| Web
Page Design 101
Fine Tune Your Web site User Experience = Visits + Loyalty
Online users and online consumers are very unlikely to purchase from,
or even return to, a web site after encountering a bug-a-boo or major
pet peeve. After all - a web site conveys something called a ‘user’s
online experience’.
The Internet has
developed to the point where consumers demand an easy online experience.
... Consumers are warning companies, 'You're going to lose my business
if your web site experience is frustrating.
Consumers
say pop-up ads are frustrating or extremely annoying
Incorporate a prominent news, press, announcements link on your web
site instead. If you have a news letter or email list your ad belongs
there, not in a pop-up. See Virginia
Oncology Associates. The upper left hand corner has been reserved
for company advertisements or announcements.
Users are
annoyed at the need to install extra software
People do not install software at the casual browser user level. Don’t
require this of your web site visitors.
Dead links
are annoying or extremely frustrating.
Subscribe to a link checking service. Not only do people hate dead links,
search engines absolutely hate them. Link Sleuth is a great freeware
program that does extensive link checking. Link
Slueth or you may opt for an inexpensive service to do this for
you Seven Twentyfour
I use this service for my company web site Visionefx.
These tools are especially useful if you maintain multiple link trades
with other web sites.
Confusing
navigation is frustrating or extremely annoying
Your web site should read like a book. Think about it. A book has a
title, table of contents, chapters and content. Organize your web site.
Do not buried your links or create artsy icons. Say what you mean and
mean what you say. Some samples of well organized navigation and content
include Rourk
Public Relations ~ Kapp
Communications
and Magellan
Professional Services
Annoyance
with registration log-on pages that block access to online content.
Unless you are offering the ‘cure for the common cold’ you
should always give people the option to do this. A good example of this
is an ecommerce site that allows you to shop, browse or buy without
having to sign-up or login. Topiaries
Virginia Give people options!
Slow-loading
pages are frustrating or extremely annoying
I stopped optimizing for dial-up a long time ago, BUT I always develop
graphics and page coding for the lowest possible page weight.
Users say
ineffective site-search tools are frustrating or extremely annoying.
The common rule of thumb is to determine if a site search is a necessary
function to locate data, images or products within the web site. When
search logic is tied to a database can be extremely effective as demonstrated
in these web sites. Check out these search examples. Easy
Money Locations ~ Selling
Power
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