Best Practices for Website Design: What Works, What to Avoid, And Smart Examples

A website is no longer just an online presence, it’s often a customer’s first contact with your brand. Whether you’re running a business website, portfolio, blog, or e-commerce store, following best practices in website design and functionality can have a direct impact on user trust, engagement, and conversions.

In this article, we'll explore proven website best practices, including commonly debated elements like marquee text, and suggest better, modern alternatives to improve usability, performance, and SEO.

1. Clear Purpose and User-Centered Design

Every website should answer three questions in the first few seconds:

• What is this website about?
• What problem does it solve for me?
• What steps should I take next?

Design your website around users, not just aesthetics. Use clear headings, concise content, and strong call-to-action (CTA) buttons like “Contact Us”, “Get a Quote”, or “Buy Now”.

Avoid cluttered layouts and unnecessary animations that distract users from the main goal of the page.

2. Marquee Text: When to Use and When to Avoid

Marquee text (scrolling text) was popular on early websites and is still seen today for advertisements, offers, or breaking updates. While it can be attention-grabbing, it should be used with caution.

Best Practices for Using Marquees

• Only use marquees for short, important announcements (offers, updates, notifications).
• Keep the scrolling speed slow and readable.
• Place it at the top or below the header.
• Make sure it doesn't interfere with accessibility.

When A Marquee Is Not Recommended

• For long content or key information
• On content-heavy or professional service websites
• When it distracts users from the main CTA

Better Alternatives to Marquees

• Highlight bars or notification banners
• Static advertising sections
• Hero section highlights
• Cancelable alerts

Modern users prefer calm, readable interfaces over constantly moving elements.

3. Mobile-First and Responsive Design

Most users access websites via mobile devices, so mobile-first design is no longer optional.

Best practices include:

• Responsive layout for all screen sizes
• Touch-friendly buttons
• Easy-to-read font size
• Avoid horizontal scrolling.

Google also prioritizes mobile usability as a ranking factor, making this essential for SEO.

4. Fast Loading Speed

Website speed plays a vital role in user experience and search engine rankings. Slow websites result in higher bounce rates and lower conversions.

Best practices for speed optimization:

• Optimize and compress images
• Use modern image formats like WebP
• Minify CSS and JavaScript files
• Use caching and a reliable hosting provider

The website should ideally load in 2-3 seconds.

5. Clear Navigation and Site Structure

Navigation should be simple, logical, and intuitive.

Best practices:

• Use clear menu labels
• Limit main menu items to essential pages
• Use dropdowns only when needed.
• Include a visible search option for large websites

Good structure helps both users and search engines understand your website.

6. Readable Typography and Proper Spacing

Typography affects how users consume your content.

Best practices:

• Use easy-to-read fonts.
• Maintain proper line height and spacing.
• Avoid using too many font styles.
• Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background

Readable content keeps users engaged for longer.

7. Strong Call-To-Action (CTA) Placement

CTAs guide users towards conversion.

Effective CTA Tips:

• Use action-oriented text
• Place the CTA above the fold
• Repeat CTAs naturally on long pages
• Make CTAs visually stand out

Examples:

• Get free advice
• Request a quote
• Start now

8. Accessibility And Usability

Accessibility ensures that your website can be used by everyone, including people with disabilities.

Best practices:

• Use alternative text for images
• Ensure keyboard navigation
• Avoid flashing or fast-moving elements.
• Maintain proper color contrast

Accessible websites also perform better in search engines.

9. SEO-Friendly Website Structure

A well-designed website improves visibility on search engines.

SEO best practices include:

• Proper use of heading tags
• Clean and readable URLs
• Internal linking between related pages
• Optimized meta titles and descriptions

Good SEO ensures long-term organic traffic growth.

10. Security And Trust Signals

Users should feel safe while browsing your website.

Best practices:

• Use HTTPS (SSL certificate)
• Display clear contact information
• Show privacy policy and terms
• Use the trust badge where relevant.

Trust signals help convert visitors into customers.

11. Regular Content Updates and Maintenance

An outdated website can damage credibility.

Best practices:

• Update content regularly
• Fix broken links
• Monitor website performance
• Keep plugins and software updated

Continuous maintenance ensures smooth operation and safety.

12. Analysis And Continuous Improvement

Use analytical tools to understand user behavior.

Best practices:

• Track page performance
• Monitor bounce rate
• Improve pages based on data
• Test the CTA and layout

Website development should be based on real user insights.

Conclusion

Following website best practices is essential to creating a professional, user-friendly, and high-performing website. While elements like marquee text may still be used sparingly, modern websites benefit more from clean layouts, fast loading speeds, mobile responsiveness, and clear navigation.

If you want to design, redesign, or optimize your website using proven best practices, Shriji Solutions provides reliable and affordable website development services tailored to your business needs. From performance optimization to user-centric design, Shriji Solutions can help you create a website that truly works for your audience.