Getting the details right in web development can make or break your site’s efficiency. Removing unnecessary code, images, and altering structure is critical for improving site speed and load time. Even the designs and aesthetics (like animations) play a role in how efficiently your site performs.
This article will cover the most common mistakes we see web developers make and how to fix them. When hiring a web developer, there are still some things you need to know to ensure your project is done correctly. Your website is one of the most important digital assets you own. That means it’s vital to create the best version of your site when developing it. Curating a successful working environment for your web developers and your business is how you’ll end up with a website that is fast, converts, and your customers love.
Remember that web development and design are closely related yet not the same. Digital Authority Partners has an excellent article about the best web design practices for 2022.
1. Overly complex design
Sometimes web developers are guilty of this, and other times the blame can be put on someone else. The bottom line is: Simple is always best. 99% of the time, a simple design will beat a complicated one.
When you start adding in other variables, multiple goals, and multiple user pathways, it can often end in a high bounce rate. A simple, seamless design goes a long way in web development and design. If you’re hiring a team of web designers, you’ll have to explain what you want. Keeping your interface intuitive and talking about that to your developers will help you from making this mistake.
2. Not coding for desktop and mobile simultaneously
A common mistake many web developers make is not adjusting their code while they’re writing it for both mobile and desktop. This can lead to a serious complication: a non-responsive layout that doesn’t address user needs or behaviors.
Clients and developers should ensure that they think through the site design for both mobile and desktop apps from the outset. It’s more cost-efficient to design for both at the beginning than to modify code for one to try to fit onto the other platform later. That’s why it’s best you bring this complication up with your developers at the beginning of a project.
3. Not cutting out unnecessary code
Unnecessary code is the bane of an average web developer’s existence. But we’re all taught to memorize books, answer questions without any thought, believe what we’re taught is always right in school–and to accept what already exists. Developers are no different–if the code is already there, it’s not necessarily their mindset to ruthlessly edit it.
However, trimming up code related to spacers, whitespace, compression, and other imperfections is a surefire way to increase website speed. Remember that in 2022 and beyond, load time and overall site speed are significant factors in SEO due to bounce rate and Google’s algorithm. That makes it vital to compress and trim unnecessary code to achieve the best results from a web development project. By talking about this issue with your team of developers, you’ll be able to proactively handle the situation and ensure your site is running smoothly.
4. Not communicating effectively with your team
When collaborating on a project, superior communication among your team members is crucial. This is even more important because we’re all working online, and in-person meetings–for design, page strategies, SEO strategies–are rare.
Everyone needs to be on the same page to maximize efficiency and ensure shared goals. Discussing code style before the project starts is important. If everyone isn’t aware of the stylistic tendencies the code should follow, it can be quite a mess at the end of the project. Having to integrate disparate coding styles toward the end of a project is a hassle for the team and client, so make sure all participants are coding economically and similarly to ensure the best outcome for the client.
Communication is the key to success when you’re hiring a team of web developers. As stated before, staying on the same page ensures a healthy and safe process that will leave your website working effectively.
5. Counterintuitive navigation and design
Simple, clean, uncluttered design is almost always better than complex. Intuitive design is difficult to define, yet we all understand the concept behind it. You want consumers’ navigation of a client’s website to be simple and intuitive. That usually means using dropdowns, having embedded layouts, and including a search bar at the top of the page.
The same goes for design. An intuitive design is a sleek, simple look that doesn’t put strain on the eye. It’s all about guiding the user to the places your client wants them to go. Accent colors should be faded, you should use white space instead of dark space, and fonts should be easy to read.
6. Not testing other browsers
Nearly 67% of all people use Chrome as their primary browser. However, that doesn’t mean you should just ignore the other 33% of people. During website development, it’s a common mistake not to test for other browsers. You could end up with a website that is formatted incorrectly on Microsoft Edge while it looks perfect on Chrome. By testing on different browsers as you develop, you can address these problems ahead of time and save your team the headache of scrambling at the end of a project.
Final Thoughts
Web development is a highly detailed process that requires a broad understanding of SEO, computer programming, and user experience. Avoiding the common mistakes we’ve listed will save you countless hours and many headaches as you work on more projects. And you’ll refine your development processes and become a better web developer as a result.
The key to hiring a team of web developers is all about communication and collaboration. Telling them about your vision is how you’ll end up with an exceptional website, and staying away from these common pitfalls will help you avoid the headache of doing it over again.