The Top 50 Things People Hate About Websites
Key Takeaways
Prioritize user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design to keep visitors engaged, increase conversions, and improve search engine rankings.
Optimize your website for speed, mobile devices, and accessibility to cater to all users.
Keep your website design clean and consistent, with a clear information hierarchy and visual hierarchy.
Make navigation easy and intuitive with features like search functionality, breadcrumb navigation, and hamburger menus on mobile devices.
Avoid common pitfalls such as broken links, misleading headlines, and outdated information.
Enhance user experience with personalized content, social proof, and localized content for international audiences.
Monitor and track errors on your site to ensure a smooth user experience and make improvements based on user feedback.
Comply with privacy regulations by providing a privacy policy, cookie consent, and SSL certificates.
Use the resources and best practices provided throughout the article to optimize your website's UX and UI, ultimately leading to a better experience for your visitors and higher search engine rankings.
Index
Introduction
Slow Loading Times
Poor Mobile Optimization
Complicated Navigation
Too Many Pop-ups and Ads
Autoplay Videos and Audio
Poor Readability
Inconsistent Design
Lack of Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
Broken Links
Poorly Written Content
Inaccessible Content
Stock Photos Overuse
Outdated Design
Complicated Forms
No Search Function
Inadequate White Space
Poor Error Handling
Hidden Contact Information
Ineffective 404 Pages
No Social Sharing Buttons
Inconsistent URL Structure
No Clear Information Hierarchy
No Testimonials or Reviews
Poor Legibility
No Site Map
Non-Descriptive Link Text
No Favicon
No SSL Certificate
No Analytics Integration
No Social Proof
No Clear Value Proposition
Misleading Headlines
Too Many Fonts
Inappropriate Use of Animations
No Breadcrumb Navigation
No Alt Text for Images
Overuse of Jargon
No Cookie Consent
No Hamburger Menu on Mobile
No Visual Hierarchy
No Clear User Flow
Lack of Content Variety
No Feedback Mechanism
No Content Personalization
No Privacy Policy
Outdated Information
Non-Optimized Images
No Clear Branding
No Localized Content
No Error Tracking
Conclusion
FAQ
Introduction
Website user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) are two critical factors that determine the success of your online presence. With the constant evolution of technology and design trends, it's more important than ever to stay up-to-date and ensure your website caters to your users' needs. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the top 50 things people dislike about website UX and UI, and provide actionable tips to help you improve your site's performance. With relevant links throughout, this article will become your go-to resource for optimizing your website's user experience.
Slow Loading Times
Slow loading times are one of the biggest frustrations for users. According to a study by Google, 53% of mobile users abandon a site if it takes longer than 3 seconds to load. Optimize your site's performance by compressing images, minifying code, and leveraging browser caching.
Resources:
Google PageSpeed Insights: https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/
GTmetrix: https://gtmetrix.com/
Poor Mobile Optimization
With more than half of all web traffic coming from mobile devices, having a responsive website is crucial. Make sure your website scales and functions well on all screen sizes.
Resources:
Google Mobile-Friendly Test: https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly
Responsive Web Design Basics: https://web.dev/responsive-web-design-basics/
Complicated Navigation
A confusing navigation structure can deter users from exploring your website. Keep your navigation simple, clear, and consistent across all pages.
Resource:
Navigation Best Practices: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/navigation-ia-tests/
Too Many Pop-ups and Ads
Excessive pop-ups and ads can be intrusive and negatively impact the user experience. Limit their use and ensure they don't obstruct important content.
Resource:
Google's Guidelines on Pop-ups: https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/66356?hl=en
Autoplay Videos and Audio
Autoplay content can be disruptive and annoying to users. Give them the choice to play or pause media.
Resource:
How to Disable Autoplay Videos: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Media/Autoplay_guide
Poor Readability
Poor readability due to small fonts, low contrast, or cluttered layouts can make it difficult for users to consume your content. Use appropriate font sizes and high contrast between text and background colors.
Resources:
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/
Readability Guidelines: https://readabilityguidelines.co.uk/
Inconsistent Design
Inconsistent design elements can make your website appear unprofessional. Establish a consistent design language across your site to create a cohesive user experience.
Resource:
UI Design Consistency: https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/ui-design/the-importance-of-consistency-in-ui-design/
Lack of Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
A clear and compelling CTA is essential for driving conversions. Make sure your CTAs stand out and convey a strong message.
Resource:
Call-to-Action Best Practices: https://conversionxl.com/blog/call-to-action-examples/
Broken Links
Broken links can frustrate users and negatively affect your search engine rankings. Regularly audit your site for broken links and fix them.
Resource:
Broken Link Checker: https://www.brokenlinkcheck.com/
Poorly Written Content
Low-quality content can hurt your website's credibility and user experience. Invest in high-quality, informative, and engaging content to keep users on your site longer.
Resource:
How to Write High-Quality Content: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/how-to-create-high-quality-content/254511
Inaccessible Content
Make your website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. Follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure your site is accessible to everyone.
Resource:
WebAIM: https://webaim.org/
Stock Photos Overuse
Overusing stock photos can make your website appear generic and unauthentic. Use custom imagery where possible, or choose high-quality and relevant stock images.
Resource:
Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/
Outdated Design
Outdated designs can make your website appear untrustworthy. Stay current with design trends and update your site accordingly.
Resource:
Awwwards: https://www.awwwards.com/
Complicated Forms
Long and complicated forms can deter users from completing them. Keep your forms short and only request essential information.
Resource:
Form Design Best Practices: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/web-form-design/
No Search Function
A search function is crucial for helping users find specific content on your site. Implement a search bar to enhance usability.
Resource:
Algolia: https://www.algolia.com/
Inadequate White Space
A cluttered layout can make your website difficult to navigate. Use white space effectively to create a clean and user-friendly design.
Resource:
White Space in Web Design: https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/the-power-of-white-space
Poor Error Handling
Errors can be frustrating for users. Implement clear error messages and guide users towards correcting their mistakes.
Resource:
UX Design for Error Handling: https://www.userjourneys.com/blog/ux-guidelines-for-error-handling/
Hidden Contact Information
Make it easy for users to contact you by displaying your contact information prominently on your site.
Resource:
Contact Page Best Practices: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/examples-contact-us-pages/378518/
Ineffective 404 Pages
Customize your 404 pages to maintain a consistent design and guide users back to relevant content.
Resource:
404 Page Best Practices: https://larryludwig.com/404-page-best-practices/
No Social Sharing Buttons
Make it easy for users to share your content on social media by including social sharing buttons on your site.
Resource:
ContentStudio: https://contentstudio.io/
Inconsistent URL Structure
Maintain a consistent and logical URL structure to improve user experience and search engine optimization.
Resource:
URL Structure Best Practices: https://moz.com/learn/seo/url
No Clear Information Hierarchy
Organize your content using clear headings, subheadings, and bulleted lists to improve readability and scannability.
Resource:
Information Hierarchy Guide: https://www.toptal.com/designers/ux/visual-hierarchy-infographic
No Testimonials or Reviews
Including testimonials or reviews on your site can increase trust and credibility. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and display them prominently.
Resource:
Testimonial Best Practices: https://optinmonster.com/9-customer-testimonial-examples-that-you-can-use-on-your-website/
Poor Legibility
Make your content easy to read by avoiding overly decorative fonts and using proper line spacing and paragraph breaks.
Resource:
Typography Best Practices: https://www.toptal.com/designers/typography/web-typography-infographic
No Site Map
A site map helps users navigate your website and improves search engine indexing. Create and submit a site map to search engines for better visibility.
Resource:
XML Sitemaps: https://www.sitemaps.org/
Non-Descriptive Link Text
Use descriptive link text to improve usability and accessibility. Avoid generic phrases like "click here" or "learn more."
Resource:
Writing Effective Link Text: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/writing-links/
No Favicon
A favicon adds professionalism to your website and helps users identify your site in their browser tabs. Create and upload a favicon to your site.
Resource:
Favicon Generator: https://www.favicon-generator.org/
No SSL Certificate
Secure your website and protect user data by installing an SSL certificate. This will also improve your search engine rankings.
Resource:
Let's Encrypt: https://letsencrypt.org/
No Analytics Integration
Integrate analytics tools like Google Analytics to track user behavior and make data-driven decisions to improve your site.
Resource:
Google Analytics: https://analytics.google.com/
No Social Proof
Leverage social proof to build trust and credibility. Showcase client logos, case studies, or media mentions on your site.
Resource:
Social Proof Examples: https://optinmonster.com/social-proof-statistics/
No Clear Value Proposition
Communicate the unique value of your products or services to users with a clear value proposition.
Resource:
Value Proposition Canvas: https://www.strategyzer.com/canvas/value-proposition-canvas
Misleading Headlines
Avoid clickbait headlines that don't accurately represent your content. Be honest and descriptive in your headings.
Resource:
Headline Writing Tips: https://www.copyblogger.com/how-to-write-headlines-that-work/
Too Many Fonts
Using too many fonts can make your website look cluttered and unprofessional. Stick to 2-3 fonts for a clean and consistent design.
Resource:
Typography in Web Design: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2020/04/inspired-design-decisions-herb-lubalin/
Inappropriate Use of Animations
Animations can enhance the user experience if used appropriately, but excessive or irrelevant animations can be distracting. Use animations purposefully and sparingly.
Resource:
Animation in Web Design: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/animation-usability/
No Breadcrumb Navigation
Breadcrumb navigation helps users understand their location within your site's structure. Implement breadcrumb navigation to improve usability.
Resource:
Breadcrumb Navigation Best Practices: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/03/breadcrumbs-in-web-design-examples-and-best-practices/
No Alt Text for Images
Including alt text for images improves accessibility and search engine optimization. Add descriptive alt text to all images on your site.
Resource:
Alt Text Best Practices: https://moz.com/learn/seo/alt-text
Overuse of Jargon
Using too much industry-specific jargon can alienate users. Write your content in plain language to make it accessible to a broader audience.
Resource:
Plain Language Guidelines: https://plainlanguage.gov/guidelines/
No Cookie Consent
Comply with privacy regulations by displaying a cookie consent banner on your site.
Resource:
Cookie Consent Manager: https://www.cookiebot.com/
No Hamburger Menu on Mobile
A hamburger menu is an effective way to simplify your mobile navigation. Implement a hamburger menu for a cleaner mobile interface.
Resource:
Hamburger Menu Design: https://www.mockplus.com/blog/post/hamburger-menu-examples
No Visual Hierarchy
A strong visual hierarchy helps users understand the importance of different elements on your site. Use size, color, and contrast to create a clear hierarchy.
Resource:
Visual Hierarchy in Web Design: https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/visual-hierarchy
No Clear User Flow
Guide users through your site by creating a clear user flow. This can improve engagement, conversions, and overall user satisfaction.
Resource:
User Flow Best Practices: https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/ux-design/what-are-user-flows/
Lack of Content Variety
Break up long blocks of text with images, videos, or other multimedia to create a more engaging and visually appealing user experience.
Resource:
Content Marketing Tips: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/content-marketing
No Feedback Mechanism
Provide users with an easy way to provide feedback, report issues, or ask questions. This can help you improve your site based on user input.
Resource:
Feedback Form Templates: https://www.jotform.com/form-templates/category/feedback
No Content Personalization
Tailor your content to your users' preferences and behavior to create a more personalized experience.
Resource:
Content Personalization Tips: https://blog.hubspot.com/website/website-personalization-examples-dynamic
No Privacy Policy
Display a clear privacy policy to inform users about how their data is collected and used, and to comply with privacy regulations.
Resource:
Privacy Policy Generator: https://www.privacypolicygenerator.info/
Outdated Information
Ensure your website's content is up-to-date and accurate. Regularly review and update your content to maintain credibility.
Resource:
Content Audit Guide: https://www.semrush.com/blog/content-audit-for-content-marketing-strategy/
Non-Optimized Images
Optimize your images to improve loading times and search engine rankings. Use proper file formats, compression, and image dimensions.
Resource:
Image Optimization Guide: https://web.dev/fast/#optimize-your-images
No Clear Branding
Establish a strong brand identity on your website through consistent design elements, colors, fonts, and messaging.
Resource:
Branding in Web Design: https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/color-theory
No Localized Content
If you serve an international audience, consider providing localized content in different languages to improve user experience.
Resource:
Website Localization Tips: https://phrase.com/blog/posts/9-steps-to-get-your-website-localization-started/
No Error Tracking
Monitor your site for errors and fix them promptly. Use error tracking tools to identify and resolve issues that may negatively impact user experience.
Resource:
Sentry Error Tracking: https://sentry.io/
Conclusion
Now that you're aware of the top 50 things people dislike about website UX and UI, it's time to start optimizing your site for better user experience and higher search engine rankings. Use the resources and tips provided throughout this article to make meaningful improvements that will keep users engaged and coming back for more. Don't forget that the user experience should always be your top priority – after all, a happy user is more likely to convert and recommend your site to others. Happy optimizing!
FAQ Section
What are the most important factors to consider for good UX and UI design?
A: Some of the most important factors include clear navigation, mobile optimization, fast loading times, consistent design, and accessible content.
How can I improve my website's loading speed?
A: Optimize images, use a content delivery network (CDN), enable caching, minify code, and choose a reliable web host.
What are some common UX/UI mistakes to avoid?
A: Avoid mistakes such as slow loading times, poor mobile optimization, complicated navigation, excessive use of pop-ups and ads, and outdated design.
How can I make my website more accessible?
A: Follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), use descriptive link text, provide alt text for images, and ensure your site has a clear information hierarchy.
How can I improve the readability of my content?
A: Use simple language, break up large blocks of text with headings and subheadings, use bullet points, and maintain proper line spacing and paragraph breaks.
Why is a consistent design important for UX/UI?
A: A consistent design helps users navigate your site easily, establishes brand identity, and creates a professional and trustworthy appearance.
How can I create a more personalized user experience?
A: Tailor your content to your users' preferences and behavior, offer content personalization features, and provide localized content for international audiences.
How do I ensure my website is compliant with privacy regulations?
A: Display a clear privacy policy, provide cookie consent, and secure your website with an SSL certificate.
How can I monitor and track errors on my site?
A: Use error tracking tools like Sentry to identify and resolve issues that may negatively impact the user experience.
What are some resources to help improve my website's UX and UI?
A: The resources provided throughout the article can help you optimize your website's UX and UI, covering aspects such as design, content, navigation, accessibility, and more.