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