6 Website Design Disasters and How to Avoid Them?.

Let's face it; the line from A Field of Dreams isn't the whole truth. There's more to getting people to come to something than simply building it. Someone built the old run down historical mansion, but hardly anyone visits it (except maybe people you wouldn't want to run into). People want to find a place online that caters to them, specifically. They want it to be pleasant on the eyes, up-to-date, simple to understand and easy to get around in. But, this isn't an area where everyone succeeds. And sadly, some of the reasons for failure seem small, almost minute. Below are six website design disasters and simple steps that you can take to avoid them.

1. Sloppy Copy. Despite what you may have read in the latest free e-Book, you can't just place any words on a page to trick you customers to spend fistfuls of cash on your site. One of the primary reasons people are cruising the net is to find information, and not just the same information over and over and over.

Solution: Your content should be unique, interesting and error free. Anything less will leave your visitors looking for fulfillment elsewhere. There are many opportunities online to find good content and sometimes you can manage to find unique copy at low prices. Or maybe you can work out a trade deal with a freelance writer; you offer free advertising space in exchange for their articles. Try not to use free content from a mass produced website simply because there are probably a lot of other places online where you can find the exact same words. You've got to give your visitors something special, something unique that they can't find anywhere else. Otherwise they will - find it somewhere else.

2. Not Taking Advantage of META-tags. We all know that meta-tags are important, but sometimes we fail to take full advantage of what they have to offer. As important as they are to web designers as free promotion, meta-tags are just as important to potential visitors.

You may have just the product, membership club, newsletter or information that I'm looking for. But if I can't find you, we can't ever begin a commercial (or any other kind of) exchange. Since most people come across websites using a search engine, fully optimizing your title and meta-tag keywords will ensure the beginning of a match made in heaven.

Solution: When creating your title and coming up with possible keywords; make sure that you are thinking more like a customer than a website designer. Your title is important because it is the first thing that potential visitors will see when your results show in the search engine. It should be short, compelling and descriptive.

Your description Meta-tags should reiterate what your title has said, but using a new approach and a few more words. Try to limit yourself to a description that is less than 125 characters so that the entire description can be read, instead of being interrupted mid-thought by limited space. For added benefits, try to include a question in your first line of the description, one that the viewer was probably asking themselves before initiating the search. Use this same approach when coming up with your list of keywords. When you've come up with your list, go over each one asking yourself, "Is this a keyword used by someone who is a potential customer?" If the answer is no, then don't include them, you'll be wasting your time.

3. Outdate Information, Broken Links, and "Under Construction". There is nothing more frustrating than sifting through out-dated websites when you're in search of current information. Or clicking on a link that you hope leads to the answer to your question, only to discover that "This Page Cannot Be Displayed" or that the domain name is for sale.

Only slightly less annoying are messages informing you that the page is currently under construction or is "Coming Soon". If it's not here yet, don't waste your visitor's time leading them down dead ends.

Solution: Schedule at least a day a month scouring your website for outdated information and broken links. You can also include a link on your website that allows visitors to report broken links or outdated information. As far as "Under Construction" messages, instead announce to your visitors any upcoming changes or additions to your website. They'll be glad to know it without getting their hopes up, clicking a link to much sought after information, and being told it isn't available yet.

4. Hard to Find Contact Information. It's hard to understand why any website would fail to make it easy for visitors to get in touch with the people who run it. Offering this simple bit of information will: a. Encourage people to ask for permission before using your content &/or graphics on their own sites. b. Make it easier for people to contact you for promotional reasons. For example, someone may desire to interview you, initiate a contract or simply make an important business contact that you may need in the future. c. Provide people with ways to reach you and your company while they are offline. You can provide them with ways to reach you by telephone, snail mail or possibly even to stop and tour your facilities.

Solution: Simply add a "Contact Us" page and link to your website. Be sure to include pertinent email addresses, phone numbers, names, mailing addresses and (if necessary) driving directions.

5. Not Changing the Color of a Visited Link. While this may not seem like such a big deal, it's one that has been bugging website traffic for many years. You can take that on the authority of Dr. Jakob Nielsen, the man who's been called the "guru of Web page usability" by the New York Times.

The purpose of changing link colors is to give your site visitors an idea of where they've already been and where they have yet to venture. This is especially important if you have a large site with new pages being added to it often.

Solution: The HTML code is simple: Inside the body tag, add the "vlink" tag and the color code or color name. The code for blue visited link text would look like this: or Replace the code or color name with the color you want. There, you're done. It's that simple.

6. Failing to Use Your Website to Emphasize Your U.S.P. Your U.S.P., or Unique Selling Point, is that one (or more than one) thing that your company does do, or doesn't do; has or doesn't have, that separates your from the competition. It's the thing that, in the long term, a person comes back for.

This is tied in closely with another Web Design no-no: not offering any information about your company's products, services, employees, etc. This is YOUR Website. Don't be afraid to toot your own horn. Because, really, who else is going to do it?

Solution: Whether it means you need to sit down and better identify your target market, or maybe try to discover new ways to market to them, try to look at your website with eyes undimmed by cancelled orders, constant interruptions, or other distractions. Take the time to look at your website as a customer would, as a tool. Ask yourself, "If I was a customer, why would I be here?" As you come across these answers, make note of them, and any others that they may suggest.

Create an about us page, offering news updates, press releases, employee of the month biographies, etc. In the long run, customers always appreciate transparency. And I'll let you into a little secret: they don't mind being led around. If fact, they rely upon.

You'll notice that I didn't mention anything about the command. Or flashing, moving, or magically glittering icon trailers. Or sites hosted on free servers. That's because most people have already beat those subjects black and blue. But, that doesn't mean that you should disregard them. They aren't Capri pants, sneaking back into style. For about the safest bet, just consider the Golden Rule; if it would give you a headache, make you shake your head in frustration, cause you to get up and walk away from the computer or any other negative reactions - just say no! Exercise a little restraint. Better yet, if you're not a professional, consider hiring one. When it comes to customer satisfaction, an experienced web design specialist can make or break your business.

About the author:

Could your website use some fresh, custom content, but you don't have the extra money to pay for it? Well, Jennifer Gibbs (a 5 star freelance professional from South Georgia) is more than happy to provide your site with original, tailored and EXCLUSIVE content in exchange for free products, services or membership access. For more information send your request (along with your website URL) to: arimark@friendlycity.net.

Business Consulting Web Development Web Site Design Graphic Design Ecommerce
Marketing Web Hosting Domain Name Registration Clients Web Maintenance Voice Overs Talent
Contact Us Company Info Home Page
>> Link Exchange Directory - Ad Your Site Now! <<

INFORMATION AND HELPFUL ARTICLES
Web Design Web Hosting Web Development Search Engine Optimization
Web Design Samples Graphic Design Samples Glossary Pantone Chart RGB HTML

Tampa Web Design and Development Tampa Bay Web PHP Development and Web Hosting
Graphic Design Tampa Bay Small Business Consultant

Bread and Buddha forays with special offer in Web Design Arena - NewDesignWorld (press release)

Bread and Buddha forays with special offer in Web Design Arena NewDesignWorld (press release), UK - 1 hour ago Each level comprise of a unique, eye-catching web design that ensure the business in professional manner. The company has introduced the following special ...

Maximizing Visibility with Dallas Web Design Company - 1VIZABILITY - TransWorldNews (press release)

Maximizing Visibility with Dallas Web Design Company - 1VIZABILITY TransWorldNews (press release), GA - 7 hours ago That is why 1VIZABILITY, a Dallas based web design company, aims to assist business owners by creating a “buzz” effect and amping up with the use of Web 2.0 ...

Small Box Web Design & Consulting Moves Website to SmallBoxWeb.com - PR Web (press release)

Small Box Web Design & Consulting Moves Website to SmallBoxWeb.com PR Web (press release), WA - Sep 7, 2008 Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) September 7, 2008 -- Web design and search engine optimization firm, Small Box Web Design & Consulting, today announced that it has ...

01Interactive Recognized as the best Web Design Pakistan Firm and ... - Live-PR.com (Pressemitteilung)

01Interactive Recognized as the best Web Design Pakistan Firm and ... Live-PR.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria - Sep 6, 2008 06.09.2008 23:56:46 01 Interactive Studios marks its five year anniversary by being acknowledged among the best Web Design Pakistan Firms and freelance ...

Web design CEO sells in Las Vegas - Blockshopper

Blockshopper

Web design CEO sells in Las Vegas Blockshopper, IL - Sep 5, 2008 by Ross Franco, BlockShopper Staff Zachary A. Harding and his wife, Tina, sold a five-bedroom, three bath home at 7636 Splashing River Court in Las Vegas to ...

Bank of Newman Grove Selects Goldleaf’s Web Design and Hosting ... - Business Wire (press release)

Bank of Newman Grove Selects Goldleaf’s Web Design and Hosting ... Business Wire (press release), CA - Sep 3, 2008 In addition to the Web design and hosting, Bank of Newman Grove also selected Goldleaf’s security package, which includes SSL and Pharming Shield. ...

Web Design For Small Business - 3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine

Web Design For Small Business 3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany - Sep 2, 2008 Branding is an aspect of web design that usually costs more money, but is worth every single penny spent. A logo and certain set of colors is what sets one ...

New York Community Trust Selects Embolden for Web Design ... - MarketWatch

New York Community Trust Selects Embolden for Web Design ... MarketWatch - Aug 26, 2008 Embolden www.embolden.com, is one of the nation's fastest-growing web design, development and technology consulting firms serving the community foundation, ...

Research questions website design and usability - Design Week

Research questions website design and usability Design Week, UK - 23 minutes ago Digital consultancy Rawnet’s Online Conversion Report, which questioned almost 2000 adults, looks at the way in which Web design influences purchasing ...

Design Oven launches Web design service - CIOL

Design Oven launches Web design service CIOL, India - Aug 31, 2008 LONDON, UK: Design Oven has launched a range of Web design services geared towards meeting the needs of small business owners, after identifying a need for ...

Web-Design - Google News

� MediaRocket.com All rights reserved.
 
Business Consulting Web Development Web Site Design Graphic Design Ecommerce
Marketing Web Hosting Domain Name Registration Clients Web Maintenance

voice overs work, onhold music, on hold message, on hold messages, message for voice mail, voicemail greetings, voice mail greetings, voice mail greeting, voicemail messages, messages for voicemail, messages for voicemails, voice services, radio voices, radio voice, voice over recordings, voice over auditions, voice acting, voice over artists, voice over artist, voiceover artists, voiceover artist, voiceover auditions, voiceover audition, voiceovers auditions, voice over agents


Tampa web site design voice talent and voice overs, small business consulting web design graphic design business consulting services tampa web design web design tampa business consulting st. petersburg web design florida web design sarasota web design jacksonville web design orlando web design miami web design business consultant  radio station web design radio web design clearwater web design tallahassee web design small business consultant real estate web design west palm beach web design ecommerce web design business web design hosting web design professional web design flash web design flash graphics web design web design company web page designers color chart Web Design -- Business Consulting Services Web Development Web Site Design Graphic Design Ecommerce Marketing Web Hosting Clients Web Maintenance Contact Us Company  Home Page Employment  Privacy Glossary, Voice Talent, Voice Overs voice over talent voiceover artist voice overs