There are several important facets that go into designing the ideal website for your business and its marketing needs, and choosing the right features for your site is always on this list. While there are a number of fantastic features you might be thinking about to benefit your brand and company, there are also certain features that are either outdated or simply never had any place on robust sites to begin with – and should generally be avoided.
At BWP Communications, we’re happy to offer the best digital marketing agency services you’ll find in Salt Lake City, including comprehensive web design solutions for any business need. Here are some of the top examples of features you likely don’t need on your your site (with limited exceptions), and which in fact may actively detract from your overall success if they’re present.
Parallax
For those unfamiliar with the term, parallax in web design refers to the effect where background images move at a different rate than foreground text and content, creating a sort of 3D look. While this might sound cool on the surface, it’s actually very hard to do correctly without compromising your site’s overall functionality – and even if you can pull it off, most users find it more distracting than anything else.
Additionally, parallax websites often are not friendly whatsoever to individuals with visual issues or sensitivities. People prone to motion sickness, for instance, may not be able to use a site with parallax design. For these reasons, we generally steer people away from parallax unless there’s very specific branding or marketing needs that absolutely demand it.
Auto-Play Video
One feature that was popular for a period of time but has now largely been discarded is auto-play video. This refers to any video content that begins playing automatically when a user enters the site, without them clicking or otherwise engaging with it. While this might seem like a good way to grab users’ attention, in reality it’s often seen as intrusive and will actively turn some people away from your site altogether.
There are exceptions, of course – if you’re a video production company or something similar, auto-play video might be appropriate. But for most business and marketing needs, it should be avoided.
Intrusive Pop-Ups
Another feature that’s mostly gone by the wayside is intrusive pop-ups, which are just what they sound like – when a site suddenly has a window open in the middle of the screen, blocking the content and asking users to do something. These can be incredibly annoying, especially when they obscure important information or make it difficult to navigate the site.
Nowadays, most pop-ups are much more subtle and integrated into the page design – but even these should still be used sparingly and only when necessary. Don’t bombard your users with pop-ups or they’ll quickly leave your site.
Social Sharing Icons
While social sharing is certainly important for any business, and having social media icons on your site can help promote this, the actual placement of these icons requires some strategy. We often see sites with these icons plastered all over the page, in every corner and even overlapping content – but this isn’t aesthetically pleasing or helpful to users. Instead, place them strategically where they’re easy to find and use, but don’t clutter up the page with them.
Embedded Social Media Feeds
Down related lines, we also advise against embedding social media feeds directly onto your site. While this might seem like a good way to show off your social media presence, in reality it can be messy and hard to read – plus, if someone isn’t signed into that particular platform, they won’t be able to see the feed at all.
Instead of embedding, provide links for users to find you on various social media platforms. This way, they can choose to follow you if they’re interested in your content, but it won’t be shoved in their face while they’re trying to browse your site.
Excessive Animation
While a bit of animation here and there can add some pizzazz to your site, don’t go overboard with it. Too much animation can make a site look unprofessional and cluttered, not to mention it can slow down load times and make the user experience frustrating. Use animations sparingly and only when they truly enhance the design of your site.
At BWP Communications, we understand the importance of choosing the right features for your website. Our team of experts will work closely with you to create a site that not only looks great, but also functions smoothly and effectively for your business needs. Contact us today to learn more about our web design services and how we can help take your online presence to the next level! We proudly assist businesses around SLC and nearby areas, and are standing by to take your call.
