10 Common UX Mistakes That Leave Your Customers Annoyed

Imagine visiting a website that takes more than ten seconds to load. For some reason you decide to stay patient and stick around, but then – to your surprise -you see a weird menu, ten pop-ups, and tiny fonts that require you to zoom in in order to read it. Frustrating, right? Your customers feel the same way!

See these 10 common UX mistakes that drive users away to improve the user experience and make browsing your website more intuitive, not stressful.

When you handle UX design mistakes, you’ll notice higher conversions, lower bounce rates, and stronger customer loyalty.

One of the most frustrating UX design mistakes is messy/confusing navigation. Many e-commerce websites use overly complex menus with too many drop-downs and subcategories. Result? Users have hard time finding what they need.

To fix this, try using simple, easy-to-understand menu sections that help users find their way around your website quickly and effortlessly – preferably with just a couple of mouse clicks.

example of a clear menu; source: New Balance

This one is obvious, right? Users expect instant access to information, so slow loading times can drive them away before the page even appears on their screens.

Remember, every extra second of loading time can lower user satisfaction. Just realize one thing: No matter how beautiful your UX design or how simple the checkout process is, it won’t matter if customers leave due to slow loading time.

How can you improve website speed? Well, there are at least 10 tips to reduce page load time.

Users frequently need to find contact details like an email address, phone number, or company address quickly. When this information is nowhere to be found, it not only frustrates them but also decreases their trust in you as a brand.

example of contact and location information placed in the website footer

To build that trust, display your contact details where the users expect them to be. What is this place? Website footer, obviously.

Want to buy just one item, but first, you have to provide your first name, last name, shoe size, your parents’ address, and your neighbor’s name? Long and complicated forms are another common UX mistake that make your customers leave your website and order from your rivals.

The best solution is to shorten your forms and break them into smaller, more manageable sections. But the best option is to limit the fields that need to be filled out to minimum.

Customers expect to receive clear feedback after taking an action. A loading icon or a simple confirmation message can go a long way in preventing your visitors from being confused while browsing your website.

You simply need to tell your users what is or isn’t happening when they interact with your website. In this way you acknowledge the visitor’s action, whether that’s a purchase, a sign-up, or a request for a free quote.

Good readability is crucial for a positive user experience. This is even more important when browning a website on a tiny smartphone screen.

Small fonts and low contrast between text and background can make it hard for users to read your web content. That’s why, I suggest you to use some contrast analysis tools, like the Contrast Checker offered by Adobe:

source: Adobe

Also, adequate font contrast and alternative text for images are important for website accessibility. Optimizing your website so that it’s inclusive improves usability and helps avoid common UX mistakes that can block users with disabilities from making purchase on your website.

Fifteen different colors, ten font families, and various layouts – it’s pure chaos! While content is important, a lack of consistent UX design can make your website look unprofessional and make it hard for users to find what they need.

Visual consistency is essential for a positive user experience. All interface elements should be uniform and well-integrated. Keep it simple!

Pop-ups can be really frustrating, especially when they appear at the wrong time or when it’s impossible to get rid of them. While they can be useful for things like offering discounts, using them too often is a common UX mistake that turn users away. 

Use pop-ups only when necessary.

Your customer clicks a button or link on the website and… nothing happens. You can be sure this will quickly make them annoyed and – surprise, surprise – leave your website.

In other words, if an object seems to ignite an action after being clicked, tapped or hovered over, either make it actually do something or get rid of it completely – don’t mislead users into thinking they can interact with it.

Mobile-first! More and more people are using mobile devices to browse the web, so not having a mobile-friendly website is one of the biggest UX mistakes you can possibly make. Your website must be responsive, look good on all devices/screens, and be always easy to navigate no matter if displayed on a desktop, iPhone or tablet.

There are more things that frustrate users while browsing websites. If you happen to find one of the listed below, better try to fix it:

• One of the most annoying things that users complaining about is the autoplay videos with sound. It disrupts and leaves some users a bit stressed. It’s way better to let users choose when to start a video.
• Vague or a lack of error messages leave users confused.
• Too many notifications and unnecessary permission requests are also annoying. Permission requests (like asking for access to the microphone or camera) can make users suspicious. Be clear about why you need certain permissions.
• Confusing CTAs are yet another common mistake that should be avoided. Microcopy is crucial for conversion, and your CTA needs to be clear so users know exactly what will happen when they click on a button.

Again, these are 10 UX mistakes that annoy your customers:

• Confusing navigation – Simplify and organize your menu.
• Slow loading times – Speed up your website by optimizing images.
• Hidden contact info – Make contact details easy to find.
• Long forms – Shorten forms and make them simple to complete.
• No feedback – Give instant feedback when a user completes an action.
• Poor readability – Use clear fonts and contrast.
• Inconsistent design – Keep a clean and consistent design.
• To many pop-ups – Limit the number of pop-ups.
• Unclickable elements – Make sure interactive elements work as intended.
• No mobile version – Make your website mobile-friendly.

Fix these issues and you will improve user satisfaction, build trust among your customers, and increase conversions.