Bad Web Design

Bad Web Design Can Ruin Your Website

There are alot of people that will sell you a website. What many people don’t know are the mistakes that make a good web site and a bad website and consequently add up to bad web design. There are a number of things that will destroy your search engine rankings and others that will turn customers off.

Web Design Mistake Number 1

Web design mistake number 1 is putting important text into a image. This ridiculous activity will insure that search engines are unable to read that text. Important text, such as words related to your websites keywords, must be readable by the search engines inorder for your website to rank well.

Web Design Mistake Number 2

Web design mistake number 2 is going overboard with Flash or Java. Using Java or Flash Menus may make your website look good but the sad reality is that Java and Flash can not be read by search engines. If you are running a search engine optimization campaign you risk losing indexing. Why? Because the links under a Java or Flash menu to your websites other pages will simply not be read. If it can’t be found it can’t be indexed.

There are a few ways to work around this if you have to use Java or Flash in your web design. The simplest is to have a sitemap accessible from a HTML link on your homepage. Another problem with Java and Flash is that they increase page size and load times. This in and of itself can have visitors clicking off your website.

Web Design Mistake Number 3

Web design mistake number 3 is the lack of relevant content. The most important factor in search engine ranking is your content. If you have the keyword shark then your content should strive to include the word shark in 7% to 20% of the words on your website. Now, thats hard to get but one thing you can count on is that search engines will not rank a website for the keyword shark if you never mention shark on your website.

Web Design Mistake Number 4

Web design mistake number 4 is copying or duplicating content. Having a website filled with duplicate content is bad for search engines and bad for customers. People using the internet like websites with lots of new content. Any website you build should have lots of pages and lots of unique content.

Here are some thoughts about website content.

• Does your content solve your customers’ problems or does it create problems?
• Does your content match your audience’s expectations?
• Have you determined the purpose of your website?
• Do you know your target audience?
• Ask yourself: “What content do I have that would cause anybody in their right mind to visit my website a second, third, or fourth time?” This is extremely important. You might con someone to visit your site once, but why would they want to come back a second, third, or fourth time? If you can’t answer this question, you really shouldn’t have a web site.
• Is the content technically correct?
• Does your customer need to know the content you’re presenting?
• Is the content current and updated frequently?
• Can people find the content they’re looking for?
• Is my content the digital equivalent of Heroin?

Web Design Mistake Number 5

Web design mistake number 5 is the outrageous activity of making website visitors listen to your sordid musical collection or watch stupid videos. Auto playing audio or video files are considered by most consumers as a nuisance akin to a crackhead on your doorstep! Its always best in web design to leave your website visitors a choice. Therefore, please let your visitors click to hear or see your media content.

Web Design Mistake Number 6

Web design mistake number 6 is preventing a person from buying a product or service when they are ready to buy. If you are trying to offer a service or sale a product on your website you must include solid calls to action throughout your content. Too many websites use design elements that get in the way of the sale. Always urge the customer to move forward in the sales process. Always!

Web Design Mistake Number 7

Web design mistake number 7 are one page websites that scroll forever. Yes, it’s called a web page, but that doesn’t mean you have to cram all your material on one page. It’s very easy to keep adding material to your website home page until it gets out of control.

Too much content vying for attention makes it difficult for the eyes to find the focal point. People get confused and they leave. A long web page means you have failed to organize your site properly — probably a combination of not planning your website and poor navigation.

Web Design Mistake Number 8

Web design mistake number 8 is a poor use of images. Don’t be one of those websites that misunderstand how to use graphics. Some of the mistakes include using GIF for JPG, Giant graphics, ugly background images, lack of contrast, ALT= attribute not set, inappropriate graphics, and dozens of others like silly gifs running amok on your screen. Have you ever been to Craigs List?

Web Design Mistake Number 9

Web design mistake number 9 is the lack of a coordinated marketing strategy. Unless you’re an online shop your web site is not your marketing strategy. Your web site is part of your marketing strategy.

If you take orders over the phone, don’t get rid of your phone banks. If you’re successfully using direct mail, don’t stop. Heck, if the Yellow Pages are working for you, continue to use them. The trick, and the hard part, is to find where your web site fits in your marketing strategy.

Web Design Mistake Number 10

It’s called a web page, but that doesn’t mean you have to cram all your material on one page. It’s very easy to keep adding material to your home page until it gets out of control. With so much content vying for attention it’s difficult for the eyes to find the focal point. People get confused and they leave. A long web page means you have failed to organize your site properly probably a combination of not planning your site and poor navigation.

Yes it is repeated and for a very good reason!