The one web design advice that beats anything else you will ever find online

If you're like most tech-savvy folks, you're always on the lookout for new tips and tricks to improve your site. But with so much information out there, it can be tough to know which advice to follow and which to ignore. How do you know what tip or trick will work for your website and when to avoid what won't?

To quickly figure out if a new tip or trick you found on your IG feed or that TikTok video will actually help you with your website, answer these three questions.

1. What are your website goals?

You need to have a clear understanding of your website goals and strategies. Not all website design or SEO strategies will work for every website. When you're looking at a new tip, ask yourself if it will help you achieve your specific goals. If not, move on.

2. How is your website currently performing?

If you have a website analytics tool collecting data, check your numbers before implementing any changes. Take a look at how your website is currently performing and set a goal for what you want to achieve after making the change. Doing so will give you a baseline to measure the results of your new strategy.

3. Does the new tip fit with your overall website strategy?

Get advice from experts... but don't blindly follow it - not even if it's coming from the WebDev Momma. Just because someone is an expert doesn't mean their advice is always right for your website. Be sure to get a second (or third) opinion before making any big changes, or go on a consultation call to discuss your specific issue with a pro.

Here's how this advice would work in real life. Let's say you read a blog post about using pop-ups on your website to collect email addresses and grow your email list faster. Ask yourself the three "magical" questions.

1. What are your website goals?

If one of your goals is to grow your email list, then implementing a pop-up could be a good idea. But if you're not trying to grow your list, or if you're trying to achieve another goal like generating leads or selling products, then a pop-up might not be the best solution.

2. How is your website currently performing?

If your website is getting a lot of traffic but not converting very well, then a pop-up could help by giving visitors another chance to sign up for your list. But if your website isn't getting much traffic, then a pop-up is just going to annoy your visitors and won't do much to help you achieve your goals.

3. Does the new tip fit with your overall website strategy?

If you're trying to create a website that's minimalist and user-friendly, then a pop-up might not be the best idea. But if you're okay with sacrificing some user-friendliness to achieve your goals, then it could be worth implementing.

Wrapping up 

So, as you can see, there's no right or wrong answer here. It all depends on your business goals and website needs. By taking the time to consider whether or not a new website tip is right for you, you can avoid making costly mistakes that could hurt your website's performance in the long run.

If you DO decide to implement that new website tip or trick you just read about on your own ...

• Make sure the tip fits with your overall website strategy
• Create a full backup copy of your site
• Take notes of your website performance before implementation
• Implement the tip and document updates (because it's easy to forget all the little changes you make to your website)
• See how the changes work for you and adjust changes as needed

If you're ever unsure whether to implement a new website tip, it's always best to err on the side of caution and consult with a pro first. It'll save you time and headaches in the future.