Will Roberts | 7 October 2024

At WebBox, we’ve spent over 15 years working closely with the Health & Care sector, managing website projects and digital campaigns. This experience has shown us firsthand what separates a successful, user-friendly website from one that fails to meet expectations. We’ve seen both triumphs and pitfalls, and if you’re part of this sector, you’ve likely encountered some of the same challenges.

Let’s dive into the three major pitfalls we consistently encounter when working on websites in the Health & Care sector

Involve Your Users in the Process

We’ve seen this happen time and again: decisions are made in isolation by internal teams, without consulting the people who will actually use the website. At WebBox, we’ve helped numerous Health & Care organisations navigate this by ensuring service users are involved at every stage of the website redesign process. Whether it’s conducting surveys, facilitating focus groups, or running usability tests, understanding user needs leads to a more effective website.

Pro tip: We’ve seen excellent results from using tools like Userbrain for usability testing.

Avoid Jargon and Speak Your Users’ Language

The Health & Care sector is packed with jargon, from “interdisciplinary teams” and “care pathways”, to “QCQ” and “NICE”. We know that while this language makes sense internally, it often alienates the very people who need to understand your services: your patients and service users.

In our experience, we’ve worked with several Health & Care organisations to translate these terms into simple, approachable language that both informs and reassures users. It’s not about dumbing things down, but about ensuring accessibility. The result? Improved engagement and higher conversion rates.

A person in a blue shirt is sitting at a conference table with a laptop, looking to the side. Two other people are partially visible, engaged in discussion. Notebooks and laptops are on the table.

A person sitting at a table in a meeting room, holding a pen and looking forward. A coffee mug and papers are on the table, while a laptop screen is visible in the foreground.

Beware of Information Overload

Sticking with content, we’ve also noticed that a lot of Health & Care websites have 100s or 1000s of pages, each with large amounts of copy.

Though we appreciate the need to provide plenty of information and explain services thoroughly, information overload can lead to fewer enquiries, increased drop-offs, and a poor user experience.

We recommend striking the balance between providing valuable information and sparking curiosity, encouraging users to reach out for more details and ultimately driving more enquiries.

In summary, when considering a website redesign in the Health & Care sector, involving service users, simplifying language, and carefully curating content are essential steps. At WebBox, we’ve helped numerous organisations successfully tackle these challenges.

Does this interest you?

If you’re ready to discuss how we can transform your digital presence, let’s start the conversation. Book a call or meeting today, or make use of our website brief template to kickstart your next project with a clear strategy.

We’ve got the experience, and we know what works. Let’s make your website work harder for your audience.