10 Common Mistakes For Website Owners To Avoid

Time and time again I've seen websites across the internet that fall foul of some critical design and usability issues. Whilst the owners' intentions are good, they fail to address the need of the reader.

So, I thought it about time that I put finger to keypad and highlight ten mistakes that webmasters should look to avoid.

1. Too many gadgets and embellishments

It's easy to keep adding widgets, buttons, bells and whistles to your website, especially the sidebar, but it can be confusing for the reader, and may not sit well with your chosen theme or design.

You may want your blog to reflect your personality, but where design is concerned, clarity and simplicity should be your guiding principles.

2. Difficult to read

Light text on a dark background, long paragraphs of close-spaced lines, extra small or cursive fonts are all things that can be hard on the eye, and a hindrance to a quick intake of information.

New visitors typically take no more than nine seconds to decide whether to stay or click away, so don't put up barriers or they will lose patience.

3. Too much information

Often referred to as TMI, over-sharing might be fine in some circles, but never lose sight of who you're connecting with, or who will read your blog. A blog is personal and can be relaxed in tone, but try not to confuse open and friendly with over familiar!

4. Being anonymous

If you can bring yourself to, have an About page. I know Kyle encourages this in the training, but many people prefer to still remain under the radar - big mistake. remember, YOU are your brand and people buy from people. Also, provide visitors with a way of contacting you - ideally through page or post comments, but also a 'Contact me' page.

5. Setting false expectations

You should be able to describe what your blog is about in one sentence. Even if it's not about one thing, and you mix topics, that's fine, but make that clear so that people know what to expect.

Similarly, if you promise a daily writing prompt, subscribers will be disappointed if the prompt only comes once a week.

6. Not posting frequently enough

Do try to post once a week as a minimum. This is enough for your blog to look active, for Google to notice you, and for subscribers to feel loved.

Research has shown that when you start to post more frequently, subscriptions, page views and comments all go up.

7. Not allowing comments

Sometimes, newbie bloggers and affiliate marketers are nervous about allowing comments. But disallowing comments is completely contrary to the spirit of blogging and will affect your SEO.

Moderate comments, by all means, and of course, don't feel obliged to publish a comment that's defamatory or inappropriate.

As you settle into life here at WA, you'll come to understand that comments are the lifeblood of your blog. So embrace them as they will serve you well.

8. Uninspiring post titles

Every word counts when it comes to your blog post titles, so try to give them some thought. A good title can be the difference between someone deciding to click and read, and not - so it should make people curious to read more.

That doesn't mean overly cute or misleading. No one likes to be tricked into reading something that turns out out be not at all what was expected.

9. Too many spelling or grammatical errors

Oh dear. This really is one that gets under my skin when I see it! But I am a stickler as Lynne Truss (the famed author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves) would say!

I say "too many" because, actually, a blog post doesn't necessarily have to be a polished piece of writing. If a typo slips through, at least it can be corrected if you spot it later.

Also, making allowances for writing in a conversational style.

But habitual poor spelling does not give a good impression and could, over time, impact your blog's credibility.

10. Not using a responsive theme or template

Remember that more people browse the web, read blogs and use social media on a mobile device than on a laptop or desktop computer. It's worth making sure that you choose a theme or template that is responsive, in other words, that adapts to different devices and screen sizes. Many newer themes do this automatically.

An alternative is to choose a theme with a mobile-friendly version that can be enabled.

So there you have it. I hope this has given you some food for thought on your own website.

As always, I welcome all comments and questions - please leave them below and I'll get back to you as soon as I see it. And if you found this post useful, please do LIKE it using the green button below.