There is probably not a website in existence that couldn’t stand some improvement. And, yes, this is a self-serving statement coming from a web design firm, but it’s true nonetheless.
While many of the things that annoy us are relatively minor issues, we far too often come across major “site killer” offenses. Perhaps the most disturbing thing about these problems is that they are easily corrected. Unfortunately, more often, they are simply ignored.
We have classified the worst of these offenses into ten categories. While we don’t claim this list is all-inclusive, it does provide a good way to identify the most serious maladies that can ruin an otherwise excellent website. Here is our list:
1. The Invisible Website
Invisible websites are not actually invisible, they are just difficult to find. These websites manage to thwart the best attempts of search engines to index them, thereby making them difficult for people to locate. While the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) industry works feverishly to get more prominent placements on search engine results, the caretakers of invisible websites take the opposite approach. Invisible website owners do not bother to perform even the most rudimentary tasks to help search engines, and in turn people, locate their websites. Is it really that difficult to add meaningful titles and descriptions to each page?
2. The Incomprehensible Website
We think these websites are all covertly owned by the “Acme De-disambiguation Company” since it is impossible to figure out what they do from reading the website. Often, these sites belong to small businesses that seem to have decided that offering every service imaginable is their best bet to attract potential customers. At other times, the sites belong to organizations that appear to exist in support of some cause the nature of which is impossible to determine.
3. The Reclusive Website
These websites are the exclusive domain of hermits. We know this because they have obviously taken great pains to omit or hide any method of contact. We suggest you look for the owners of these websites in caves located deep in the woods.
4. The Ugly Website
Once the exclusive property of do-it-yourself engineers, ugly websites have expanded their reach over time. You’ll know you’ve found such a site when viewing it makes you wince in pain. This is often combined with having to listen to the site’s creator gleefully expound on its design.
5. The Narcissistic Website
“Look at me, aren’t I beautiful and clever?” sings the narcissistic website. Unconcerned with anyone actually being able to navigate it, understand it, or obtain useful information from it, these sites are a pure study in style over substance. Historically the exclusive purview of high-end design agencies and their over-paying clients, the advent of low-cost Flash website templates has meant that almost anyone can now overdo their website with ease.
6. The Unnavigable Website
Unnavigable websites are characterized by having lots of pages. At least we think they have lots of pages because unfortunately we’ve never been able to reach most of them. Menus and links that don’t work as advertised, missing pages, and the tendency to take you up when you ask to go down are just a few common features. Our theory is that these sites are built by the same people who construct Victorian mansions with lots of secret doors and hidden passages. If you’re clever enough, you’ll find what you’re looking for. Maybe.
7. The Abandoned Website
Prices, products, and other information last updated in 1985? Not a problem. Frankly they can’t be bothered to keep it up to date. Don’t complain too much or the owners will call up one of their hermit friends about having all the contact information removed.
8. The Broken Website
The order confirmation page will automatically load, so just wait patiently, and whatever you, do don’t click anything! While you’re waiting, we’ll send somebody around occasionally to dust off your skeleton. If you don’t have the patience for that, how about trying out an ecommerce site which randomly empties your cart? For extra fun, our favorite is a pop-up menu that runs away from your mouse when you try to click on it. Is it a game, psychological torture, or just poor programming? You decide.
9. The Under Construction Website
We’ll get around to writing this entry later. For the moment, it’s good enough just to tell you that we’re working on it. Come back soon and see what we’ve done. Of course, we still won’t have done anything, so come back soon again. Get the idea?
10. The “Website? We don’t need no stinking website.”
As far as these non-sites are concerned, the Internet is just some passing fad, just like electricity and the telephone. There is no sense jumping in headfirst and wasting a lot of time and money. Seriously, do you honestly believe that not having a website will cost them any business? They dare you to show them any book or record store that has benefited from having a website.
So, are you guilty of any of these sins? Chances are the answer is “yes.” At one time or another almost every site (ever ours!) has exhibited at least one of these symptoms. But don’t hold it against us, and we won’t hold it against you – as long as it gets fixed!
Note: This blog post was also delivered as a PowerPoint presentation. You can view or download a PDF of that presentation here — PowerPoint – 10 Reasons Why Your Website Sucks (PDF)
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