|
The_Top_Ten_List_Of_Website_Annoyances
| The Top Ten List Of Website Annoyances!
Easy navigation and usability are one of the most important
aspects of creating a "user friendly" website. However, there
are still a "plethora" of web-sites out there that are, to be
politically correct, “functionally challenged.” Does your
website keep people captivated, or does it send them fleeing as
soon as they get to the first page? Do you offend your visitors
with the following annoyances?
1) Music or any voice recording that automatically plays when
you enter a site, without giving me the option of turning it
off. Yes, there are still website owners who think that putting
their Midi version of "Play That Funky Music Whiteboy," will
some how impress their visitors. Always give people the option
of listening to any recorded information you have on your
website. Don't automatically assume that your visitors will be
captivated by your voice, or your music.
2) Spinning or animated GIF's of any type. Websites that have
the “Under Construction” sign when I hit your homepage. Don’t
promote what you don’t have.
3) Any website that looks like it resembles Times Square in New
York City! Multitudes of “flashing” or “blinking” banner ads
shoved in my face as soon as I reach your landing page will send
me running. Flashing banner ads are the equivalent of a carnival
barker trying to lure people into his sideshow! You don’t need
to shout to people to get you message heard on the Internet.
Keep you banner ad’s limited, and your content abundant!
4) Website owners that make it too hard to navigate their site.
If I have to jump through "link hoops" to get to your
information I am outta there. Make your product, price, or
service, clear, precise, and easy to find. The "about us,” or
"frequently asked questions" section of some web-sites, leaves
me with more questions than answers. Design your content so that
even elementary school children can understand the purpose of
your website.
5) Pop-Ups..Pop-Ups...Pop-Ups..I don't mind one, or even a few.
But, if I have to close multiple pop-ups to get to your website,
I will flee the scene. I have encountered some sites that had so
many pop-ups they froze my computer screen. And yes, I had my
pop-up blocking software activated! It doesn’t always work. The
same applies for any of those "fly-in" or "hover ads" that
bounce across my computer screen. If you have to use anything,
incorporate a pop-up that loads when a visitor leaves, not
before, or during my visit to your site.
6) A page full of dead links and constant "Page Not Found" error
messages. Keep your links up to date and take down the links
that are no longer active.
7) Cursing or using worn out phrases like "Kick Butt," or "Kick
Ass." (Example: “Kick Ass Copy-Writing Service,” “Kick Butt Web
Marketing”). I can't get to the close button fast enough when I
see anyone using that phrase in website advertising copy. It
maybe an excellent marketing headline, but for me, it is a total
turn-off. Impress your visitors with intelligent, informative,
advertising copy and content.
8) AND SOMEONE-ANYONE-PLEASE! Stop the "ultra" dark background
accented with an equally dark font! I have discovered many a
website in which the background, and the text fonts, are
indistinguishable from each other! It looks like your are
staring into a black hole! Lighten things up a bit, and don’t
make me turn the brightness controls on my monitor to full! And
no, I don’t want to highlight the text so I can read the
information on your website!
9) While I love Marcomedia's Flash, I think it should be used
sparingly. Unless you have a film site, or a product that
requires a detailed visual description, just forget about using
flash for e-commerce. There is a majority of people out there
who still use those pokey dial-up modems (me being one of them)
and I "hate the wait!"
Even when I use the skip feature it still takes to long for the
page to load. While doing research for The Ultimate Guide To
Products For Resale I noticed that some designer clothing
wholesalers where using flash to sell their product. The same
applied to retail sellers of designer shoes, designer handbags,
and designer clothing.
My question is why? If you are using your site to sell a
product, just stick with high quality, fast loading photos,
followed up with good creative descriptions of each item. If you
have to make people wait to buy your product, people will buy
their product somewhere else! If you absolutely, positively,
must use Flash, make your files as fast loading as possible,
especially if you are selling a product.
10) Solid blocks of text with no breaks between paragraphs. The
only industry that gets away with that format is newspaper,
book, and magazine publishers. The Internet is a different world
altogether. People not only want their information quick, but
they also want to read it in smaller, "bit size" portions of
content.
I like to skim over articles for the main points. If I have to
"slog" through content that looks like a rambling diatribe with
no paragraph breaks, I’m gone! Make your content clear and
concise. Break up your paragraphs, and use plenty of "white
space" when possible.
So there they are. My “Top Ten” pet peeves of dysfunctional
design! Do you incorporate any of them in your website? When it
comes to good design, and great site navigation, think of your
website as if you were having guests over to your house. Make
your house, as well as your website, “neat and ready to greet!”
For more information about how to make your site user friendly,
go to Jakob Nielsen's site
for tips on better website design and usability.
About the author:
Robert C. Potter is a wholesale and retail surplus products
specialist. He is the author of “The Ultimate Guide To Products
For Resale!” Over 300 Wholesale & Surplus Supply Sources For
Ebay Auction Sellers, E-Commerce Websites, Flea Market Vendors,
and Retail Store Owners! You can find his 160 page ebook at:
http://www.productsforresale.com
|
|
| |
| |
