Top 10 Ways to Make Your Website Painful
We have likely all visited websites that bug us. It can be the design, the functionality, or the message. But as a business, how can you be sure you are not one of those sites?

Over Animated
Minimize the use of Flash intro animations, animated gifs, and flying words. These distract from the core content of your site.

Content ‘Below the Scroll’
Placing valuable content ‘below the scroll’ (the area the user can’t see until he/she scrolls) means most people will never see it. Screen and screens of information can also be difficult to navigate.

Text-Heavy Pages
Web users simply don’t usually like to read very much. We tend to scan for information. Keep your text-based sections short and divided text on the page with white space, titles, sub-titles, section headings, etc.

No Contact Information
Web users are very cautious. Enhance your credibility by making it convenient for them to contact you. This includes phone numbers, email, and address.

Unchanging or Out-Dated Content
Keeping your website current has to become a priority for your company. Outdated information will undermined your legitimacy as a business. Fresh engaging content means people will return for more.

Long Page Downloads
Even though over 50% of Internet users are now on broadband, nobody likes to wait for a page to load. Keep images optimized and design your pages to load quickly – your customers will be grateful.

ME rather than YOU
Try to design your site around what you can do for your customers rather how great of a company you are.

Un-Explained Buttons or Links
Links and buttons throughout your site may make sense to you, but be sure they are intuitive for new users.

Inconsistent Navigation
Every page should be kept consistent so users never feel lost or confused. Try to keep content less than 3 clicks away at all times.

Inconsistent Feel
You don’t want the user to think they are visiting another site, another company, a partner or subsidiary. To avoid this confusion, keep fonts, font-size, colors, and layout similar throughout your site.

Managing your website is an ongoing task, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Focus on your customers and what they need and want – then your website will serve your business rather than the other way around.