Don't ignore the users

Always keep your target audience in mind. Your point-of-view, as a professional, might be very different from that of the user. Pretend you're visiting your website with fresh eyes. Walk through the user's journey as they explore different pages. Focusing on this experience will help you create a user-friendly website.

Do optimize for search

Websites that don't rank well on Google and other search engines have very little chance of breaking through the noise. As you update your website and add new pages, make sure you're following the most recent SEO guidelines. Your page titles, meta descriptions, and content are all important players in driving better search signals.

2. Layout

Don't create a cluttered layout

Have you seen websites that look like rows of boxes—all different sizes and arranged haphazardly? Would you spend more than two seconds sorting through it? Probably not. That's because cluttered websites are visually confusing; the viewer doesn't know where to direct their attention. A well-organized layout, on the other hand, guides the viewer where you want them to go.

Do create a focal point

So, where do you want your visitors to go? It depends on the purpose of your website. An e-commerce site will drive visitors to purchase, while a SaaS site might drive visitors towards a demo or a free trial. Whatever purpose your website serves, make it the focal point of your homepage.

3. Color scheme

Don't use all the colors

Using too many colors will make your website design clash. Colors have strong psychological impact, and they will affect a viewer's opinion of your brand. If you're unsure how many colors to use, the rule of thumb says your design should not use more than three colors. If you're working with a brand palette, you might be able to use more, as long as you balance them well.

Do use color combos that enhance your content

Your website's colors should reflect the brand, complement the content, and visually delight viewers. [Click to tweet Tweet this] Avoid selecting random colors just based on what you like. Instead, think about the brand and its users. If you have a primary color but don't know how to make color schemes, you can use an automatic color scheme generator to help fill out your palette.

4. Text placement

Don't fill the page with long paragraphs

Just like the layout, you don't want the design to be cluttered with text. If you have long-form content on the website, create a clean, spacious design that divides the content into readable chunks. You can do that by adding ample white space, using images, and creating proper flow.

Do make it easily scannable

If your pages are easy to scan, you have a better chance of luring readers to the bottom. Attention spans are short online, but if you can make your content easy to absorb, readers will get more value from it. In addition to high-quality writing, use headings, bullets, quotes and blocks to emphasize the essentials.

5. Search & navigation

Don't make it hard for users to find what they need

Everything on your website should be easily searchable. Whether it's the sign-up form, the "About Us" page, or your contact information, readers should not have to spend more than a few seconds finding it. To make things even easier, include a search box so people can find things that don't align with the page's primary focus.

Do set up proper navigation

If your site requires users to sign up, use colors to make the navigation simple. For instance, if your navigation headers are blue, make your sign-up button green or some other color. Organize your content into categories that users can browse if they like. You can also organize content on various hub pages.