Website Development: Common Technical Mistakes and How to Fix Them

WordPress stands out as an empowering CMS, particularly for individuals starting their journey in website development. Its gradual learning curve, coupled with a plethora of user-friendly and free plugins, themes, and numerous educational resources, makes it an inspiring platform for beginners. 

Despite its user-friendly nature, adherence to specific standards and guidelines is crucial. Failing to do so may result in a chaotic website from the outset or lead to subsequent issues such as poor performance, structural deficiencies, maintenance challenges, and design complications.

Common Technical Mistakes in Website Development

In the realm of website development, several general technical oversights often elude the attention of beginners. Let’s explore these crucial aspects and how to rectify them.

1. Insufficient Planning of Website Structure

1. Mistake

Before embarking on website development, many beginners neglect the importance of thorough planning for the site’s structure. 

This includes considering market analysis, the semantic core, and establishing a robust architecture aligned with business goals, customer experience, and scalability.

2. How to Fix It

• Effective Communication: Engage in open communication with clients to comprehend project goals and priorities thoroughly.
• Market Analysis and Planning: Conduct a market analysis and draft a comprehensive website structure before commencing development.
• Tools and Approaches: Choose appropriate tools based on the site’s configuration. For dynamic content, consider utilizing tools like Custom Post Types (CPTs) and Listing Grids provided by JetEngine.

3. Example

Using a mind-mapping tool like Octopus.do aids in structuring the website efficiently. This tool can crawl existing sitemaps, turning them into mind maps. 

For instance, when remaking an existing site or seeking inspiration from competitors, Octopus.do provides valuable insights. This can greatly aid you in your website development endeavor.

2. Lack of Understanding of Basics

1. Mistake

Surprisingly, many developers lack the fundamental knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and the structure of WordPress templates. 

This deficiency can hinder their ability to make basic customizations or understand code snippets.

2. Example

Developers can enhance their coding skills by leveraging free resources such as MDN or following step-by-step guides to create a simple HTML page. 

Familiarity with WordPress hooks and functions.php in a child theme is also crucial.

3. How to Fix It

• Learn Coding Basics: Utilize free resources to acquire fundamental coding skills. Creating a simple HTML page is an excellent starting point.
• Understand WordPress Hooks: Learn the basics of WordPress hooks and the functions.php file, preferably in a child theme or through snippet plugins for beginners.
• Explore Coding Resources: If aiming for deeper coding knowledge, explore a curated list of useful coding resources.

3. Choosing the Wrong WordPress Theme

1. Mistake

Selecting a WordPress theme based solely on its appearance in a demo or screenshot is a common error. Themes that look impressive in demos may not offer the same results, and pre-customized themes can be limiting and negatively impact performance.

2. Example

Choosing themes on platforms like ThemeForest can lead to challenges as the actual website may not replicate the demo. Such themes are often slow, rigid, and hard to customize.

3. How to Fix It

• Opt for Free, Fast Themes: Choose free and popular fast themes that provide a blank canvas for customization. Platforms like ThemeForest might not always align with your website’s needs.
• Utilize Block Editor or Visual Builders: Opt for themes that allow customization using Block Editor or Visual Builders, offering flexibility and control over the website’s design.

By addressing these common technical mistakes, beginners can ensure a more seamless and effective journey into website development.

Common Design-Related Mistakes in Website Development

In the world of website design, beginners often find themselves overwhelmed by the plethora of design options, leading to certain common mistakes. 

Let’s delve into these design-related pitfalls and explore how to rectify them.

1. Too Many Fonts, Colors, and Various Widgets

1. Mistake

Some novice designers tend to overuse fonts, colors, and various widgets offered by design add-ons. This eagerness can lead to cluttered and visually overwhelming websites.

2. Example

Implementing numerous widgets and design elements without a cohesive plan can result in a chaotic website. For instance, incorporating an excessive variety of fonts or colors may hinder visual consistency.

3. How to Fix It

• Learn Design Principles: Acquaint yourself with fundamental design principles, including balance, proportions, hierarchy, contrast, negative spaces, and rhythm. A solid understanding of these principles forms the basis of good design.
• Study Design Cases: Regularly review exemplary design cases to develop a discerning design eye. Analyzing successful designs provides insights into effective practices.
• Implement a Style Guide: Every website should adhere to a well-defined style guide, aligning with the brand’s guidelines. This guide must specify sizes, fonts, colors, and styles for consistency.

4. Real-World Tools for Design Improvement

• Adobe Color Wheel: Use tools like Adobe Color Wheel to create harmonious color schemes and maintain a visually appealing color palette.
• Google Fonts: Leverage Google Fonts, a vast library of free fonts, to select and implement typography that aligns with the website’s aesthetic.
• Elementor (Plugin): Consider using Elementor, a popular WordPress plugin that offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface for designing websites. It allows beginners to create visually appealing layouts without extensive coding knowledge.

By addressing these design-related mistakes and utilizing real-world tools, novice designers can enhance their skills and create visually engaging websites.

2. Insufficient Attention to Responsiveness in Website Development

In the ever-evolving landscape of website development, responsiveness has become one of the critical aspects of website development. 

Neglecting mobile-friendly design can result in a subpar user experience, especially considering the significant share of traffic originating from mobile devices. Let’s explore this oversight and ways to rectify it.

1. Mistake

In the current digital landscape, where over half of website traffic comes from mobile devices, overlooking responsiveness is a substantial oversight. Failure to prioritize a mobile-friendly user experience can lead to a decline in overall website performance.

2. Example

Imagine a website that functions seamlessly on a desktop but becomes convoluted and difficult to navigate on a mobile device. This oversight can result in frustrated users and increased bounce rates.

When you browse Craigslist on your laptop of desktop and try to resize the window, it hides a lot of the material. Its mobile site works well, but today’s visitors want to be able to access a website from almost any device or screen.

3. How to Fix It

• Optimize Column Placement: Ensure that columns are strategically placed to provide a smooth and intuitive experience for mobile users. Arrange content logically to enhance accessibility.
• Check Margins and Paddings: After making adjustments for the desktop view, meticulously check and adjust margins and paddings, especially when utilizing design tools like Elementor. Consistency across devices is crucial for a polished user experience.
• Implement Font-Size Clamp Function: Utilize the modern font-size clamp function through CSS. This ensures that font sizes are responsive to different screen sizes. Both Elementor and Block Editor support this function.

4. Real-World Tools for a Responsive Website Design

• Elementor (Plugin): Elementor, a popular WordPress plugin, offers a user-friendly interface for designing responsive layouts. It enables designers to preview and optimize content for various devices, ensuring a consistent experience.
• CSS Media Queries: Leverage CSS media queries to apply styles based on the characteristics of your device, enabling targeted adjustments for responsiveness.
• Google Mobile-Friendly Test: Use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to assess how well a website performs on mobile devices. It provides insights and suggestions for improvement.

By addressing responsiveness issues and employing real-world tools, developers can build websites that cater to the diverse needs of users across different devices, ultimately enhancing user satisfaction and engagement.

Performance, Security, and SEO-Related Best Practices

In the realm of WordPress development, certain practices related to performance, security, and SEO are crucial to ensure optimal website functionality. Let’s explore common mistakes in these areas and strategies to address them.

1. Using Too Many Plugins and Ignoring Updates

1. Mistake

Installing excessive plugins, some of which may be redundant, can lead to performance issues and security vulnerabilities. Neglecting updates further compounds the risk, potentially causing functionality breakdowns.

2. Real Example

Imagine a WordPress site laden with numerous plugins, including those duplicating essential functions. Failure to update them regularly leaves the site susceptible to security threats.

3. How to Fix It

• Create a Plugin Necessity List: Identify essential plugins and streamline functionality where possible. Combining functions into a single plugin, such as JetEngine, enhances efficiency.
• Regularly Update Plugins: Prioritize plugin updates to benefit from improved features, security patches, and compatibility. Regular updates contribute to the overall longevity of the website.

2. Inconsistency in Formatting

1. Mistake

Inconsistent formatting practices, especially when using builders like Elementor, can lead to layout confusion and hinder responsiveness. Overreliance on spacing widgets and unnecessary elements complicates future edits.

2. Real Example

A website created with Elementor contains irregular spacing, causing difficulties in maintaining a clean and responsive design. The excess use of Spacer widgets unnecessarily complicates the layout.

3. How to Fix It

• Understand Margins and Paddings: Grasp the distinction between margins and paddings. Follow best practices to maintain a consistent and responsive layout.
• Optimize Space Usage: Minimize the use of extra widgets, as each adds to the DOM structure. Opt for efficient design practices without compromising performance.

3. Neglecting Proper Testing and Security

1. Mistake

Insufficient testing before the website launch can result in overlooked details and potential functionality issues. Neglecting security precautions may expose the site to vulnerabilities.

2. Real Example

A WordPress site is launched without thorough testing, leading to unforeseen bugs and overlooked security gaps that could have been addressed pre-launch.

3. How to Fix It

• Comprehensive Testing: Refer to a comprehensive testing guide to ensure all aspects of the website, including functionality and responsiveness, are thoroughly examined.
• Prioritize Security Checklist: Follow a WordPress security checklist to fortify the website against potential threats. Regularly update security measures to stay ahead of evolving risks.

4. Header Tag Inconsistency in Templates

1. Mistake

Builders like Elementor may introduce header tag inconsistencies by default, affecting the SEO structure. Multiple H1 tags or inconsistent hierarchy can impact search engine optimization.

2. Example

A complex Elementor template displays inconsistent header tags, with multiple H1 tags or an irregular hierarchy, leading to SEO challenges.

3. How to Fix It

• SEO-Focused Template Creation: Pay attention to SEO structure during template creation. Ensure a logical hierarchy of header tags for optimal search engine visibility. 

By addressing these performance, security, and SEO-related best practices, WordPress developers can enhance the functionality, user experience, and long-term viability of their websites.

5. Managing Hosting/Domain Accounts and Maintenance Work

1. Mistake

Freelancers sometimes register client domains and hosting under their accounts, leading to ownership and maintenance complications. Clients may face issues later if the freelancer doesn’t adequately manage website development maintenance tasks.

2. Example

A client faces functionality problems on their website due to outdated plugins, but they are unaware of the issue because the freelancer manages the hosting and domain without proper communication.

3. How to Fix It

• Establish Clear Contracts: Clearly outline responsibilities and pricing in contracts, especially regarding maintenance work. Ensure both parties understand the terms.
• Educate Clients: Educate clients about hosting, domain, and admin panel access. Encourage them to have ownership of these aspects for better control.

6. Clients Have No Clue About Paid Plugins

1. Mistake

Clients may lack awareness of paid plugins installed on their websites, leading to confusion and potential disruptions when subscriptions expire.

2. Example

A freelancer installs premium plugins with yearly subscriptions on multiple client websites. When the subscription is not renewed, clients face sudden issues without understanding the cause.

3. How to Fix It

Create a Plugin List: Document all premium plugins, their costs, and functionalities. Get client approval before installation.

Clarify Ownership: Clearly communicate whether the client or freelancer is responsible for paying for premium plugins. Ensure clients have access to support for continuity.

7. Lack of Documentation for the Initial Website Development Build

1. Mistake

Developers often neglect to leave documentation for subsequent developers, causing challenges for those who take over the project.

2. Real Example

A new developer struggles to work on a website due to a lack of documentation on its structure, dynamic content, and custom code.

3. How to Fix It

• Create Comprehensive Manuals: Develop manuals or notes outlining the website’s structure, custom code, and dynamic content. Include instructions for content editors and less skilled developers.
• Prioritize Documentation: Make documentation a standard practice after completing a website. Anticipate future developers’ needs and provide clarity on the site’s architecture.

By addressing these client-freelancer business process challenges, freelancers can foster better communication, understanding, and long-term success in their collaborations.

Summarizing Website Development and the Common Technical Mistakes

WordPress is one of the most potent content management systems, especially for beginners wanting to start their website development journey. It boasts a gentle learning curve, coupled with numerous plugin themes and other resources. 

Still, developers have to follow certain standards in terms of keeping the websites away from various commonly developed technical errors, which result in performance, structural issues, and design complexities. 

These include poor planning of the structure of the website, lack of knowledge in coding, selection of the theme incorrectly, and at the design level. Improper plugin management, lack of testing, and inconsistent formatting can lead to performance problems, security vulnerabilities, and poor SEO. 

Performance problems, security vulnerabilities, and poor SEO can also arise from incorrect plugin management, lack of testing for sites, and inconsistent formatting. 

Common FAQs on the Common Technical Mistakes in Website Development

What are the problems that could arise due to poor management of hosting and domain accounts?

Sometimes, freelancers create customer domains and hosting in their account, which develops into ownership issues. It is very important to establish clear contracts, educate the clients correctly about hosting, and also communicate clearly about maintenance. It is imperative to keep the credentials sorted if you are setting out on your website development endeavor.

How can I better communicate to my clients about paid plugins?

Keep a clear list of premium plugins used, costs associated, and who’s responsible  for renewals. The client should always be in the know regarding what plugins are used on their website to avoid functionality issues when subscriptions may expire.

Why is documentation important for a website’s initial build?

Documentation allows any future developer to understand the structure of the website, dynamic content, and custom codes. It is one of those good practices that, at the end of the project, provides for detailed manuals so maintenance is seamless in the future.