When you build a website, your goal is to get people
to come to your website, look around and find reasons
to come back. If your site is annoying you can be
sure they will find another site to visit, never to
come back to yours.
Here are some ways you can be sure to annoy your
visitors: (they might not annoy all, but probably
the majority)
1. Frames - Chopping up a site with frames is a great
way to get your visitors frustrated. These frames
are very obtrusive and make navigation and reading
your site much harder.
2. Overbearing Graphics - Not only are these blinking
and flashing graphics distracting and unnecessary,
they can also cause your site to download very slowly.
Most people do not have the time to sit and wait for
an extremely slow site, and will leave before even
knowing what your site has to offer.
3. No Contact Information - I cannot stress enough
how important it is to have your email address on
every page. This will add credibility to your site
and always give your visitor a reason to be assured
that you can be reached when needed.
4. Too Many Pop-ups -If you want to use a pop-up window
(which can be very successful) try using a pop-under.
This is the kind that will pop-up under the web page.
It will not be the first thing to pop into your
visitor's face. This will give the visitor a chance to
see what your site has to offer and they will be more
likely to respond to the pop-up. Please do not have
multiple pop-ups popping out all over!
5. Hard To Navigate - You want your visitors to be
able to get around your site without trouble. Have
your links all together in a place that is easily
seen. Have them in the same place on every page.
6. Inconsistent Page Design - I have been on some
sites where after clicking on a link, I didn't even
know if I was at the same site. The page was totally
different and did not have any of the same information
or links as the previous page. After trying to find
what I was looking for and not finding it, I left.
Please keep your site design uniform and consistent.
This will make it much easier on your visitors.
7. Too Many Banners - If you want banners on your site,
set up a banner exchange page for this purpose only.
Do not have your homepage or other pages so loaded
with banners that there isn't room for anything else.
8. Hard To Read Text - Do not use fancy text or pale
text on a pale background. The easiest to read is a
dark text on a light background. Also, if you use a
textured or print background, be sure that it is not
hard on the eyes. One site I visited had a weave look
background that made the text so hard to read, after a
few minutes of looking around I had to leave because I
was getting a headache. If you think it is easy to see
get a few more opinions just to be sure!
9. Music - Music used to be very common on the web.
Practically every site you went to had music. More
and more people started realizing that this was a
major distraction and annoyance to a lot of people.
If you really want music, have a choice for your
visitors. Let them decide if they want the music.
10. Lack Of Content - You've got to have content!
Gee, that sounds awfully familiar. People visit a
website to see what the site has that will benefit
them. Useful, helpful, practical content can't be
beat! This would include resources, freebies, tips,
ideas, information, interaction, contests, etc.
Visit these sites for more information on designing
and building an effective website:
One thing you can do is visit several sites that
pertain to your business. Study these sites and
write down what you find annoying. Write down any
reasons you have for leaving the site. Take note
of what you like about these sites. Incorporate
all these findings into creating a sharp, clean,
useful website with nothing to annoy all those
visitors!
