There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about great web design. As a Webby Award winning agency, we want to clear things up, and show you how to get it right.

1. Keep important info “above the fold.”

This is an outdated point of view. Some of the most engaging sites on the web use a vertical scroll as their primary method of navigation. People are now used to scrolling—it’s great to prioritize your most important content at the top, but no need to cram it all in.

2. Accessible sites are ugly.

Not if the designer knows what they’re doing! Accessible websites have become common practice—and like any structural element, it doesn’t impede the quality of design. It’s not only the right thing to do; it’s smart for your business.

3. Sliders make a site better.

Nope, they actually slow it down, which is bad for SEO. They’re also used as a place to stuff more content. Before clogging up your homepage, ask yourself if anything beyond the first slide is necessary. Most often, those slides won’t be seen and would work better if placed further down the page or on a different page.

4. A website is just an online brochure.

Maybe ten years ago that was true. Now, it’s the 24/7 most visible part of your brand. What’s your call to action? How are you generating leads? Consider gamification, e-commerce and geolocation. Get the site working for you.

5. Mobile isn’t required for all sites.

The majority of web traffic comes from mobile devices, so designing your site to be “mobile first” and responsive across devices is essential. Even if users come back later on desktop, their first visit to your site will usually be on mobile—and first impressions make a difference.