Custom Websites | Branding | Content Strategy

7 Critical Website Content Mistakes and How to Fix Them

The Ultimate Guide to Creating High-Quality Website Content

Fix These Mistakes! Best Practices for Optimizing Your Website’s Performance

The content of a website is one of the most critical factors driving traffic to your website. Effective website content should not only be well-written and informative, but also visually appealing and easy to navigate. Whether you’re creating a new website or updating an existing one, it’s crucial to ensure that your website content is optimized for your target audience.

In this article, I examine seven common website content mistakes and include some tips and best practices for how to fix these issues. By fixing these mistakes and creating high-quality website content, you can consistently engage and convert your audience.

Optimizing web content is essential for ensuring that your website not only ranks well on search engines but also engages and converts your target audience.

Let’s take a look at seven of the most common mistakes people make in their website content. These mistakes can harm the user experience, affect search engine optimization (SEO), and ultimately reduce conversions.

Seven Common Website Content Mistakes:

  1. Poor readability: If your content is difficult to read and comprehend, it can discourage visitors from staying on your website. Avoid long paragraphs, complex vocabulary, and jargon that might not be familiar to your audience. Here’s how to fix content that has poor readability.
  2. Lack of focus: If your website content is too broad and lacks a clear focus, it can confuse your visitors and reduce your chances of converting them into customers. Make sure that your website content is focused on a specific topic and provides clear and concise information. Here’s how to fix unfocused content.
  3. Inconsistent branding: Your website content should be consistent with your brand messaging and values. Inconsistent branding can lead to confusion and mistrust. Learn how to fix your branding.
  4. Ignoring SEO: If you don’t optimize your website content for search engines, your website might not rank high in search results, making it difficult for potential customers to find you. Make sure to include relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and alt tags. A few tips to shore up your SEO.
  5. Not engaging your audience: Your website content should be engaging and relevant to your audience. Make sure to use storytelling techniques, interactive elements, and visual aids to capture your visitors’ attention and keep them engaged. How to engage your audience.
  6. Lack of originality: If your website content is copied or duplicated from other sources, it can harm your website’s reputation and SEO ranking. Make sure that your content is original and adds value to your visitors. How to create original content.
  7. Ignoring mobile users: More and more people are accessing the internet from their mobile devices, so it’s essential to optimize your website content for mobile users. Make sure that your website is responsive and easy to navigate on different screen sizes. How to optimize for mobile users.

1 – Fixing Content Readability Issues:

website content,website content fix,fix content,content critical factors,7 critical content mistakes,critical factors driving trafficPoor readability can significantly impact the user experience of your website visitors. Here are some steps you can take to improve the readability of your website content:

  • Use shorter sentences and paragraphs: Long sentences and paragraphs can be challenging to read, especially on digital screens. Break up your content into shorter, more concise sentences and paragraphs.
  • Use headings and subheadings: Use headings and subheadings to organize your content and make it easier to scan. This can help your readers quickly find the information they’re looking for.
  • Use bullet points and lists: Use bullet points and lists to break up long paragraphs and make your content more scannable. This can help your readers quickly identify the key points in your content.
  • Use simple language: Use clear and simple language that your target audience can easily understand. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that might be unfamiliar to your readers.
  • Use images and videos: Use images and videos to break up text-heavy content and make it more engaging for your readers. This can also help illustrate complex concepts or ideas.
  • Use a readable font: Use a readable font that’s easy to read on digital screens. Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, and Verdana are generally more readable than serif fonts like Times New Roman. Interestingly enough, it’s the opposite of what you should use in a printed item like a paperback or hardback book or newspaper. In those mediums, you need to use serif-fonts, which will help guide the eye making the content in printed mediums much more easy to read.
  • Test your content: Test your content with real users to get feedback on its readability. You can use online tools like Hemingway and Grammarly to identify areas where your content can be simplified and improved.

By following these steps, you can significantly improve the readability of your website content, making it easier for your readers to understand and engage with your content.

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2 – Fixing Content Focus Issues:

website content,website content fix,fix content,content critical factors,7 critical content mistakes,critical factors driving trafficWebsite content that lacks focus can be confusing for your visitors and can prevent them from engaging with your website. Here are some steps you can take to fix website content with a lack of focus:

  • Define your target audience: Identify your target audience and their needs. This can help you create content that’s relevant and valuable to them.
  • Define your goals: Define the goals you want to achieve with your website. This can help you create content that aligns with your goals and messaging.
  • Audit your content: Audit your existing content to identify areas where you can improve focus. Identify content that’s not aligned with your goals or messaging and remove or revise it.
  • Create a content plan: Create a content plan that aligns with your goals and messaging. This plan should define the topics you want to cover and the tone and style of your content.
  • Use clear headings and subheadings: Use clear and concise headings and subheadings to organize your content and make it easier to navigate. This can also help your visitors quickly find the information they’re looking for.
  • Use a consistent tone and style: Use a consistent tone and style throughout your website to reinforce your messaging and branding.
  • Edit and revise your content: Edit and revise your content to ensure that it’s focused and relevant. Eliminate any unnecessary information and make sure that each piece of content serves a specific purpose.

By following these steps, you can create website content that’s focused, relevant, and engaging for your visitors. This can help you achieve your goals and improve the user experience of your website.

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3 – Fix Branding Inconsistencies:

website content,website content fix,fix content,content critical factors,7 critical content mistakes,critical factors driving trafficInconsistent branding can harm your business by confusing your customers and weakening your brand identity. Here are some steps you can take to fix inconsistent branding on your website:

  • Define your brand identity: Define your brand identity, including your mission, values, and visual identity. This can help you create a consistent brand message that resonates with your target audience.
  • Audit your website: Audit your website to identify areas where your branding is inconsistent. Look for inconsistencies in your visual identity, messaging, and tone.
  • Create brand guidelines: Create brand guidelines that outline your visual identity, messaging, and tone. These guidelines should include rules for using your logo, color palette, typography, and tone of voice.
  • Update your website: Update your website to reflect your brand guidelines. This may involve updating your logo, color palette, typography, and tone of voice.
  • Train your team: Train your team on your brand guidelines to ensure that everyone understands your brand identity and how to use it consistently.
  • Monitor your website: Regularly monitor your website to ensure that your branding remains consistent. This can involve reviewing new content, ensuring that your team is using your brand guidelines, and addressing any inconsistencies as they arise.

By following these steps, you can create a consistent brand message that reinforces your brand identity and resonates with your target audience. This can help you build a strong brand that stands out in a crowded market and drives customer loyalty. And if you need help with this, I can help you with your brand. Contact me to find out more.

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4 – Fix SEO Issues on Your Website:

website content,website content fix,fix content,content critical factors,7 critical content mistakes,critical factors driving trafficFixing SEO issues on your website can help improve your website’s visibility and ranking on search engines. Here are some steps you can take to fix SEO issues on your website:

  • Conduct an SEO audit: Conduct an SEO audit to identify any issues on your website. This may include issues with your site architecture, meta tags, page titles, content, and backlinks.
  • Optimize your website structure: Ensure that your website is properly structured and easy to navigate. Use clear and descriptive page titles and URLs, and organize your content into categories and subcategories.
  • Optimize your content: Ensure that your content is high-quality, relevant, and engaging. Use relevant keywords throughout your content, but avoid keyword stuffing.
  • Optimize your meta tags: Use clear and descriptive meta tags, including title tags and meta descriptions, that accurately reflect the content on each page.
  • Build quality backlinks: Build quality backlinks from reputable websites to improve your website’s authority and ranking. This can be achieved through guest posting, outreach, and other link building strategies.
  • Ensure your website is mobile-friendly: Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and responsive to different screen sizes. This can improve user experience and search engine ranking.
  • Use analytics tools: Use analytics tools like Google Analytics or Fathom Analytics (my analytics tool of choice) to track your website’s performance and identify areas for improvement.

By following these steps, you can improve your website’s SEO and visibility on search engines, driving more traffic and engagement to your website. You must keep in mind, however, that SEO is an ongoing process. It requires regular maintenance and updates to stay effective. In other words, SEO is a marathon not a sprint. Need help with your SEO? Contact me to find out how I can help with SEO.

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5 – Engage Your Audience:

website content,website content fix,fix content,content critical factors,7 critical content mistakes,critical factors driving trafficEngaging your audience on your website is crucial for building brand loyalty and driving conversions. Here are some steps you can take to engage your audience on your website:

  • Know your audience: Understand your target audience and what they’re looking for on your website. This can help you create content that’s relevant and engaging to them.
  • Create high-quality content: Create high-quality content that’s informative, valuable, and engaging. Use a mix of text, images, videos, and interactive elements to keep your audience engaged.
  • Use a conversational tone: Use a conversational tone in your content to make your audience feel like they’re having a conversation with you. This can help build trust and a sense of connection with your audience.
  • Encourage user-generated content: Encourage your audience to share their experiences and opinions on your website through user-generated content like reviews, comments, and social media posts.
  • Use social media: Use social media to promote your website and engage with your audience. Share your content on social media and respond to comments and messages from your audience.
  • Offer incentives: Offer incentives like discounts, giveaways, or exclusive content to encourage your audience to engage with your website and share your content with others.
  • Use interactive elements: Use interactive elements like quizzes, polls, and surveys to engage your audience and get them involved in your content.
  • Be consistent: Create a plan and set a schedule to consistently engage with your audience. People like to know you’ll be around, and you’ll keep giving them interesting content to read and interact with.

By following these steps, you can create a website that’s engaging and valuable to your audience, driving more traffic and conversions to your business. Again, remember, consistency is key!

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6 – Create Original Content for Your Website:

website content,website content fix,fix content,content critical factors,7 critical content mistakes,critical factors driving trafficCreating original content on your website can help you stand out from the competition and build a loyal audience. Here are some steps you can take to increase originality in your content on your website:

  • Know your niche: Understand your niche and what topics are most relevant to your target audience. This can help you create content that’s unique and valuable to your audience.
  • Research your competition: Research your competition to see what content they’re creating and what topics they’re covering. This can help you identify gaps in the market and create content that’s different and original.
  • Use your unique perspective: Use your unique perspective and voice to create content that’s different from what’s already out there. Share your experiences and opinions on topics related to your niche.
  • Be creative: Use creative formats and ideas to present your content in a unique and engaging way. This can include using visuals, storytelling, humor, or unexpected angles on familiar topics.
  • Conduct original research: Conduct original research on topics related to your niche and share your findings with your audience. This can help you create content that’s valuable and original.
  • Collaborate with others: Collaborate with other creators in your niche to create original content that’s different from what you could create on your own.
  • Stay up-to-date: Stay up-to-date on the latest trends and news in your niche to ensure that your content remains relevant and original.

By following these steps, you can increase originality in your content on your website and build a loyal audience that values your unique perspective and insights.

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7 – Include Your Mobile Users:

website content,website content fix,fix content,content critical factors,7 critical content mistakes,critical factors driving trafficMobile users make up a significant portion of internet users, so it’s essential to ensure that your website is optimized for mobile devices. This will ensure that your content is delivered to many different screen types, giving you and your content more exposure.. Here are some steps you can take to include mobile users on your website:

  • Use responsive design: Use a responsive design that adjusts your website layout based on the user’s device screen size. This ensures that your website is easy to use and navigate on any device.
  • Optimize website speed: Optimize your website speed to ensure that your website loads quickly on mobile devices. This can be achieved through image optimization, caching, and reducing the number of HTTP requests.
  • Use mobile-friendly navigation: Use mobile-friendly navigation that’s easy to use on small screens. This can include using a hamburger menu, drop-down menus, and easy-to-tap buttons.
  • Use mobile-friendly content: Use mobile-friendly content that’s easy to read on small screens. This can include using shorter paragraphs, larger font sizes, and clear headings.
  • Optimize forms for mobile: Optimize any forms on your website for mobile devices by using simple and easy-to-use forms that are optimized for touch input.
  • Ensure mobile compatibility: Ensure that any third-party tools or integrations on your website are compatible with mobile devices.
  • Test your website on mobile devices: Test your website on different mobile devices and screen sizes to ensure that it’s easy to use and navigate. I do this routinely when I’m building websites, and you should also do the same on a routine basis.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your website is optimized for mobile users, providing them with a seamless experience and driving more traffic and engagement to your website.

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website content,website content fix,fix content,content critical factors,7 critical content mistakes,critical factors driving trafficWrapping It All Up:

In conclusion, creating high-quality website content is crucial for building a successful online presence. Not only does it provide value to your audience, but it also helps improve your website’s search engine ranking and increases engagement with your brand. Remember to prioritize the needs and interests of your target audience, use clear and concise language, and optimize your content for search engines. By following these tips and consistently producing valuable content, you can establish your website as a trustworthy and authoritative source in your industry.

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Tracy Trathen, Owner and Designer, e design studio, LLC

Tracy Trathen, Owner and Designer, e design studio, LLC

Photo by: Rachel Rausch Photography

About the author

Tracy Trathen is the owner and designer at e design studio, LLC. She has a bachelor of science degree in Web Design and Interactive Media, and has over 20 years of web and graphic design experience.

Tracy is also a musician and performs around the Portland, Oregon area with her vocal group. Additionally, she is an avid hockey fan and spends many evenings each month cheering on the Portland Winterhawks hockey club.