TIPS
Top Ten Mistakes in Web Design
1. Using Frames. Splitting a page into frames is very confusing for
users since frames break the fundamental user model of the web page.
All of a sudden, you cannot bookmark the current page and return to
it (the bookmark points to another version of the frameset), URLs
stop working, and printouts become difficult. Even worse, the predictability
of user actions goes out the door. Who knows what information will
appear where when you click on a link? And yes, it is definitely true,
search engines do not like frames. Those telling you it is ok are
the same people not realizing times have changed.
2. Gratuitous Use of Supposedly Cutting-Edge Technology.
Don't try to attract users to your site by bragging about use of the
latest web technology. You may interest a few nerds, impress some
people who think bells and whistles are fun. Mainstream users will
care less about that and you will lose more of those looking for useful
content. In reality, applets and intense java scripts make the seasoned
surfer question your ability to offer good customer service. Using
the latest and greatest before it is even out of beta is a sure way
to discourage users. And if their system crashes while visiting your
site, you can bet that many of them will not be back and message boards
will talk trash about you. Unless you are in the business of selling
Internet products or services, it is better to wait until some experience
has been gained with respect to the appropriate ways of using new
techniques. When desktop publishing was young, people put twenty fonts
in their documents and used multiple colors cause they 'could'. Well,
let's avoid similar design bloat on the Web. As an example: Use VRML
only if you actually have information that maps naturally onto a three-dimensional
space (e.g., architectural design, shoot-them-up games, surgery planning).
Don't use VRML if your data is N-dimensional since it is usually better
to produce 2-dimensional overviews that fit with the actual display
and input hardware available to the user. And PHP pages are a joke.
MOST of the time anyhow.... You must know when and where....
3. Scrolling Text, Marquees, and Constantly Running Animations.
Never include page elements that move incessantly. Moving images have
an overpowering effect on the human peripheral vision. A web page
should not emulate Times Square in New York City in its constant attack
on the human senses. Attention deficit has already taken control of
most internet surfers, this only distracts them like a carrot before
a donkey and they forget why they were here. Give your user some peace
and quiet to actually read the text if you are trying to enlighten
them! Of course, using a <BLINK> code is simply evil. There
is a time and a place for everything. Enough said.
4. Complex URLs.
Even though machine-level addressing like the URL should never have
been exposed in the user interface, it is there and we have found
that users actually try to decode the URLs of pages to infer the structure
of web sites. Users do this because of the horrifying lack of support
for navigation and sense of location in current web browsers. Thus,
a URL should contain human-readable directory and file names that
reflect the nature of the information space. Also, users sometimes
need to type in a URL, so try to minimize the risk of typos by using
short names with all lower-case characters and no special characters
(many people don't know how to type a ~ or that some servers are case
sensitive).
5. Orphan Pages.
Make sure that all pages include a clear indication of what web site
they belong to, what that page is for and since users may access pages
directly without coming in through your home page, do not have it
there unless it serves a purpose. For the same reason, every page
should have a link up to your home page as well as some indication
of where they fit within the structure of your overall information
space. It is confusing enough to find a new website without a direction,
but to leap into something mid statement only assures you have lost
them from the get go.
6. Long Scrolling Pages. Only 10% of users scroll beyond the information
that is visible on the second screen when a page comes up. All critical
content and navigation options should be on the top part of the page.
While long text may work, it better be appealing. Users are more willing
to scroll now than they were in the early years because they are more
experienced. I still recommend minimizing scrolling on navigation
pages, but it is no longer an absolute ban.
7. Lack of Navigation Support.
Don't assume that users know as much about your site as you do. They
always have difficulty finding information, so they need support in
the form of a strong sense of structure and place. Do not assume the
viewer is even partially as smart or witty as you are. Start your
design with a good understanding of the structure of the information
and communicate this structure explicitly to the user up front. Who
are you? What are you presenting? What is on each page? Nothing is
worse than clicking to a second page to find you couldn't possibly
have the time to explore this mess. Provide a site map, links at the
top, at the bottom and down the side, but not normally within the
text itself. Let users know where they are and where they can go at
all times.
8. Non-Standard Link Colors.
Links to pages that have not been seen by the user are blue; links
to previously seen pages are purple or red. It's pretty much standard.
Follow it. Don't mess with these colors since the ability to understand
what links have been followed is one of the few navigational aides
that is common in most web browsers. Consistency is key to teaching
users what the link colors mean. And make sure your background is
set as white or whatever it should be or you will come up with an
off color back drop on some browsers. It looks highly unprofessional.
Mistakes happen. Simply fix them.
9. Outdated Information.
You need somebody to maintain website changes as a cheap way of enhancing
the content on your website since many old pages keep their relevance
and should be linked into the new pages but with updated info. Of
course, some pages are better off being removed completely from the
server after their point can no longer be made.
10. Overly Long Download Times.
I am placing this issue last because most people already know about
it. People lose interest waiting but then again some of the top websites
are slow loading. If you follow the above rules, use text links, not
a lot of pictures and banners as links and keep the pictures you use
under 300 pixels tall (actual size, not in altered HTML) then you
should be fine. On the web, users have been trained to endure so much
suffering that it may be acceptable simply see how it loads. A piece
at a time is fine, but if it loads all at once taking 45 seconds of
blank screen to produce, that's bad.
If you want people helping you sell what
you have, advertise for executives in classifieds. Remember, we start
young, we fail often, but eventually we succeed. One man at....
Age 22 Had his business failed. And at....
Age 23 He ran for local office and failed. And at....
Age 24 Another business idea of his miserably flopped. And at....
Age 25 He finally got elected to a local office. And at....
Age 26 His loving girlfriend died. And at....
Age 27 He actually had a complete nervous breakdown. And at....
Age 29 He lost yet another political office bid. And at....
Age 31 He was again beat out for a political position. And at....
Age 34 Not giving up, he was defeated in another office bid. And at....
Age 37 He won his next political position. And at....
Age 39 He got kicked out of office. And at....
Age 46 He lost again. And at....
Age 47 He failed in another position. And at....
Age 49 Lost again. But at....
Age 51 Abe Lincoln became our U.S. President and freed the slaves.
Some say his mother was a black woman.
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