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