What Makes a Good Website Design? .. And Why You Shouldn’t Let Your Cousin’s Friend Do It

In today’s world, your website is like your first date with a potential customer. And, just like a first date, you want to look sharp, say all the right things, and maybe—just maybe—get them to commit to more than just a cup of coffee. But here’s the thing: If your website looks like it was built in 2005 by your cousin's friend who swears he “knows a bit of coding,” then you’re not getting a second date. Ever.

Fear not, because I'm here to help you design a website that won’t send your visitors running for the hills. But instead of being all boring and professional, let’s have some fun with this. After all, web design doesn’t have to feel like reading the manual for an IKEA bookshelf. So, without further ado, here’s a totally non-serious guide to designing a website that won’t make your visitors scream, "NOPE!"

1. Keep It Simple – Like Your Friend Who Eats Plain Toast Every Day

First things first: simplicity. Imagine your website is a toast enthusiast friend—simple, easy to digest, and never overwhelming. Now, picture a different friend—the one who tries to shove every condiment from the fridge onto their toast. That’s a cluttered website. It’s messy, it’s overwhelming, and it makes you wonder if they’ve ever heard the phrase “less is more.”

For websites, the rule of thumb is: don’t make people feel like they’ve stumbled into a carnival with flashing lights, 37 different fonts, and a pop-up that screams “BUY NOW OR REGRET IT FOR LIFE!” Keep it clean. Choose a layout that doesn’t look like it was designed during a sugar rush. If visitors can’t figure out where to click within the first five seconds, they’re already mentally packing their bags and leaving. Think of a simple design as the plain toast of the internet—comforting, safe, and surprisingly satisfying. Plus, it’s not going to break the toaster.

2. Make it Mobile-Friendly – Because Thumb Scrolling is an Olympic Sport

We live in a time where everyone is glued to their phones—seriously, I bet someone’s reading this right now while sitting on the toilet. (No judgment, we’ve all been there.) So, if your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you're basically asking people to squint, zoom in, and fling their phone across the room in frustration when your “Contact Us” button gets lost behind a blurry photo of a cat.

A good website has to look just as snazzy on a phone screen as it does on a desktop. Think of it this way: your website is a celebrity, and like any celebrity, it needs to look good from all angles—whether it's on a red carpet (desktop) or caught by the paparazzi in sweatpants at the grocery store (mobile).

If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re going to lose out on a huge chunk of traffic. And no, just telling people to “use a bigger screen” is not a valid solution. Unless your target audience is made up of time travelers from 1999 using their Nokia bricks, you need to optimize for mobile. Period.

3. Speed It Up – People Have the Attention Span of a Goldfish (Or Shorter)

Okay, real talk: your website’s speed matters. In fact, it matters a lot. Think of your website like it’s trying to win the race at the Web Design Olympics. It needs to be fast, because—spoiler alert—nobody wants to wait. The last time anyone willingly waited for anything was probably back in the 90s, watching a dial-up modem connect. That sound haunts us all.

If your site takes longer to load than it does to microwave a Hot Pocket, your visitors are out. They’ll leave faster than you can say “buffering.” Studies show that people will wait an average of 3 seconds before deciding, “Nah, I’m outta here.” And after 3 seconds, they’re already off to find a site that doesn't test their patience.

Here’s a pro tip: make your images smaller, get rid of unnecessary scripts, and stop treating your homepage like it’s a Christmas tree that needs more lights (i.e., ads, widgets, and flashy GIFs). Your visitors will thank you, and so will your bounce rate.

4. Clear Call-to-Action – Like a Traffic Light, But Less Bossy

Imagine you’re at a four-way intersection, and none of the traffic lights are working. That’s what it feels like to land on a website with no clear call-to-action. Sure, you’re there, you’re looking around, but you have no idea where to go or what to do next. Do I buy this? Do I sign up for something? Or am I just here for the free vibes?

The call-to-action (or CTA) is your website’s way of guiding people where you want them to go. It’s like a gentle nudge from the universe, saying, “Hey, maybe you should click here and buy this awesome product. Just a thought.” But make sure it’s clear, not confusing. I’ve seen websites where the CTA buttons are about as obvious as an invisible man wearing camouflage. Don’t make people guess. They’ll lose interest faster than a cat loses interest in a laser pointer.

A solid call-to-action should stand out like a neon sign at a Vegas casino, but without all the tacky flashing lights. Keep it simple: “Sign up,” “Buy now,” or “Click here for more” work just fine. Bonus points if you can add a little personality—something like “Grab it before it’s gone!” or “Yes, I need this in my life!”

5. Consistent Branding – Like Wearing Matching Socks for Once

You know that feeling when you finally find two socks that match? That’s the vibe you want your website to have: consistent, clean, and looking like it actually belongs together. If your homepage looks like a sleek tech startup and your About page looks like a high school PowerPoint presentation, you’ve got a branding problem, my friend.

Consistent branding means using the same fonts, colors, and styles across your entire website. It’s like wearing a coordinated outfit—sure, you could wear plaid with polka dots, but you probably shouldn’t. Branding is what makes your website feel cohesive, trustworthy, and professional. It’s what turns visitors into fans because they can recognize your style and vibe instantly.

So, pick your colors, choose your fonts, and stick with them. Resist the urge to add “just one more font” because “it looks cool.” Your website shouldn’t look like it has multiple personalities.

6. User-Focused Design – Give the People What They Want (Not What You Think They Want)

I know, I know—you have so many cool ideas for your website. But here’s the thing: nobody cares about how fancy your ideas are if they don’t actually help the people using your site. Imagine walking into a store that’s filled with beautiful displays but no signs, no cash register, and no way to actually buy anything. Cool concept, but you’re not getting anywhere.

A good website puts the user first. What are your visitors looking for? What do they need? How can you make their lives easier? Think of your website as a host at a fancy dinner party—your job is to make sure everyone’s comfortable, knows where the snacks are, and isn’t stuck talking to your weird cousin for too long.

If your users have to work too hard to find what they’re looking for, they’ll bounce faster than a beach ball at a pool party. So, think about navigation, clear headings, and a logical flow. Oh, and please make sure your search function actually works. Nobody wants to search for “tacos” and end up with results for “tax forms.”

In Conclusion – Your Website is Your Wingman

At the end of the day, your website is your digital wingman. It’s there to show off your business in the best possible light, guide visitors where they need to go, and maybe even convince them to stick around and buy something.

But remember: good web design isn’t rocket science (unless your website is about rocket science, in which case… carry on). Keep it simple, make it fast, and for the love of all things HTML, make sure it looks good on a phone.

If you can do all that, then congratulations—you’ve just designed a website that won’t make people want to throw their devices out the window. Well done, you! Now go forth and be awesome. Contact me for custom design services