Web Design has taken many leaps and bounds since the 00s as the tastes and requirements of the audience keep changing over time, whether we like it or not. There are a number of archaic ideas and misconceptions about Web Designs people cling to even today that are sure to send brands into death spirals.
Here are 6 (deadly, and sometimes frustrating) misconceptions everyone needs to know about Web Designs.
1. "White Spaces are bad. Fill them with something"
Websites are not real estate spaces. Period. Stuffing every white space with a design or copy will give websites a cluttered look, making critical messages to be lost in the pile. Minimalism and white spaces top the Web Design trends now. Moreover, the ‘breathing’ spaces will make websites more SEO friendly.
White Space makes your brand: Authoritative, Minimal, Elegant
2. "The more I write, the more I appear to be an expert"
More than 60% of visitors to any website are ‘skimmers’ who will spend an average of only 10–15 seconds to see if the offerings interest them. Bite-sized, simple content that doesn’t beat around the bush will convey the message clearly to the audience instead of long essays that try to convince of your expertise. ‘Information Overload’ will leave them overwhelmed and uninterested.
Crisp content makes your brand: Clear, Authentic, Resourceful
3. “Put them all in a scrolling banner”
Homepage banner may be the first thing people notice on websites but that doesn’t mean all the products and services must be crammed onto it like a slideshow. It’s better to have the positioning statement or a featured product in the banner to give an overall brand perception. Dumping all the information at one place leads to a higher bounce rate. So feed them only what they need to know.
A simple banner makes your brand: Unambiguous, Direct, Organized
4. “Add as many interactions as possible”
Too many things seeking too much attention will end up saturating the curiosity. Peppering interactions than buttering them throughout will help in achieving the website goals. Maintaining consistent interactions for important information and CTAs will greatly aid in giving a smooth user experience without distracting too much
Right number of interactions makes your brand: Composed, Sensible, Sticky
5. “Splatter more colors to make it more attractive ”
Sticking to fewer colors or brand colors may appear as an injustice done to websites. But more colors are prone to distract more than attract. Brands are predominantly identified by their colors like Coke red or Barbie pink. Fewer colors give greater consistency. Buttons with different purposes, when given different color codes make the visitors grasp their functions easily. The ‘more color’ formula had already been buried deep (until it makes a comeback). Less is more is the ‘in’ thing now.
Fewer colours makes your brand: Aesthetic, Smart, Refined
6. “Put all the information in one place, just in case if they miss noticing them”
Showing all the information in one place might be considered safer than risking to go unnoticed, but long-scrolling websites aren’t a bad idea after all. Scrolling keeps a visitor interested and engaged by giving them more control — one of the reasons behind Facebook and Instagram’s success.
Long scrolling makes your brand: Immersive, Interactive, Engaging
When it comes to Web Designs, the misconceptions aren’t limited to 6 (talking out of our experience here). However, it’s imperative for the 21st-century brands to escape these traps in order to make a lasting and impactful digital footprint.
What are the other misconceptions have you come across? Do share with us, we’re all ears.