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1. Amateur graphics and layout
It takes a professional graphic designer to understand completely about
typography and layout. The right look and feel for your site starts with...
the right look! Invest in some professionally produced, bespoke graphics
for your site - your business and reputation really are worth it!
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2.
Large, irrelevant and slow-loading graphics
Web surfers have the need for speed - so why do so many home pages open
with large, useless graphics that load slowly and make no contribution
to the effectiveness of the page? In most cases, your home page should
be 40K or less in file size - including graphics.
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3.
Me, Myself, and I
Phrases like our, we and us, together with repetition of your company
name and other self-serving statements only cloud your message. Your home
page should start with a compelling, attention-grabbing headline and benefit
laden copy that tells your visitor what's in it for them.
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4.
Blinking, Spinning, Scrolling Banners, Counters, etc.
There was a time when these things were new and impressive - now they
are old hat, and in most cases irrelevant, extremely distracting and annoying.
Counters especially have lost their usefulness. These are all self-serving
devices that your customer has no use for - most visitors really don't
care how many alleged hits your site has had.
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5.
External Links on Your Home Page.
This is the equivalent of having a store entrance that offers each its
customers, one by one, a choice of doors to go through into other shops.
When your hard-earned, targeted, prospect arrives on your doorstep, why
immediately show them the way out? If you feel the need to provide external
links, place them on a page that can only be accessed after viewing the
important pages on your site.
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6.
'Site Award of the Minute' Logo/Banner
The Majority of 'Web Awards' are meaningless to most of your visitors.
Awards are irrelevant, self-serving space-wasters that should be replaced
with user-focused information that gives them a reason to stay on your
site, make contact and/or buy something from you.
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7.
Typo and Grammatical Errors
The number of Web pages containing common spelling and grammatical errors
is quite staggering. Your copy is a reflection of your professionalism
(or lack of it), your attention to detail (or lack of it) and your commitment
to excellence (or lack of it). Why give your visitor any reason to doubt
you? Make good use of spell checkers and proofreaders to make sure your
copy is flawless.
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8.
Under Construction pages
What good does a page that isn't finished do for your visitors? It just
wastes their time and could possibly frustrate or annoy them. Also, your
site should always be "under construction" in that you should
update it frequently.
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9.
Broken Links
This should be obvious, but broken links are all too frequent. Broken
links are annoying, frustrating and unprofessional. Why make your visitors
fume?
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10.
Missing Graphics
This should also be obvious, but missing graphics are all over the Web
- even on professional sites. Keep an eye on your site and keep it working.
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11.
Incomplete Contact Information
It's amazing how many companies try to remain anonymous and then expect
people to do business with them. To maximize your credibility and trustworthiness,
you should include complete contact information on every page. Use a physical
street address, not a P.O. Box. Provide a phone number, your fax number
and, of course, an email link to you, not your Webmaster.
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12.
Plug-Ins/JavaScript Pop-Up Windows
Most people will not take the time to load plug-ins to view or do something
at your site unless you give them a great reason to do so. They'll just
click away. Pop-up windows can be very annoying if they appear more than
once or don't offer something meaningful. Why make it unpleasant for visitors
to see what you offer?
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