Web design moves quickly. Features that once seemed impressive can now make a website feel dated, frustrate visitors and even cost you customers.
If your website has been around for a few years, it’s worth taking a fresh look at it. Removing or rethinking a few old-fashioned features can make it cleaner, faster and far easier to use.
Here are some features to remove or rethink on your website.
1. Music That Plays Automatically
Background music that plays as soon as someone lands on your website might seem like a good way to set the mood, but more often than not, it’s a source of annoyance.
If your visitor is already listening to their own music, your website will simply add unwanted noise. Even if they’re not, they might be somewhere where sudden sound isn’t welcome, such as in the office, on public transport or in a quiet room at home.
Many web browsers now block audio from playing automatically anyway, so it may not even work as intended. If sound is important to your website, such as for a band or a venue, let visitors choose to play it.
2. Important Content Locked in PDFs
PDFs have their place. They’re useful for things like printable menus, brochures, price lists and forms people need to download. But putting important information only in a PDF can cause problems.
PDFs are often difficult to read on a mobile phone, can be slow to download and aren’t always accessible to people using screen readers. It’s also harder for visitors to share them or copy text from them.
Wherever possible, put your key content directly on your web pages, where it’s easy to read on any device and easier for Google to find. If you do offer a PDF, use it as an extra download alongside the information on your page, not instead of it.
3. QR Codes on Your Website
QR codes are great for print. On a poster, flyer, menu or shop window, they’re a quick way to take people straight to your website, a booking page or a special offer.
But on your website, they rarely make sense. Most people are already browsing on their phone, and they can’t scan a QR code displayed on the same screen. If someone is on their phone, a simple link or button will always be easier.
Keep your QR codes for your printed marketing, and make sure they link to a mobile-friendly page.
4. Social Media Icons at the Top of Your Pages
Links to your social media profiles are useful, but where you put them matters. Big, brightly coloured social media icons at the top of your website can act like an exit sign, sending visitors off to Facebook or Instagram before they’ve seen what you offer or got in touch.
Your website and your social media channels do different jobs, so treat them that way. Keep your social media icons in your website’s footer, where visitors who want to follow you can easily find them, without tempting people away from your website too early.
5. Overused Stock Images
Some stock images appear on so many websites that they’ve become a sign of low effort. Think of the overly cheerful office worker wearing a headset, often seen on “Contact Us” pages, or the perfect team shaking hands around a meeting table.
These images make your website look like countless others and can make your business feel generic. Replace them with real photos of your team, premises, products and work, or with custom graphics that reflect your brand.
6. Automatic Sliders and Carousels
Rotating banners at the top of a homepage were once everywhere. The problem is that most visitors only see the first slide, and the rest move on before anyone has had a chance to read them.
Sliders can also slow down your website and be awkward to use on mobile. A single strong headline, image and call to action will usually do a far better job of grabbing your visitors’ attention.
Keep Your Website Modern and User-Friendly
A modern website isn’t about adding as many features as possible. It’s about giving visitors a fast, simple and enjoyable experience that guides them towards getting in touch or buying. Removing outdated features is one of the easiest ways to do that.
If you’d like your website to meet modern design and usability standards, get in touch with Whelan Web Design. We’re a Waterford-based web design agency helping businesses across Ireland attract more visitors and turn them into customers.
