Common Website Design Mistakes to Avoid in 2023

Start with a fast baseline – ensure Core Web Vitals are solid before broader layout changes. Aim for LCP under 2.5s and CLS under 0.1, compress assets, and enable a content delivery network. This foundation affects user perception and readability across devices; the experience does not lose trust with potential customers. Make content easy to read on all screens, and pursue more speed improvements to boost engagement.

To reach users with disabilities, implement accessibility by default: semantic HTML, alt text, keyboard operability, visible focus outlines, and color contrast of 4.5:1 or higher. Google a experts reward sites that are usable throughout navigation; incorrect cues can drive away visitors and reduce potential conversions.

Content strategy should be consistent: typography, spacing, and color palette that align with branding across all websites. Avoid placing critical information near intrusive ads; content placed poorly degrades readability and increases the bounce rate. Use modular UI components to keep assets lean and performance steady while scaling up.

Adopt a mobile-first mindset and ensure responsive layouts scale across devices. Prioritize a sound information architecture and consistent branding so users encounter predictable experiences. This approach effectively preserves navigation; As you scale traffic, use a CDN, lazy-load media, and server-side rendering to keep performance high and to improve your standing with google.

Having a measurable cadence helps translate improvements into business value. Run A/B tests on layout tweaks, monitor bounce rate, conversions, and readability. Use analytics to identify websites elements that underperform, and adjust branding signals, including typography, contrast, and tone, to sustain consistency across channels. Have scaling considerations in place so improvements carry as traffic grows and user needs evolve.

Targeted UX Pitfalls to Fix Now

Start with a mobile speed sprint: shrink asset sizes, convert images to modern formats (AVIF/WEBP), enable lazy loading, and prune unused code; serve via a CDN. This resulting boost drops bounce and improves flow. Target metrics: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) under 2.5 s, CLS under 0.1, and Total Blocking Time (TBT) under 300 ms. Track daily progress and tie progress to keywords to boost visibility over time.

Navigation changes to minimize friction: cap primary navigation to six items, add a clear search, and set header height around 60–70 px with tap targets 44×44 px minimum. This reduces friction on devices and improves flow.

Accessibility and captions: ensure captions on all videos, provide alt text for images, maintain a logical heading order, and set base font at 16 px with line height 1.5; ensure contrast at least 4.5:1; english as default language with a simple toggle for other locales, keeping content accessible.

Content and keyword strategy: implement a guiding system for typography, spacing, and color across pages; maintain a single source of truth for sizes and styles. Keep a defined set of keywords to feed plans; monitor visibility and adjust tactics monthly.

Observability and feedback: deploy heatmaps, scroll depth, and funnel analytics; monitor daily patterns and bounce dynamics by page; track industry updates to stay ahead of UX shifts. Use insights to refine flow and copy; monitor friction points where users drop. Share learnings on linkedin to keep stakeholders informed.

Operational cadence: assemble quarterly plans with owners and milestones; keep dashboards accessible for teams; in media runs, captions and transcripts are synchronized; maintain a log of user feedback and iteration results.

Remember to validate changes with small experiments and real users; keep a record of outcomes so future tweaks target the most impactful areas. There is something to learn from every test, and the best teams translate findings into measurable updates.

Navigation and Information Architecture: streamline menus, add clear search, and use breadcrumbs for context

Limit the main navigation to 5-7 items and keep a persistent search field accessible on every screen. This reduces choices for many brands and speeds up access to destinations, boosting good performance and positive signals. Ensure the top bar shows clear labels for Topics, Brands, News, and Help, with a visible call-to-action for account or sign-in where relevant.

Group links into clearly labeled clusters: Topics, Brands, Solutions, Resources, and Support. Use short, consistent labels and place them in a predictable order so users can learn where to find what they want. On online pages, this helps thinking and speeds up access to a destination, and allows you to просмотреть topics through a single, coherent structure.

Breadcrumbs provide context on deeper pages. Display a trail on product pages, article pages, and category pages so user know which path led here. Crumbs should reflect destination segments, be clickable, and stay visible when scrolling on screen. This practice usually supports both user clarity and search indexing, which can spark better engagement rates.

Search design should include autosuggest, filters, and keyboard shortcuts. A fast, sound query experience reduces friction and improves user satisfaction. Show results instantly, allow filtering by topic, brand, price, or rating, and support navigation with arrow keys and Enter. Sub-200 ms speeds create a positive impact on what users review and buy online, and can lift conversion rates.

Measure, learn, iterate. Monitor bounce rates for menu variants, run small tests, and adjust the IA based on what behavior reveals. Use data science to compare sessions, what people просмотреть, and how many join topics or follow a CTA. The goal is a solution that feels intuitive and supports storytelling across destinations, which keeps users on the platform longer and coming back.

Provide a lightweight feedback loop. Add a quick option to rate usefulness or suggest topics, which helps yourself and the team thinking about what to improve. The replies help brands tune menus, search, and storytelling through the online experience, sparking ongoing positive engagement and trust.

Content Structure and Readability: tighten copy, establish visual hierarchy, and prioritize above-the-fold content

Trim copy to a single, compelling value proposition above the fold. Use a strong headline, a concise subhead, and a hero visual that communicates branding at a glance. This structure helps users understand value instantly and improves conversions across devices.

Establish a clear visual hierarchy: large, bold headlines, legible body text, and ample white space. Apply a consistent color scale and typographic rhythm so the eye moves naturally. Place the most important messages across the top third and position ctas where readers look first; a cohesive hierarchy makes content attractive without overwhelming readers, which reduces bounce and supports online engagement.

Keep copy lean and purposeful: shorter sentences, direct verbs, and precise benefits. Use less jargon, and cut filler words; every line should serve a reason. When updates are needed, the structure allows quick adjustments without losing branding consistency, helping you maintain a professional tone across diferent audiences, including português speakers.

Consider localization and media variety: tailor top messages for worldwide audiences by offering português variants and localized examples where relevant. Incorporating diverse formats–short paragraphs, bullet lines, and scannable blocks–provides flexibility for different devices and reading contexts, increasing potential for engagement across channels.

Adopt a strategy that treats updating as an ongoing practice, not a one-off task. Use hubspot to track how the structure affects scroll depth, time on page, and conversions; set milestones for future refinements and scaling. A centralized hub helps teams manage content efficiently, ensuring consistency and faster iterations across markets and media touchpoints.

In practice, place several practical CTAs within the top sections and near mid-page transitions so readers have a clear path without searching. A well-organized structure, combined with attractive visuals and concise language, reduces missing information and supports ongoing optimizations, providing a strong foundation for improving online performance and long-term branding outcomes.

Forms, CTAs, and Conversion Flow: minimize fields, use inline validation, and ensure obvious next steps

Minimize fields to essential data: collect just an email and, if needed, one optional detail. This focused approach reduces the risk of losing visitors at the first hurdle. Inline validation checks format in real time and delivers concise messages right next to the field, so users don’t have to search for the error. Keep input sizes compact (roughly 28–40 px height) and avoid chunk-based sections on small screens; if additional data is required, reveal it after initial completion to keep momentum high.

CTAs should be unmistakable and aligned with branding. Use a primary button with high contrast and a clear action: Get started, Download guide, or Contacting us. The next steps must be obvious; after form submission, move users directly to the next screen without ambiguity. For a download offer, keep the barrier minimal: a single email capture; once submitted, show a progress indicator and provide the file or a link immediately. Keep the visual language tight with focused visuals and consistent voice across media channels.

Conversion flow design focuses on velocity and clarity. Place the primary CTA above the fold and show a brief progress indicator if multi-step, so users know how many steps remain. Each step should minimize friction–only necessary fields, inline tips, and the option to postpone additional input for future growth. Ensure accessibility: keyboard navigation, screen-reader friendly labels, and skip links. If the audience includes multilingual segments (китайский) or Russian, provide localized labels and concise, intuitive copy; выполните quick localization to improve user comfort. This approach reduces bounce and maintains a user-friendly experience, even for first-time visitors.

Measure and iterate: monitor field abandonment rates and CTA click-throughs to identify where users drop off; run short in-depth tests on copy, validation rules, and step counts. Maintain fast speeds by trimming media assets and compressing visuals; keep total download size small so the flow loads quickly even on mobile networks. Use a focused, user-friendly voice and branding across touchpoints to grow trust and completion rates.

Pop-up Strategy: 18 disruptive patterns to avoid (exit-intent, timed, scroll, full-screen overlays, welcome mats, newsletter gates, discount timers, and more) and practical replacements

Replace disruptive prompts with contextual, value-first interactions that communicate benefits quickly, improving digital effectiveness and user trust. Focus on clear visuals, simple copy, and fast loading to preserve eyes on the core content.

Exit-intent overlays

Replacement: inline prompts that appear after meaningful engagement (e.g., after 30–40% scroll or a specific action). Use a non-blocking banner that can be dismissed instantly with a clear close option. Test multiple micro-copy variants and fonts to convey value without interrupting flow.
- Data: inline prompts typically yield 2–4x higher opt-ins than hard exit prompts in controlled tests, with 20–35% lower bounce on key pages.
- Tips: ensure loading is under 0.8s for the prompt; keep visuals crisp; use a single CTA (subscribe, save, or learn more).
Timed popups

Replacement: events-based nudges tied to user actions (e.g., after a product view, added to cart, or when a helpful tip is requested). Avoid gating early; provide quick value first (tips, guides, or previews).
- Data: event-driven nudges reduce friction and can improve completion rates by 15–30% versus time-driven prompts.
- Tips: align the message with the current topic; keep copy brief; ensure fonts are legible on all screens.
Scroll-triggered popups

Replacement: contextual panels embedded within content sections or sticky infoboxes that reveal after substantial reading or interaction.
- Data: in-content prompts often outperform scroll-popups by 1.5–2x in engagement and 10–25% higher retention of the page message.
- Tips: avoid covering core visuals; allow escape with a visible close control; track scroll depth to optimize timing.
Full-screen overlays

Replacement: non-blocking banners or slide-ins that respect the underlying screen and provide a skip option at all times.
- Data: audiences rate well-designed banners 40–60% higher satisfaction than full-screen takeovers; convert with 5–12% of viewers on primary actions.
- Tips: keep CTA prominent, avoid auto-playing media, and ensure quick dismissal.
Welcome mats

Replacement: integrate a concise welcoming line within the hero area or a lightweight inline form placed near relevant topics.
- Data: inline welcomes paired with value-first prompts yield 3–8% opt-ins, with lower drop-offs than mats that block content.
- Tips: use a friendly tone, ensure accessible contrast, and allow immediate skippability.
Newsletter gates

Replacement: offer the first insight or a micro-guide before asking for signup, then present an optional, unobtrusive signup within relevant sections.
- Data: gating content reduces perceived value; inline opt-ins alongside real benefits can improve signup rates by 2–7 percentage points.
- Tips: emphasize what readers gain; use Chinese or português language variants where appropriate to improve resonance in those markets (китайский, português).
Discount timers

Replacement: evergreen offers with transparent terms and non-expiring value, plus a banner that explains benefits rather than pressuring with countdowns.
- Data: removing countdowns can lift perceived trust; banners that communicate value typically see 8–20% higher add-to-cart or inquiry rates.
- Tips: show price clarity, not fear-based pressure; keep the timer off primary screens unless user requests help.
Auto-playing video overlays

Replacement: lightweight previews or muted autoplay only within the content area, with user-initiated playback and a clear close.
- Data: silent, non-intrusive video prompts reduce exit rates by 12–25% and improve comprehension of value propositions.
- Tips: ensure accessibility with captions; limit file size to keep loading times fast.
Floating chat widgets that hijack the screen

Replacement: contextual help bullets in the header or a minimized, easily dismissible chat badge that expands on demand.
- Data: minimized widgets improve task completion and reduce frustration by 18–28% in user testing.
- Tips: auto-hide on mobile after a short period; provide a clear exit path and no blocking of the main screen.
Spin-to-win or game-like popups

Replacement: practical value prompts (e.g., quick quizzes, content recommendations) without requirements to play or win anything.
- Data: game-like prompts often underperform if they create friction; simpler prompts can achieve 1.5–3x higher completion when aligned with user goals.
- Tips: keep interaction time under 15 seconds; avoid collecting unnecessary data.
Social proof banners triggered by leaving

Replacement: fixed, non-intrusive social proof blocks within content or a dedicated testimonials module on the page.
- Data: embedded proof blocks correlate with 5–12% uplift in trust signals and 3–7% higher conversion on mid-funnel actions.
- Tips: keep visuals minimal; ensure accuracy; rotate content to stay fresh.
Scroll-progress overlays

Náhrada: indikátory priebehu umiestnené pozdĺž okraja stránky alebo v obsahu, ktoré nebránia čítaniu.
- Dáta: indikátory priebehu v obsahu zlepšujú dočítanie dlhých článkov o 6–14 %, bez negatívneho vplyvu na čitateľnosť.
- Tipy: použite jemnú animáciu s prístupným kontrastom; umožnite používateľom skryť indikátor, ak si to želajú.
Prekrytia so súhlasom s používaním súborov cookie blokujúce obsah

Náhrada: kompaktný banner v hlavičke alebo nerušivé centrum pre spracovanie súborov cookie s jasnými ovládacími prvkami a predvolenými nastaveniami, ktoré rešpektujú voľbu používateľa.
- Dáta: Nenútené výzvy na udelenie súhlasu zachovávajú zapojenie a znižujú predčasné ukončenia o 10 – 25 % v kritických lievikoch.
- Tipy: stručne zdokumentujte účel súborov cookie; umožnite jednoduchý prístup k nastaveniam bez opustenia stránky.
Geo-cielené kontextové okná

Nahradenie: nenápadné regionálne správy priamo v obsahu, ktoré ponúkajú lokalizované príklady alebo zdroje.
- Dáta: Výzvy špecifické pre daný región s kontextuálnou relevantnosťou vykazujú o 8–20 % vyššiu interakciu ako všeobecné výzvy.
- Tipy: rešpektujte súkromie; zobrazujte, iba ak je používateľ aktívny vo vašom regióne; testujte na k-means zoskupení distribúcie lokalít.
Intersticiálne reklamy medzi stránkami

Náhrada: plynulé prechody s vloženými tipmi alebo možnosťou preskočenia, ktorá zachováva aktuálnu cestu.
- Údaje: Eliminácia intersticiálnych prvkov typicky zlepšuje dokončenie úloh o 12–22 % a znižuje mieru odchodov v kľúčových krokoch.
- Tipy: zabezpečte rýchle opätovné načítanie a jasnú cestu späť k predchádzajúcemu obsahu.
Kontextové bubliny s nápovedou, ktoré neustále vyskakujú

Náhrada: kontextová pomoc ukotvená v častiach obsahu; umožňuje používateľom vyžiadať si pomoc jediným klepnutím.
- Dáta: kontextová pomoc znižuje frustráciu a zvyšuje úspešnosť úloh o 9–18 % v dashboardoch a produktových stránkach.
- Tipy: Majte stručný pomocný obsah; ponúknite viditeľný ovládací prvok na zatvorenie.
Hrubé zvukové výzvy alebo automatické zvuky

Náhrada: štandardne tiché alebo stlmené; aktivácia zvuku na žiadosť používateľa s možnosťou rýchleho stlmenia.
- Dáta: nenásilné zvukové zásady zlepšujú dostupnosť a znižujú vnímanú agresivitu o 25 – 40 %.
- Tipy: pridajte titulky a jednoduché ovládanie hlasitosti; testujte na viacerých obrazovkách a prehliadačoch.
Nadmerné výzvy “ohodnoťte túto stránku”

Náhrada: nenápadné výzvy na poskytnutie spätnej väzby umiestnené po zmysluplných akciách, nie po každej interakcii.
- Dáta: riedke žiadosti o spätnú väzbu prinášajú vyššiu kvalitu odpovedí a o 5–12 % vyššiu mieru dokončenia ako časté výzvy.
- Tipy: ponúknite hodnotenie jedným klepnutím s voliteľným komentárom; zdieľajte vplyv spätnej väzby na posilnenie dôvery.
Vynútené obmedzenie prístupu k obsahu pomocou modálnych okien

Náhrada: neblokujúce náhľady a prístupné CTA, ktoré navedú používateľov na relevantné zdroje bez toho, aby zastavili postup.
- Dáta: neblokujúce brány zachovávajú kontext a môžu zvýšiť downstream konverzie o 6–151 % v porovnaní s prísnymi bránami.
- Tipy: zabezpečte rýchle časy načítania; umožnite jasné opätovné použitie predtým zobrazeného obsahu.
Príliš časté desktopové/mobilné vyskakovacie okná

Náhrada: jediný, dobre načasovaný podnet na reláciu, s explicitnou záverečnou akciou a odvolateľnou históriou.
- Dáta: obmedzenie počtu výziev na reláciu znižuje trenie a zlepšuje dlhodobé udržanie o 10–20 % počas týždňa.
- Tipy: profilujte zámer používateľa; používajte čistú, čitateľnú typografickú škálu a dostatok bieleho priestoru.

Chápte, že každý z variantov ovplyvňuje konverziu a rýchlosť načítania; experimenty na rôznych segmentoch audience (vrátane čínskych a portugalsky hovoriacich používateľov) pomôžu určiť optimálne nastavenia. Zahrňte do stratégie varianty, ktoré sa dajú škálovať bez skomplikovania kódu a bez zhoršenia celkovej rýchlosti načítania stránok. Vždy pamätajte: jednoduché riešenia, orientované na hodnotu, majú najvyššiu efektivitu; držte fokus na témach, ktoré sú skutočne užitočné pre používateľa, a vyhýbajte sa zbytočnému hluku.

Dostupnosť, výkon a pripravenosť pre mobilné zariadenia: splňte základy dostupnosti, optimalizujte pre rýchle načítavanie a zabezpečte, aby dotykové ciele fungovali na všetkých zariadeniach

Základný audit prístupnosti: uistite sa, že obrázky majú alternatívny text, každý ovládací prvok formulára má jasný štítok, orientačné body definujú sekcie a navigácia funguje iba s klávesnicou. Zabezpečte intuitívne ovládanie: každé tlačidlo má viditeľný stav zaostrenia a chybové hlásenia sú automaticky oznamované asistenčnými technológiami. Na dotykových zariadeniach sa uistite, že dotykové ciele majú rozmery aspoň 44 × 44 px s dostatočným rozostupom, aby sa zabránilo nesprávnym ťuknutiam, čím sa zníži potreba kontaktovania podpory a udrží sa angažovanosť potenciálnych zákazníkov.

Plán výkonu: komprimovať aktíva, presunúť náročné skripty na spodok alebo ich načítať asynchrónne a minimalizovať celkovú veľkosť. Povoliť automatickú optimalizáciu obrázkov a lazy loading pre obsah mimo obrazovky. Eliminovať zdroje blokujúce vykresľovanie a poskytovať ich z rýchlej CDN. Na mobilných zariadeniach sa zamerajte na celkovú veľkosť stránky pod niekoľko megabajtov a čas do interakcie pod niekoľko sekúnd. Tieto kroky zlepšujú dojem z načítania a podporujú konverzie a predaj, pričom signály od spoločnosti Google odmeňujú rýchlejšie zážitky.

Prístup pripravenosti pre mobilné zariadenia: implementujte responzívne rozloženie pre rôzne platformy a zahrňte správny viewport tag. Otestujte dotykové prvky na iOS a Androide a zabezpečte, aby formuláre a ponuky zostali prístupné pomocou klávesnice a čítačiek obrazovky. Používajte tekutú mriežku a škálovateľné ikony na zachovanie čitateľnosti pri zmene veľkosti, čím sa dosiahne intuitívne používanie bez kompromisov v oblasti výkonu.

Čoho sa vyvarovať: na rozdiel od predpokladov, ignorovanie prístupnosti na určitých platformách môže viesť k strate návštev a strate potenciálnych zákazníkov. Nesprávne poradie zaostrenia, chýbajúce označenia aria alebo rozsiahle modálne dialógové okná narúšajú tok. Vytváranie nadrozmerných aktív alebo preskakovanie prepojovacích odkazov spomaľuje vykresľovanie a frustruje používateľov. Odborníci zdôrazňujú vzdelávanie a praktické kontroly; Shaanove zdroje ponúkajú konkrétne usmernenia pre tieto oblasti.

Plán implementácie: začleniť opakovateľný pracovný postup, ktorý začína so základnou úrovňou prístupnosti, a potom prechádza na priebežné testovanie výkonu a mobilných zariadení. Implementovať automatizované regresie plus manuálne QA pre kľúčové cesty. Sledovať metriky, ako sú návštevy, kvalita zobrazení, konverzie a vplyv na predaj, aby sa overil pokrok. Implementácia kadencie medzi tímami so vzdelávaním zainteresovaných strán a kontaktovaním produktových lídrov pomáha zosúladiť potreby, čo vedie k platforme, ktorá podporuje intuitívne interakcie, zvládnuteľnú veľkosť a spoľahlivé dotykové správanie na všetkých zariadeniach.

Chyby pri navrhovaní webových stránok, ktorým sa treba vyhnúť pri vytváraní alebo prenavrhovaní v roku 2023