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Top 10 Deadly Web Design Sins
Top 10 Deadly Web Design Sins
By Sharon Housley
Many webmasters repeat the mistakes made
by their predecessors. Take a look at these Top 10 most
common web design sins. Have you fallen victim to any
of these?
Sin #1 - Using Techie-Speak
Many websites fail to communicate in terms
that website visitors can understand. Set the technical
jargon aside, and use simple language and words that
will be easy for your audience to understand. Web copy
should be written in simple terms. Also, keep in mind
that the Internet audience is global, and using language
that is more common and easy to comprehend will often
expand your reach, even to include non-native speakers.
Sin #2 - Poor Navigation
Many webmasters fail to provide visitors
clear and consistent navigation. Visitors will quickly
become frustrated if they cannot easily find the information
they are looking for.
Sin #3 - Technology
Technology is a great thing, but it also
can be a problem. Not everyone uses the latest plug-ins
or has any desire to download add-ons simply to view
your website. Many others may intentionally block such
features for security reasons. Stick with web technology
that is widely supported so you don't alienate your
potential customers.
Sin #4 - Globalization
A website that fails to globalize will
limit the area in which it is able to sell. If your
audience is wide-spread, globalize your website. For
example, accept alternate payment options, use forms
that ask for postal code rather than zip code (which
is only used in the United States), provide pricing
in various currencies, etc. For more information on
Globalization, see this associated article: http://www.small-business-software.net/globalization.htm
Sin #5 - Spelling And Grammar Errors
Professional websites should be just that
-- professional. Be sure to spell-check all pages on
your site to eliminate typos, and have a copy editor
proofread the web copy for readability and to catch
any grammatical errors.
Sin #6 - Inconsistency
An inconsistent website shouts "amateur"
to the visitor. The website should be consistently branded,
and the navigation, color scheme, and font, should remain
consistent as you move through the various pages on
the website.
Sin #7 - Too Many Choices
Do not confuse website visitors by bombarding
them with too many choices. If you provide customers
too many choices, they may get confused or frustrated,
and simply choose to leave your website. Keep the number
of options to a minimum, and clearly explain the differences
between the options that are provided.
Sin #8 - Lack Of Visuals
Customers want to see what they are thinking
about buying, so be sure to include a visual image of
a tangible product, such as a boxshot. This is important
even if the product is only delivered digitally.
Sin #9 - Failure To Use Adequate White Space
Visitors do not normally "read" a website.
Instead, they are far more likely to just scan it. With
that in mind, it is important to use a sufficient amount
of "white space" around the important web copy, in order
to break the copy into smaller, scan-able, and easier-to-read
chunks.
Sin #10 - Writing For Search Engines
Rather Than Visitors In an effort to optimize
a website for search engines, some webmasters often
lose focus of the true purpose of the site. Write web
copy for actual visitors, and not for the search engines.
When you are designing your next web site, or updating
an existing site, be sure to avoid the Top 10 deadly
web design sins!
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds
and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for
RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com
audio recording and editing software.
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This article may be used freely in opt-in
publications and websites, provided that the resource
box is included and the links are active. A courtesy
copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would
be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
Additional articles available for publication available
at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm
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