Webmaster Guide > Web
Page Design That Is Extremely Annoying!
Web Page Design That Is Extremely
Annoying!
by Robert C. Potter
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 by employing these
ten web design
faux pau’s?
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. Floating cursors that follow me
around while I am visiting your site. If you want to
distract me from viewing your information, then incorporate this “flotation
device” into your design repertoire! It is like having a security guard follow
me around in a retail store to make sure that I’m not stealing!
Oversize font that takes up the whole landing page, and web pages that do not
fit in my viewing screen. If you are not sure how your website looks on other
browsers, then use this free tool called
Browsersizer:http://www.applythis.com/browsersizer/. It helps web developers
check to see how their web pages look on screen resolutions. Slow loading web
pages. Compress, or eliminate large lumbering graphics. Your landing page
should load in 10 seconds or less. Here is a website that will analyze you
load times: http://www.1-hit.com/all-in-one/tool.loading-time-checker.htm
Web-sites that are “Under Construction.” Don’t promote what you don’t have.
It is almost guaranteed that once I see that logo on your site, I will not
visit
again to see if your construction is finished. Web-sites that don’t not allow
me to use the “back button.” Eliminating my ability to move out of, or through
your website, has me looking for the X button. If you want people to visit
much, and often, then make your site with the dynamic content that will
persuade people to add your site to their favorites file.
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, even with
blocking software. 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
exit 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: http://www.productsforresale.com
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 your product
somewhere else! If you absolutely, positively, must use Flash, then 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 any of
them apply to you? Remember, you only
get one chance to make a good impression. There literally billions of web
sites out there, and you need to capture your
visitors attention within seconds. Make your site neat and ready to greet! For
more information about how to make your
site user friendly, go to Jakob Nielsen's Usability Site: http://www.useit.com/
site for tips on better website design.
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
This article is reprinted with permission from www.WritingCareer.com