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A practical summary to identify and correct the most costly mistakes when creating a website, in order to improve visibility, security and conversion from the early phases of the project.
Mistake #1: Defining vague objectives and neglecting specifications
A successful website begins with a clear and measurable framework. Without clear objectives, an SME like the fictitious workshop “Atelier Nova” risks investing in unnecessary features, choosing the wrong hosting provider, and failing at SEO.
Identifying your target audience, prioritizing features, and formulating KPIs is essential to avoiding this mistake. A well-written specification guides the choice of CMS, ergonomics, content type, and performance needs.
Why is this critical? Without a roadmap, resources are diluted and the site becomes incoherent. A concrete example: an online store launched without defining the target average basket or priority payment methods will require costly development in phase 2.
How to structure the specifications
The specifications must contain clear sections: objectives, target audience, user journey, technical requirements, hosting constraints, and schedule. It serves as a reference during business/technical arbitrations.
- SMART Goals : define measurable indicators (conversion rate, organic traffic, average time on page).
- Target audience : detailed personas to guide content and ergonomics.
- Prioritization : “must have” vs “nice to have” features.
- Technical constraints : browser compatibility, performance requirements, security needs.
- Budget and planning : milestones and resources allocated for hosting and maintenance.
| Element | Objective | Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| Product page | Increase average shopping basket | Product conversion rate |
| Blog | Generate SEO traffic | Monthly organic visits |
| Contact form | Collect qualified leads | Number of leads / month |
Practical tools: write the notebook with templates, rely on Trello for tracking tasks and milestones (see Trello guide), and document the information architecture to facilitate referencing.
Case Study: Nova Workshop
Atelier Nova initially launched a website without specifying whether it was aimed at booking appointments or online sales. The result: confusion between catalog and sales funnel, and high costs to adapt the interface. After the redesign, defining objectives reduced unnecessary pages and optimized hosting for a performance increased.
- Before: Redundant pages, confusing navigation, poor conversion rates.
- After: simplified route, monitored indicators, reduction of accommodation costs.
Insight: precise specifications allow you to align design, content and hosting for a coherent and efficient site.
Mistake #2: Choosing the wrong platform, ignoring hosting and scalability
The choice of CMS and hosting directly impacts the maintenance, security, and scalability of the site. Choosing an unsuitable tool often means rewriting a large part of the project a few months after launch.
WordPress, Shopify, Prestashop, Drupal, and headless solutions all have advantages depending on the objective. The wrong choice leads to hidden costs (paid plugins, the need for a more powerful server) and optimization issues for modern browsers.
Technical selection criteria
Assessing real needs is essential to avoid mistakes. It's important to consider the nature of the content, traffic expectations, the need for integrations (CRM, ERP), and the technical expertise of the team.
- Scalability : the platform must support the increase in traffic and functions.
- Community and Plugins : a rich ecosystem facilitates maintenance and SEO.
- Hidden costs : paid modules, server optimization, licenses.
- Browser compatibility : test on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge to avoid regressions.
- Hosting : managed infrastructure or cloud (e.g. solutions optimized for Next.js, see Next.js article).
| Use cases | Recommended platform | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Blog / SEO content | WordPress | Flexibility, SEO plugins (Yoast/Rank Math) |
| Simple e-commerce | Shopify / Prestashop | Simplified product and payment management |
| High-performance web application | Headless stack (Next.js) | Performance and scalability |
Practical examples: for a high-volume e-commerce site, a headless solution hosted on an optimized cloud will avoid performance and scaling issues.
- Recommendation: test the platform in sandbox before committing.
- Tip: consult feedback from specialist agencies (see web agency).
Integrating hosting into the thinking from the start avoids costly migrations and ensures better control over the safety and the performance global site.
Insight: The platform chosen determines maintenance, referencing and the ability to evolve; investing time in the selection phase reduces future risks.
Mistake #3: Neglecting user experience, responsiveness, and performance
Ergonomics and mobile display capability are decisive factors. Tests show that more than half of visitors use a smartphone: a non-mobile site responsive immediately loses credibility and traffic.
Loading speed influences bounce rate and SEO rankings. A slow site loses conversions and degrades the experience across all browsers. Optimizing performance is therefore a technical and marketing priority.
Principles of ergonomics and accessibility
Ergonomics aims to make routes simple and readable. Accessibility guidelines (WCAG) guarantee access for people with disabilities and improve search engine indexing.
- Visual hierarchy : clear titles, visible CTAs, breadcrumbs.
- Size of touch targets : buttons large enough for mobile use.
- Accessibility : contrasts, alt attributes for images and semantic structure.
- Cross-browser testing : check rendering on Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge.
| Issue | Impact | Quick solution |
|---|---|---|
| Long loading time | Increased bounce rate | Image compression, CDN, caching |
| Design not mobile friendly | Loss of mobile users | Mobile-first approach, media queries |
| Blocking JS Components | Slow rendering | Lazy loading and minification |
Concrete example: a craft business saw a doubling of the conversion rate after reducing the loading time from 5s to 2s thanks to image compression and a CDN.
- Technical tip: Audit with PageSpeed Insights and prioritize the listed optimizations.
- Dev Tip: Minify CSS/JS and defer non-essential scripts to improve initial rendering.
Balancing design and performance is imperative: a beautiful, slow site is ineffective, while a fast but incomprehensible site fails to achieve its goals. Insight: Prioritize responsiveness, usability, and performance to maximize engagement.
Mistake #4: Forgetting SEO, content and internal linking
Natural referencing determines visibility. Creating a site without a strategy content and without SEO optimization it means remaining invisible in search results.
Titles, meta tags, URLs and the internal networking are fundamental elements. Without them, marketing efforts are ineffective and costly.
SEO and content best practices
Producing quality content that is structured and optimized for user queries increases the chances of appearing in featured snippets and improving SEO.
- Keyword search : target value-added queries.
- On-page optimization : titles, H2/H3, alt tags and readable URLs.
- Internal linking : link strategic pages to improve authority.
- Differentiated content : guides, case studies, infographics and videos.
Resources and readings: articles on the semantic cocoon (semantic cocoon), backlinks (backlink) and strategies to generate traffic (generate traffic).
Internal meshing and external links
Internal linking improves indexing and guides the user. External links should be checked to avoid directing authority to low-quality pages.
- Check and fix broken links (404).
- Create thematic silos to structure content.
- Use natural and varied anchors for SEO.
Example: a technical blog that implemented a content strategy and semantic meshing saw its organic traffic grow sustainably via in-depth articles and practical tutorials (see 10 tips).
Insight: Investing in a content strategy and consistent internal linking is the key to transforming content into qualified traffic.
Mistake #5: Neglecting security, maintenance, and performance monitoring
Security and maintenance are ongoing requirements. A lack of updates, SSL certificates, or analytics tools exposes the site to the risk of hacking and a loss of user trust.
Furthermore, not measuring performance prevents any continuous improvement: no analytics, no A/B testing, no monthly reporting.
Essential safety measures
Basic actions to protect a site include installing a SSL certificate, regular CMS/plugin updates, and enabling two-factor authentication for administrator accounts.
- Install an application firewall and perform regular audits.
- Manage automatic backups and restore procedures.
- Implement strong password policies for teams.
- Consult cloud best practices for 2025 (see cloud security practices).
Continuous monitoring and optimization
Installing Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and setting up monthly reports helps you identify drifts and initiate A/B tests to improve conversions.
- Establish clear KPIs and monitor them regularly.
- Conduct A/B tests for CTAs, headlines, and layouts.
- Provide a maintenance plan for CMS versions and modules.
Case study: A startup avoided losing its SEO after an attack by maintaining regular backups and systematic updates. Similarly, weekly reports helped optimize high-traffic pages and increase conversions.
Additional resources: guides on web and mobile security (security article) and best practices for WordPress (optimize WordPress).
Insight: Security and monitoring are ongoing processes; building them in by design protects the site's reputation and business performance.
Why is The 10 Fatal Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Your Website important for setting goals?
Setting clear goals helps measure success and avoid deviations; this guides the choice of CMS, hosting, and content and SEO strategy.
How do the 10 fatal mistakes to avoid when creating your website influence the choice of CMS?
The choice of CMS determines scalability and maintenance; assessing functionality and hosting needs avoids costly migrations later.
What are the benefits of The 10 Fatal Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Your Website for Usability?
Addressing these errors promotes optimized usability; it guides visual hierarchy, navigation, and cross-browser testing for consistent rendering.
Are the 10 fatal mistakes to avoid when creating your website suitable for improving SEO?
Yes, correcting these errors improves SEO; on-page optimization, quality content and internal linking strengthen visibility.
Why are the 10 fatal mistakes to avoid when creating your website crucial for security?
Maintenance errors and lack of updates expose vulnerabilities; correcting these points protects the data and authority of the site.
How to Use The 10 Fatal Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Your Website to Optimize Performance?
Identifying and fixing performance bugs (unoptimized images, blocking scripts) improves loading time and user experience.
What are the benefits of The 10 Fatal Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Your Website for Content?
An aligned editorial strategy avoids duplicate content and strengthens SEO relevance; varying formats increases engagement.
The 10 fatal mistakes to avoid when creating your website are they suitable for an online store?
Yes; for e-commerce, correcting these errors helps improve the purchasing process, performance, and payment security.
Why do the 10 fatal mistakes to avoid when creating your website affect accessibility?
Taking accessibility into account reduces barriers for all users and promotes better SEO and an inclusive experience.
How do the 10 fatal mistakes to avoid when creating your website help you choose hosting?
These errors guide the choice of hosting based on performance, security and scalability needs, avoiding additional costs.
What are the benefits of The 10 Fatal Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Your Website for Performance Tracking?
Implementing analytics tools and KPIs allows for continuous adjustments and measurable gains in conversion and SEO.
Are the 10 fatal mistakes to avoid when creating your website suitable for small-scale projects?
Yes, even for a small project, avoiding these mistakes ensures a solid foundation, better visibility and easier maintenance.