Let’s face it, we have all seen websites that we think are great and make us want to stay on the web page and explore more. On the other hand, we have also all seen sites that are total disasters and make us cringe at first glance. So, what is the difference between a good website and a bad website? Two identical websites can have the exact same information, and yet one can be must better than the other. Why is that? Let’s unpack it.
Website Quality Matters
When it comes to creating an effective online presence, the quality of a website plays a crucial role in user satisfaction and engagement. A well-designed website can enhance user experience, improve brand credibility, and drive conversions, while a poorly made website can lead to frustration, high bounce rates, and missed opportunities. Here we will look into ten key qualities that differentiate a well-made website from a poorly made one, from design and performance to usability and security. Understanding these factors can help you create or evaluate websites that not only look great but function seamlessly and provide value to your audience.
1. User Experience (UX):
Well-made website: Offers an intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface. Information is organized logically, and users can quickly find what they need.
Poorly made website: Confusing navigation, unclear structure, or overly complex designs that make it difficult for users to find information.
2. Design and Aesthetics:
Well-made website: Has a visually appealing, cohesive design with proper color schemes, typography, and spacing. The design is consistent across pages and aligns with the brand.
Poorly made website: Overwhelming or inconsistent design choices, clashing colors, or fonts that make it difficult to read or understand.
3. Responsiveness:
Well-made website: Optimized for different devices and screen sizes, ensuring a smooth experience on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
Poorly made website: Doesn’t adjust well to mobile or tablet views, causing text to be hard to read or elements to be misaligned.
4. Speed and Performance:
Well-made website: Fast loading times, minimal lag, and efficient coding to ensure a smooth experience for visitors.
Poorly made website: Slow load times, broken images, or excessive scripts that slow down performance.
5. Content:
Well-made website: High-quality, clear, and concise content that is engaging and useful to the target audience. It’s also error-free and well-organized.
Poorly made website: Overloaded with irrelevant, poorly written, or outdated content. It might also contain spelling/grammar mistakes or excessive jargon.
6. Accessibility:
Well-made website: Adheres to accessibility standards, making it usable by people with disabilities (e.g., providing text for screen readers, proper contrast for visibility).
Poorly made website: Lacks accessibility features, making it difficult or impossible for some users to interact with the site.
7. SEO (Search Engine Optimization):
Well-made website: Structured and optimized to rank well in search engines, including clear meta descriptions, relevant keywords, and proper HTML structure.
Poorly made website: Lacks SEO best practices, such as poorly written titles, missing alt text for images, and unoptimized content, making it difficult to find via search engines.
8. Security:
Well-made website: Implements up-to-date security protocols, including HTTPS encryption, to protect user data and prevent breaches.
Poorly made website: Lacks security measures, leaving user data vulnerable or potentially exposed.
9. Functionality:
Well-made website: All features work as intended. Forms, links, buttons, and interactive elements function correctly.
Poorly made website: Broken links, malfunctioning buttons, or forms that don’t submit properly, leading to frustration.
10. Maintenance:
Well-made website: Regularly updated with fresh content and security patches. It reflects the current brand identity and objectives.
Poorly made website: Neglected and outdated, with broken or outdated content, or with old design elements that don’t align with the current brand.
Let Us Help
So as you can see, a well-made website prioritizes functionality, ease of use, aesthetics, and performance, delivering a seamless and engaging experience for users. While, on the other hand, a poorly made website often suffers from poor design, slow performance, confusing navigation, and a lack of attention to user needs and technical optimization. At SkyFish we know what it takes to have a well-designed, high performing website. Let us help you achieve your goals and help your business succeed!
