We at Danconia Media see our fair share of web sites every day. Some of them are good, while others are on the embarrassing side. Many times, small and medium-sized businesses recruit amateurs to design their web sites. Sometimes, business owners decide to design their sites themselves using web publishing software. As a result, many of their sites include elements that are likely to turn visitors away by giving them an inaccurate reflection of their professionalism.
Here are just some common components that should never be featured on a business site:
Personal pictures This mistake is often found on sites that were designed by business owners. Your business web site should be focused on the products and services you offer and your clients instead of your personal life. Your potential customers are visiting to learn more about your company, not that vacation in the Caribbean you took in 2003.
Weather information Odds are people aren’t visiting your web site to find out how hot or cold it is outside or the chances of precipitation. Amateur web designers often include a weather information box on their sites because they think it’s cool. It’s not.
Enter pages These used to be common, but eventually web designers and Internet users realized how pointless they were. You want people to have an easy time when visiting your site. Don’t test their patience by putting up hurdles for them.
Counters Back in the 1990s, webmasters often included visitor counters on their sites to keep track of site traffic. Now they just look tacky. There are better ways to analyze traffic that provide data that’s actually useful. There’s no need to post that information for all to see. Also, you don’t want visitors to get the wrong idea about your site traffic. They might wonder why your site only has 47 visitors, not knowing that it’s only been active for a few days.
Scrolling text You want to make it as easy as possible for visitors to learn about your business. Including scrolling text on your site is a good way to encourage visitors to leave your site through annoyance.
Pointless links It’s fine if you want to include links to businesses you’re affiliated with, but understand that people aren’t visiting your site as a starting point to surf the Internet. You’re running a business, not an online directory.
Google search Having a search box makes it easy for visitors to find information within your site, but there’s no point in including a way for them to find stuff elsewhere on the web. Your visitors are already fully aware that Google exists and they know how to find it.
Animated graphics This was a staple of web design throughout the 90s and, surprisingly, remnants still linger to this day. Blinking, scrolling and exploding graphics do not impress anyone and will make your site look dated.
Automatic audio If your visitors want to listen to music, they’re probably already doing it. If music or other sounds automatically start playing on your home page, your visitors will either get startled or annoyed. Also, people’s music tastes vary greatly. Though Jethro Tull may be your favorite band, your current and potential clients probably don’t share your musical tastes. You don’t want to alienate them by forcing your music on them.
List of jokes Sometimes, business owners will attempt to show they can poke fun at themselves by including a list of jokes about their industry on their web sites. Humor is a funny thing. No two people think the same things are funny, so odds are your site visitors will be unamused by your jokes.
The bottom line is this: Don’t fill your web site with useless features just to have them. It is impresses no one. Simplicity is good. Use your web site to say what you need to say.
Tags: web design
