Being a web developer is not as easy as you think! Many web developers can create a general website but only a few can make it into an effective one that people would enjoy visiting. A successful website is one that is will invite visitors to your page and ultimately convert them into potential customers and users.
There are many theories about web design and development that circulate around the net. Unfortunately not all of them are true. ThunderQuote aims to uncover 10 most widespread myths about web design and development and reveal the truth behind each of them!
#1 YOUR WEBSITE DOESN’T NEED TO CHANGE
One assumption made by web designers is that there is no need to update a website as it has been proven to be successful during release. However, this theory is incorrect. There should always be constant progression of a website. You will need to constantly update, innovate, and expand on ideas. When considering what changes to make to your website, you should look at your target audience and monitor what is effective to your target audience and what is not. Hence, one good tip is you should attempt to redesign your website every two to three years to ensure that your website functions efficiently.
# 2 WEB DESIGN OVER USER EXPERIENCE ANY DAY!
Some websites stand out from the others because they look more stylish and thus, it increases the chances of being noticed. However, user experience must be taken into account. Therefore, a user-friendly website allows visitors to navigate around the site efficiently will help you achieve your desired outcome – making a purchase or signing up to the services you provide. For example, if you are running an online store, instead of focusing on having a sophisticated website, your web developer should focus on developing a website with a good filter for your customer’s search results or a safe check out system. So talk to your web developer in order to find the perfect balance between an aesthetically pleasing design as well as one that is practical and user-friendly.
#3 ENGAGE USERS WITH BOLD TEXTS AND BRIGHT COLOURS
Visual design is not all about the bold texts and bright colours! You should take note that a well designed website will draw the user’s attention to the right features. Therefore, the web designer should be able to attract customers without the excessive use of bold texts and striking colours. If you are trying to use only graphics to attract users, it is a clear sign that you have a content issue or that you are in a desperate need of a new web designer!
#4 IT WILL COST A LOT TO GET YOUR WEBSITE ON THE FIRST PAGE OF A SEARCH ENGINE
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is focused on growing visibility in organic search engine results. If you’re hiring the right person to help you with SEO, you might even save more than if you were to purchase Ads! You may not be able to afford all of the different options all at once, but take your time and allow your website to grow slowly. If you hire a suitable web developer, you can prioritize your SEO needs and pay the amount you can afford!
#5 GOOGLE ADS WILL ALLOW YOU TO RISE IN THE THE SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS
The purchase of a Google ad does not have anything to do with your website appearing in the search engine results. Customers these days are well informed and they would know that unpaid listings are organic. The common perception is that organic listings rise or fall depending on the popularity of the service. This is unfortunately untrue. Organic listings might be listed very high if they have many influential businesses linking to them.
#6 PEOPLE READ A LOT ON THE WEB
Your website design may be an issue if your homepage has a word count of above 180. You will notice this issue when looking at your website’s bounce rate. There are exceptions of course, but in general, most people will encourage keeping the home page under 80 words. You should try and include visuals or videos for users to help them understand the purpose of your website.
#7 MINOR EDITS TO YOUR DESIGN MAY MAKE IT LOOK BETTER
Successful companies would normally hire designers that they can trust and rely on. This does not mean that the design team would not consult the companies regarding the web design for constructive feedback. However, it does mean that when it comes to difficult design preferences, the experts they hired would best make the decisions.
#8 IF YOU HAVE MORE FEATURES, YOU HAVE A BETTER DESIGN
Many businesses tend to suggest for a wide range of ideas to include in the website. They feel that the more the website can provide, the more value it will have to their users. However, web developers and web designers have established the fact that less complex, clean-cut and user-friendly website will offer a more positive and impressive user experience.
#9 YOU ARE CONSIDERED A DEVELOPER AFTER YOU’VE CREATED YOUR FIRST WEBSITE
Being a web developer is not that easy! It requires you to have a wide range of skills and utilising those skills to your advantage. Being a web developer is a lot of hard work and you would need a lot of passion to continue being in the industry. Creating one website is an achievement in itself, but you should be motivated to progress forward. Thus, read more books related to web development, attend conferences to learn from the experts and continue developing new websites
#10 ONCE A SITE IS BUILT, IT IS COMPLETED.
A site requires constant care to stay functional. Therefore, a web developer’s job extends beyond building a site. A web developer’s job may include ensuring that the site operates faultlessly without any glitches. Even during times when your website has low traffic, it would be ideal if the web developer kept an eye on the functionality of the website. Essentially, web development is all about having a website that is alive and functioning!
These are the 10 most commonly held beliefs you’ll encounter in one shape or another during your career in website development and design. However, do not let these myths stop you from becoming the best website developer or website designer! If you are a website developer, you should constantly look out for more opportunities and exposure to increase your skills. If you’re looking for a website developer and designer, you should find one that fits your bill in order to save costs!