There is so much to think about when it comes to building a website. And in this case, you can certainly learn from the mistakes of others. What are the common mistakes when planning a website, and how can you play it safe? Having analyzed dozens of websites, we've come up with the ten most common mistakes to avoid before starting your website. Make sure to tune in, and let's get started.

Mistake #1. Choosing an inconsistent domain name

Poor domain name choice is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in the first stages of building your website. A short and memorable domain name has the potential to add credibility to your business establishment and prevent your brand from getting lost in search results. Your domain name should be easy to remember and consistent with your brand.

Not sure where to start? Choose your domain name based on the following criteria:

• Readability and pronunciation. Your domain name should be easy to read and pronounce. Confusing names are typically harder to recall and easier to mistype.
• Clarity. Try to come up with a name that's clear, concise, yet creative.
• Memorability. Unique yet simple domain names are easier to remember. Make sure your domain can be easily recalled.

Mistake #2. Focusing on products and services only

To be successful, your website must offer more than the most apparent product/service description. If you want to gain a competitive advantage, your website must have a distinctive personality. Start by identifying what makes you different from everyone else in the industry. Then, use these differences as branding tools to show your benefits.

Many business owners jump into creating a website before assessing their values. Try to avoid this mistake and build your website around your corporate philosophy to add a pinch of uniqueness.

Mistake #3. Not including a clear call-to-action

Failing to add a clear call to action is another common mistake. You can't expect your website visitors to buy, subscribe, or click if you don't offer directions. If a prospect has made it to your website, it means that you've succeeded in grabbing their attention. Now, it's time to offer them the next level of interaction by including a solid call to action.

Mistake #4. Overlooking the importance of your company blog

Unfortunately, many business owners fail to understand the critical role of blogging in digital success. A company blog is a great platform to differentiate yourself from competitors and drive more leads.

If you want your blogging efforts to be successful, you must have a posting schedule, conduct content audits, and regularly update your blog. Also, it's crucial to post relevant content that resonates with your audience. You can find a lot of resources online, from blog post name generators to editing services.

Mistake #5. Disregarding the mobile traffic

Did you know that more than 50% of all online traffic is from mobile devices? It's amazing how many people browse from their phones, yet many entrepreneurs fail to create mobile-friendly websites. Your website must be responsive to all kinds of mobile devices and display quickly on any size screen. When you ignore mobile experiences, you're losing a significant number of conversions and traffic. Don't let this happen, and design with mobile experiences in mind.

Mistake #6. Not paying attention to the visuals

Overlooking the quality of imagery and videos is another common mistake. When planning your website, ensure that all images you use are of top quality. Don't use images that are blurry or pixelated. If you use your own product pictures, make sure that all photos are high-resolution and multi-angle. Enhance your visual content effortlessly with a photo editor for every skill level, ensuring your website showcases professional and engaging visuals to captivate your audience. Alternatively, you can use short videos to describe products and enhance your message. Unlike product videos, videos that follow a particular narrative can be a bit longer, but it's better to keep them as short as your script allows.

Mistake #7. Not including a search box

Scrolling through websites with the hope of finding what you need can be frustrating. A search box bar will make it easier for your prospects to navigate through your website. Besides improving navigation, a search box can increase user interaction, lengthen visit time, and provide information on your users' preferences.

Mistake #8. Ignoring SEO

Now, as your website offers appealing visuals, easy navigation, and different kinds of content, it's easy to forget about SEO. If you don't have an SEO strategy in place, no one will get to see your efforts. Search engine optimization will help your website's visibility and discoverability. And this is especially important because organic search is the primary source of website traffic. Ensure an SEO professional creates a comprehensive strategy that can be utilized in the website's design.

Mistake #9. Overlooking guidelines, columns, & grids

Guidelines, columns, and grids are something that website designers regularly overlook. All of the above are used to help you ensure that all elements on the page are aligned. For example, you can use columns to align content blocks if you need to segment elements vertically. A proper alignment will make your website look more professional and visually appealing.

Mistake #10. Not keeping communication channels open

It's a relatively easy step, yet many businesses don't offer proper communication solutions. If a prospect wants to contact you but can't navigate communication channels, they'll leave your website. That's why it's so important to add a live chat feature and include a contact page. Make sure your customers can easily ask their queries and receive a quick response. You can use the help of chatbots to keep communication options open 24/7.

A contact page must include your company address, phone number, email, and mailing address. Creating a proper contact page will benefit you from a long-term perspective as it adds credibility to your business.

Final thoughts

Underplanning your website is the biggest mistake you can make. Besides considering all of the above, you must clearly understand your selling proposition, target audience, and advertising channels. Each step of developing a website, planning being one, requires thorough research and consideration. Also, it's helpful to go back to the customer perspective throughout your planning stage. Make it easier for customers to find information, contact you, and scroll your site from their phones. And finally, it's worth saying that others' mistakes can teach us a great lesson when building a website. Learn from mistakes and good luck with launching your website!