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The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Designing a Web Site designing web site
Experts say one of the worst design faults is to make a page that is too technically advanced. "Too many web developers gouge a company for state of the art technical add-ons to their site which may only be appreciated by a small percentage of the Internet audience. Despite advancements with ISDN and cable modems there are still a large number of surfers who have slow speed connections, or are using outdated browsers, so fireworks, video and sound escapes these people. Although you shouldn't downgrade your site to a basic one for everyone, you should have a site that is a balance of state of the art technology and simplicity".
Other big mistakes:
* Providing no contact information. All visitors can do is visit and buy by clicking the button. There's no email address, no street address, no telephone or fax numbers. So how do they get more information about you and your product, how can you expect them to trust you, what do they do if the product is faulty or doesn't arrive, can they really believe the person on the other end of the site is genuine? Yet, sadly, people do occasionally buy from sites devoid of any contact details whatsoever, and many get their fingers burned in the process. Here's a story to demonstrate how little the authorities think of sites which do not have contact details.
* A few years ago, while surfing the net for ideas for products to sell in my business, I came across a site offering a book that really intrigued me. I had to buy a copy but couldn't find where the company was based. No contact details at all, just a series of 'click here' messages from the opening page through various pages in the book's sales letter, until eventually I reached the button 'click here to order'. Presumably by credit card, which was fine, I really wanted this book! I clicked only to find myself confronted with a message saying something like: 'Warning. This site was created by the FBI. The firm you are trying to buy from does not exist. The book has never been written. The credit card details you might willingly provide could be recorded and used in fraudulent transactions. Do not give credit card details over the Internet unless the supplying company's name, street address and telephone numbers are given in full.' Message understood, by me, as a customer and future Internet marketer!
* Focusing too heavily on you, your company, and products instead of telling the customer what he really wants to hear. What's in it for him! Note, however, providing a photograph and a brief description of the company is a great way to increase credibility and instil customer confidence, but only in small doses. More than that gets boring for visitors who will simply move on to someone less arrogant and not quite so self-opinionated.
* Far better to give a few brief details on the home page or to include separate pages headed such as 'About Us', 'Our Products'. 'Privacy Policy', and so on. Let the other 99% of your space focus on benefits, benefits, benefits. That's what visitors really want to see.
* Poorly designed frames that open linked sites the visitor has not requested or which fail to work on some browsers. Ask yourself if frames are really necessary at all. If not, forget them!
* 'Site Under Construction' signs which seem to have been there forever. Either use 'under construction' signs and design your site quickly, or don't use them at all and leave announcing your presence to the world until your site is ready to go.
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