How to Avoid Website Mistakes

Many companies and entrepreneurs often find themselves disappointed after ordering a website. Time and money are spent, but the results fail to meet expectations. Why does this happen, and how can you avoid such mistakes? Let’s explore the common pitfalls and effective solutions.

Clients often believe that an IT company can fully determine their needs and create a website from scratch without their active involvement. However, the absence of a clear technical specification leads to constant clarifications, extended timelines, and unsatisfactory results.

Why does this happen?

• Undefined project goals: It’s unclear who the website is for and what problems it should solve.
• No description of the required functionality or design.
• Ignoring key performance metrics like loading speed or conversion rates.

Solution:

1. Conduct a Discovery phase with your developer. Define the website's goals, success metrics, and target audience.
2. Prepare a detailed technical specification). Include desired design examples, required functionality (e.g., online forms, CRM integration), and success metrics.

Focusing solely on cost or flashy advertising often leads to working with unqualified developers, which can cause:

• Slow website performance due to bloated or poorly written code.
• SEO issues: The website won’t be optimized for search engines.
• Poor adaptability: The website may not display correctly on mobile devices or tablets.

Solution:

1. Research the developer’s reputation. Check their portfolio, client reviews, and experience in your industry.
2. Conduct interviews to assess their expertise and sign a contract that clearly outlines requirements, deadlines, and guarantees.

While design is important, it cannot be the sole measure of a website’s success. A website must balance aesthetics with functionality.

Why does this happen?

• Clients prioritize design without considering user convenience.
• There’s no analysis of potential customers’ behavior.

Solution:

1. Balance design and functionality by involving UX/UI designers to create a user-friendly structure.
2. Conduct user testing to ensure the website is intuitive and convenient.
3. Invest in analytics tools like Google Analytics or Hotjar to understand user behavior and continuously improve the site.

With the majority of users accessing websites via smartphones, a site that isn’t mobile-friendly risks losing potential customers.

Why does this happen?

• The website lacks responsive design.
• Insufficient testing across various devices.

Solution:

1. Include responsive design requirements in the technical specification.
2. Test the website on different devices and simulators to ensure it functions correctly.
3. Optimize the mobile experience with user-friendly navigation, large buttons, and streamlined layouts.

Launching a website is just the first step. Without a clear plan for maintenance and updates, the site can quickly become outdated and ineffective.

Why does this happen?

• Clients assume a website doesn’t need further adjustments after launch.
• There are no agreements regarding technical support.

Solution:

1. Agree with your developer on regular maintenance, updates, and bug fixes.
2. Create a content strategy, regularly adding new materials (e.g., articles, news, or products).
3. Invest in SEO and leverage analytics tools to improve your website's performance over time.

Ordering a website is a process that requires careful planning, collaboration, and attention to detail. By avoiding these common mistakes and implementing the suggested solutions, you can achieve a high-quality website that benefits your business.

We can assist you with defining goals, preparing a technical specification, creating a user-friendly and functional website, and ensuring its ongoing support and development.

Get in touch with us today for a free consultation and take the first step towards your ideal website!