website will lag and slow down loading. Too much Flash also contributes to clutter.
  
  
• Poor Navigation
  So many small business websites don't consider the navigation of their website. Your website should not be all over the place, navigation should be intuitive and seamless. 

Some more web design tips for small businesses: 
(With attached visuals of some of the worst website designs)

1. Remember to test your website on multiple browsers. Cross browser compatibility is very important, though your website may look great on Firefox, Internet Explorer users might be greeted with a completely different looking site. 
   
2. KISS - Always Keep It Simple Stupid! Visiting your website should be informative and should relay your particular business goals with a clear call to action; it should not be rocket science.
   
   
3. The colors of your website should not induce headaches. Bad colors and contrast affects the readability of your content. Color schemes should be effective while also complimenting your brand. 
   
4. To highlight your content, remember the white space. It will direct the attention of your visitor while also adding balance to your website's design.
   

Hopefully these tips will help you get on your way to building a site that will promote your business. 

One last tip, bad website design can negatively affect your business by turning away potential customers. No website is honestly better than a poorly designed website!

Does your small business need help with their website development? For affordable and well designed websites, visit Hudson Horizons.