Seven website design myths, and what is true instead.
Many website decisions are made from habit and opinion rather than from how visitors actually behave. This article takes seven common design myths, explains why each one misleads and gives a better rule to use instead.
- Good design helps a visitor do something, so judge it by what visitors can do.
- Opinions inside the company are not evidence. Watch real visitors and use real data.
- Most myths come from treating a website as a poster instead of a tool.
5 min readPublished By Domeq Solutions
Why do design myths last so long?
Design is visible, so everyone has an opinion about it. Some of those opinions were once good advice for an older kind of website, and they stuck. Others come from how the team likes to see itself, not from how customers use the site.
A myth costs money when it shapes a decision. A home page packed with everything because 'nobody scrolls', or a slider because 'the boss wants every service visible', quietly reduces the number of people who enquire.
A design decision is only as good as the evidence behind it.
What are the seven myths?
Each row below states a belief you will hear in meetings, then what is closer to the truth. None of this needs a statistic: it rests on how people read and use pages.
Seven myths and the truth behind each.
People don't scroll, so everything must fit above the fold.
People scroll when the page gives them a reason to. Put the most important message and action first, then let the page continue for those who want more.
A prettier design always converts better.
Clarity converts. A plain page that states the offer and makes the next step obvious often beats a beautiful page that hides them.
More options and links give visitors more choice.
Too many choices slow decisions. Give each page one main action and keep the rest quiet.
The logo should be large and the first thing seen.
Visitors want to know they are in the right place and what you offer. A clear logo helps, but the headline does the real work.
Sliders and carousels show everything at once.
Most visitors never see past the first slide. Pick the one message that matters and show that.
Mobile design is a smaller version of the desktop site.
Phones have different needs: thumbs, small screens and slower connections. Design for the phone deliberately and then scale up.
Once the site launches, the design is finished.
A site should keep improving as you learn what visitors do. Plan small, regular changes based on real behaviour.
What should you do instead?
Replace opinion with a few simple habits. They cost little and they apply to any website, from a first launch to a long-running site.
Five habits that beat the myths.
Name the one action
For every page, write down the single thing you want a visitor to do. Design towards it.
Watch real visitors
Ask a few customers to find something on the site while you watch quietly. Notice where they hesitate.
Read the data
Use Google Analytics to see where visitors leave and which pages bring enquiries.
Test on a real phone
Open the site on a phone, on a mobile connection, and try to enquire.
Change one thing at a time
Make a change, wait, and compare. Several changes at once teach you nothing.
How can you check your own site?
A quick review shows whether any of these myths has crept into your site. Answer each question honestly, preferably with someone who does not work on the site.
Six questions to ask of your site.
- Can a stranger say what you do within five seconds of arriving?
- Does each page have one clear main action?
- Does the site load quickly and read well on a phone?
- Is the main message in text, not buried in a moving slider?
- Do forms ask only for what you need?
- Does the data show which pages bring enquiries, and which lose people?
Two or more 'no' answers suggest a design review is worth the time.
Where does professional design help?
A designer who works from evidence can turn these habits into a page that reads quickly and converts. Domeq's UI/UX Design service focuses on the layout, flow and clarity of the experience, and its Website Design & Development work builds it, fully responsive and tested.
For a first read on a live site, try the free website audit, then see the website redesign checklist if you decide to change it.
Questions, answered.
Do people really not scroll on websites?
They do scroll, when the content gives them a reason to. The first screen should state what you offer and what to do next, and the rest of the page should reward those who keep reading.
Does a beautiful website guarantee more enquiries?
No. Appearance helps trust, but clarity, speed and a visible next step decide whether people enquire. A plain page that is clear often outperforms a decorative one that is not.
Are image sliders bad for a website?
They often hide most of their messages, because many visitors never see past the first slide. A single strong message usually works better, with extra detail further down.
How should I design for mobile?
Begin with the phone: large tap targets, short forms, fast loading and the main action within reach. Then add space and detail for larger screens.
How do I know if my website design is working?
Look at what visitors do: how many enquire, where they leave and how the site performs on a phone. Google Analytics and a few watched sessions with real customers answer more than opinions do.
How often should a website design be updated?
Make small improvements continuously, based on data, and review the whole design every year or two. A full redesign is needed only when the site no longer fits the business.
Does Domeq design for conversions?
Yes. UI/UX Design at Domeq looks at the clarity of the page and the path to an enquiry, and every website Domeq builds is fully responsive and includes Google Analytics so results can be measured.
Keep reading.
More guides on the same topic, and on the ones around it.
- Website Navigation Best Practices: Design a Menu That WorksWebsite navigation best practices: list your pages, group them by what visitors want, name them plainly, keep the menu short and test it on a phone.UI/UX Design
- Website Accessibility Basics: A Guide for Business OwnersWebsite accessibility basics for business owners: what it means, who it helps, the checks anyone can make on a page and when to bring in an expert.UI/UX Design
- Website Redesign Checklist: Before, During and AfterA website redesign checklist: the signs you need one, what to record first, how to protect search visibility and what to test on launch day.Website Design & Development
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