Designing and launching a website is exciting and a bit scary at the same time. Many things will run through your mind before, during, and after you launch your site. Will your site be successful and draw lots of attention? Is your site easy to navigate? Is your message getting across to your visitors?
You can avoid concerns like these with careful planning so your users will have a good experience when visiting your site and come again.
Sadly, many people are in such a hurry and so excited about launching their site that they fail to consider critical factors affecting their site’s success. Here are five mistakes to avoid before launching your site.
Not Focusing on Content
Content is king when it comes to creating a good website. Your site’s content will attract and hold people to your site and keep them coming back again.
You should put a lot of thought into your site’s content and what information you’re trying to pass on to your visitors.
Failing to Check Your Site’s Accessibility
You must check your website to ensure it’s ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant and accessible to everyone of all abilities. The best way to ensure the accessibility of your website is to use a website accessibility checker.
According to AudioEye, “Having a website that is not accessible to everyone will be interpreted as active discrimination. If you are actively discriminating against people with disabilities, you are at risk of being sued. It’s that simple”.
Failing to Proofread and Edit
Nothing looks worse on a website than content that is full of misspelled words and grammar errors. Always proofread each page of your site and check for errors in spelling and grammar. You should proofread and edit your site at least three times before your launch.
Failing to Test Your Sites Functionality
Just as you would test to drive a car before you buy, you need to test your site to make sure everything is working correctly. A website accessibility checker will not only ensure that your site is ADA compliant, but it can also help you locate functionality errors in your site. You should test every button and link to ensure everything is working as it should.
Testing your site’s functionality should also include making sure your contact information is easy to find and easily accessible. You should also make certain all photos and videos are easy to view and load and are of good quality.
Choosing Poor Colors and Fonts
Avoid using colors that are too bright and make text and buttons hard to see or read. Fonts should be large enough to read and have the proper background color for the font to be clearly visible.
You can do many things to create a stunning and attractive website, but an essential factor for developing a successful site is avoiding common mistakes. Thoroughly check every aspect of your site and get the help and advice of others to ensure your site is the best it can be before you launch.
