kimtown’s Top 10 Web Pet Peeves

I often get asked to critique websites to see what they can do to improve or change. I came up with this list while I was in the shower (I do my best thinking in there) and just had to blog about it. I would love to hear your comments. Let’s discuss…

10. Unprofessional Website
It was cool in 1995 to have flying doves (clipart animated) and a big spinning E for people to click on to contact you, but those ancient design flaws are {and should be} a thing of the past. Potential clients WILL pass judgement on your company based on how your website looks. If your site is dated and has images with people in sweater dresses (oh wait that’s coming back huh?) and bangs taller than most small children, it’s time to update. I know not everyone can spend thousands on a new website, but kimtown websites are inexpensive and look great.

9. Blog with Blogspot.com
Really? You can’t afford to host your site for about $6 a month and get a professional looking blog with thousands of FREE themes with wordpress? Many of you have read about why I don’t think blogs should be with blogspot, but just to recap…Free sites/blogs/etc are a dead giveaway that a business is not making any money; bottom line. That of course means you have little or no experience with what you are doing; so why would someone hire you? I know I will get flamed by some for this, but it really is true. Your web presence is SO important to your brand, since it’s often the first way your potential clients “meet” you. Not ponying up a few bucks a month to appear professional is really speaking words about your business. (Not to mention that annoying bar that goes on top of the blog to promote the free site you are on)

8. Paid Blog space
Places like Typepad, Movable Type, SquareSpace etc charge too much for their blogs and don’t even give you an unbranded name. Last time I checked it was yourname.typepad.com. That’s just as bad (if not worse since you are PAYING THEM to carry their name) as yourname.blogspot.com. Get serious about your brand. You can go far for a few dollars a month. (Check out Dreamhost up top there)

7. Flash websites with super fast transitions
Don’t make your viewers dizzy by all your fancy transitions that you just learned in Flash CS4. Remember less is more. Just because you know HOW to do it doesn’t mean you SHOULD do it. (This goes for FLASH SPLASH PAGES too, just don’t do it okay?) ‘Nuff said.

6. Clicking Sounds
In photography, I always learned that if it isn’t an integral part of the image, then leave it out (props, backgrounds, etc). Same goes for web design. I don’t want to hear a camera shutter, click, whine, moan or buzz every time I roll over a link.  When it doubt, just leave it out.

5. Would you kiss your mother with that mouth?
One of the worst things you can do when blogging or creating your text pages on your website, is to curse (cuss). Many of my clients and viewers have children (many that can READ) and you don’t want junior next to you reading four letter words. It really discredits you and your professionalism when you use foul language to express your emotions. Can you really not think of a substitute word? This goes for your facebook and twitter updates too; just be careful what you say. Everyone will read {into} it differently.

4. Watch your background
Background according to the dictionary {fine arts} is “the part of an image represented as being at maximum distance from the frontal plane.” Keyword here is DISTANCE. Your background should be a nice subtlety to your foreground and content you want viewers to see first. A background should NOT be dizzying, blinding and overpowering. It’s good practice to fix the background so it doesn’t scroll when the viewer scrolls. Viewers will be so busy being nauseated they won’t notice your content.

3. Black and White
Black really is not the new black. Black can be a very powerful color when creating photography websites, but are HORRID for pages with a bunch of WHITE text. Unlike the reverse, black backgrounds and stark white font is extremely hard to read. If you like the black, consider changing your font to a very light gray (#cccccc is a good one) so you don’t put your viewer into tunnel vision hades.

2. Stuffing
Can you fit ONE MORE THING on your website? Sure! Throw it in. STOP IT! Less really is more ( I think I’ve said that before). Okay no ones’s site could be as bad as Bella De Soto’s website, but try to keep your content in the window of your viewer. I know that each person has a different screen resolution and monitor size, but scrolling horizontally AND vertically is just downright annoying.

1. Your Navigation is WHERE?
My biggest pet peeve of all is shoddy navigation. Your online presence should create a {good} memorable experience with your viewer. If they are ticked off when they leave your site because they couldn’t find the info they needed to, chances are they aren’t going to hire you (or ever visit your site again). Additionally, if you have music on your site (which would be pet peeve #11 if there was one) put the OFF button close to your navigation so people can find it quickly and easily (or just turn it off and let them turn it on if they want the “experience”). There’s nothing like getting a potential client reprimanded at work because your site was a dead giveaway they were on the internet, instead of working.

As much as I would like to include samples and screenshots, I don’t want to embarrass or offend anyone. You know who you are though and you know it’s time for a change Check out the kimtown SHOPPE for ideas for your online makeover.

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