Don’t Alienate Your Audience: How Web Site Design Can Affect Your Profitability
Topics: web, site, design, profit, script, browser, flash, animation, music, audience
Between 50% and 60% of the people using the Internet today do not have high-speed broadband access. Yet many Web sites cater only to the 40% that do. Then they wonder why their sales figures are so poor. Although it’s tempting to add every whiz-bang feature into a Web site, if you do, you are undoubtedly sacrificing profitability for “techno-appeal.”
As the Internet has become more popular, more and more software applications have moved onto the Web. To give users an experience that rivals what they get from their PC software, browser vendors have had to give developers a way to program and extend the browser interface. A programming language called JavaScript is one popular tool for client-side (browser) scripting.
Unfortunately, every vendor implements the JavaScript language differently and defines the rules for manipulating the browser differently. This situation makes it extremely difficult to develop a rich user experience that works across browsers. As a result, you should be careful about adding features to your site that rely on JavaScript. For example, you should never use a script-based menu system as the only way for visitors to navigate your site. Search engine spiders cannot follow program code, so JavaScript menus essentially slam the door on the search engines.
If you think back on your own browsing experiences, can you remember a time when you got some kind of scripting error while navigating to a Web page? How did you feel about that site after you got the error? Would you want your visitors to have that feeling about your site?
The fact is a lot of scripting is totally unnecessary. Also, some browsers don’t support it, and many people intentionally turn it off for security reasons. If you do use scripting, use it sparingly and be sure to test it on all the browsers you can.
Plug-ins are just as bad. For one thing, they require your visitors to download a program that will run on their system, and some people find that idea just plain scary. Spyware and other nasties have made people skittish about downloads, and for good reason.
For example, Flash is a commonly employed plug-in that requires a sizable download. Realistically, Flash animations are cool the first time you see them, boring the second time, and annoying every other time beyond that. Never, ever use a Flash animation as the only way for people to enter your site. It is like locking the front door of your business and requiring customers to get a key from somewhere down the street.
Use animations only when they make sense as part of the content, like for demonstrating how something moves. Frivolous animations of any kind are annoying to most people. If you are trying to read the content of a page, the last thing you want is a distracting graphic flashing in the periphery.
Use sound as you would use an animation: only when it supports the content. For example, if you sell duck calls, you could include a sample of what each one sounds like. But that sample should only play when the customer clicks a link requesting it. Do not under any circumstances force people to listen to music while surfing your site. There’s a strong possibility most of them will hit the Back key and never return.
The bottom line is that you should think about your audience. Simplicity is not a bad thing. Some of the most popular sites on the Internet like CraigsList.com and Yahoo.com are simple and straightforward. Plus, they are usable by people surfing with any type of connection, even dial up. So the next time you ponder adding some “cool” new feature to your site, first ask yourself if it is going to add anything to the bottom line.
Susan Daffron is the President of Logical Expressions, Inc. (www.logicalexpressions.com) and the author of books on pets, web business, computing, and vegetarian cooking. Visit www.publishize.com to receive a complimentary Publishize podcast or newsletter and bonus report.”
Previous Articles Highlighter:
The First Step To A Great Web Site: Research (1)
Similarly, to remain competitive, many real estate sites now almost always have large database back-end systems for their listings. Because people use the Internet to find information, think about the information you want to provide.
Don't Leave Your Web Site Visitors Wondering Who You Are (2)
The information in the press release is incomplete, so I am forced to surf for answers. When that doesn't work, I email or call. Sometimes nothing works. So if you want to get mentioned in the press here are a few "inside" tips: 1.
Does Your Website Have These Must-Have Features For Higher Conversions? (3)
You can send email to your existing clients and ask them to complete a survey or even while they are browsing on your website. Ask them about their choices.
Web Design Scariest Four Mistakes (4)
Unreasonable large images. You do not have to publish the print quality versions of photos right into the page. They take too long to load, and are usually not appreciated anyway.
Article Submission- An Effective Strategy To Build Your List (5)
You mailing list must always be managed ideally for your future usage. If your articles are discovered to be that of value for sharing, eZine publishers will publish again your articles or writings together with your bio box for their subscribers and readers.
Getting Attention Through Proper Web Design (6)
6. Web design tip #6: Use animations. Flat images tend to attract attention. However, these days, your web design company may have to ask you to come up with animation-based splash page to show off the kind of pages you come up with.
Internet Marketing Tool - Way To Attract Subscribers (7)
If an individual visits your web site and leaves, chances are that r he will not come again, most especially, if there is no significant reason to do so-your site is not of that relevant to him.
Why Refrain From Buying Bulk Mails? (8)
I am sure, you have encountered an advertisement bringing the campaign that read: " For just $ 29.99, 1,000,000 email addresses for you". And these bulk mail firms can even put there strategy to the next level by offering you these names at your doorstep through CD.
Effective Journaling Tips (9)
An effective journal entry should be written with clear images and feelings. You should aim to include your reactions along with the facts or events of your life. The experience of certain events may not necessarily be what you thought it would be, and this is what is important to capture.
Multi Tier Programs In Affiliate Internet Marketing (10)
Not as easy as made out to be Most sites would like you to believe that multi tier program is about lazing around and partying with friends while your sub affiliates mint money for you, nothing can be further from the truth.
Communication Helps Create Business Success (11)
If contact is important, seek out organizers that spin up a newsletter or e-zine using simplified templates and will send it to a defined user group. This will allow the opportunity to send different ezines or newsletters offering different content to predefined users.
Making Every Webpage Into Subscriber Snatching Devices (12)
This internet marketing strategy will surely contribute a lot for your online venture. In this avenue, you can transform a huge portion of your visitors into clients and thus, providing you a chance to follow up with them on other offers or promotion that you may have in the coming days.
Efficiency And Effectiveness...Get Organized For Business Success (13)
Wherever, imagine the ability to connect to the Internet and have full and unlimited access to all contacts, access to image and document libraries, management of multiple email accounts seamlessly.
Article Marketing-Something You Should Know! (14)
So things are easy now. When I want to set up a whole website for a product, I use Simple Money Machines, where I can build my list. When I want to simply send someone to an affiliate link, I set up a redirect.
Working With HTML Text In Professional Web Designing (15)
The most common ones are those which mark text as bold, italic or underline and are frequently used in professional web design. Kyle Newton is a professional web design and ecommerce professional with 7 years of experience in the web development field.
List Building...the Easy Way (16)
It's the laziest way to build a list that I've even seen. It's a whole new concept in list building, which is incredibly clever and innovative and creates a win-win situation for everyone.
Professional Web Design Methods (17)
We can learn a lot about what works and what doesn't by looking at the layout, color scheme, text, and images of other websites, and then use that knowledge to get the most out of your site.
Relying On Web Hosting Reviews (18)
The hosting services might have been rated as superb but the business owner might have indicated that their business remained small after being hosted for over two years. The client might feel that the packages were ineffective because the company that rated them had failed to grow when it definitely should have shown some growth in a two year period.
Using Clip Art Graphics In Web Page Designs (19)
Teachers like to use them too to decorate bulletin boards and doorways throughout the school year. People like using clip art to decorate small spaces at home because there are many designs available without charge on the internet.
Navigation In Professional Web Design (20)
And if we have Fireworks or Dream weaver then macromedia drop-down menus are one of their most popular in-built methods. Or you can use our own copy-paste code for drop-down menus.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
How To Bounce Back From An Ezine Disaster (1)
If your ezine blooper is threatening to send readers and advertisers packing, offer enticing perks to make up for the mistake. Maybe a free report, a coupon, some nice templates, or software can save your list and your reputation.
Before You Call A Web Developer, Ask Yourself One Question (2)
In that case, you might need to learn more about ecommerce, merchant accounts, and shopping carts. As a general rule, people go online to find information, to be entertained, or to buy stuff.
Types Of Internet Affiliate Marketing (3)
The most important feature of this type of internet affiliate-marketing is that even if the visitor does not buy anything from the company site he is paid a certain amount as the commission.
How To Write Compelling Web Site Content That Gets Read (4)
In your Web copy, you should include those search terms. Search engines also place special emphasis on headings and the title of the page, so you should include potential search phrases in those key areas.
3 Ways To Position Yourself As An Expert (5)
You can start by publishing your own ebook. That in itself is impressive and boosts your perceived level of expertise instantaneously. But what if you were to write a book that becomes a number one bestseller?
Easy Profits Using PPC In Your Affiliate Marketing Business (6)
Let us take a quick look at how PPC Search Engines work. These engines create listings and rate them based on a bid amount the website owner is willing to pay for each click from that search engine.
Photo Sharing Opportunities Are Global (7)
Some photo images can be quite intimate and are created solely to be shared between the closest of friends. People have learned how to take photos through a variety of avenues, but the most preferred is the World Wide Web.
Flash Functionality In Professional Web Design (8)
Flash provides different sound effects such as sound fade in and fade out. You can play sounds continuously independent of the time line or can synchronize animation to a sound track.
Web Design Work And How To Price The Services (9)
There are also some design work that might be uncomfortable for you and you need to work extra hard to complete it, such that you want to earn more for the additional effort.
Tools For Professional Web Design (10)
Some of cool features in Fireworks include making animated gifs, swap images, rollovers, horizontal and vertical drop-down menus or fly-outs, auto shapes and much other cool stuff. For web site animation Adobe's Flash 8 Professional is the best software to use.
Working With Style Sheets In Professional Web Design (11)
CSS is easy to implement. CSS is a World Wide Web consortium standard. Cascading style sheet is the primary style language used to direct the display of XML documents on the web and in other media.
Conduct Affiliate Q&A Sessions (12)
Webcasts- webcasting is catching on quickly because it is a great way to let your affiliates know not only that you are a real person, but also that they can look at you and know that you are an honest person.
The Importance Of One Way Links In Online Marketing (13)
Since the web has grown to include billions of web sites, the odds of finding the site that you are seeking by simply following a trail of links is quickly approaching zero.
Usage Of Visual Basic Script In Professional Web Design (14)
Kyle Newton is a professional web design and ecommerce professional with 7 years of experience in the web development field. He has developed total online presence systems and has helped establish many successful online businesses.
Commission Percentage Options For Affiliate Program Participants (15)
In this case, a higher rate of commission is much easier to obtain for those involved in selling the product, making this type of affiliate program that much more attractive in the end.
Do You Have Super Affiliates? (16)
Topics: super affiliates When you start to research affiliate marketing, on term you will come across again and again is super affiliate. Affiliate managers look for these people because they are the best of the best.
10 Ways To Indirectly Get To The Top Of Search Engines (17)
You never know; it could end up on their ad copy. 8. Post your advertisement on their free classified ad section on their web site. You want to be sure you have an attractive headline so they will read your ad.
Paying Affiliates Which Is The Best Way? (18)
It is important to understand that clickbank deals primarily with digital products so it might not be the right program for your business if it does not deal with digital products.
5 Resources No Affiliate Program Should Be Without (19)
The benefit to them is that they gain the reputation of being a great affiliate and you benefit by the sales that they promote. It is a win-win situation.
SEO Web Design Techniques To Optimize Your Website (20)
In this way, it's not always having to be first on the page that matters (despite popular opinion), it's who's title is the most compelling that gets the click. The Description Tag: Depending on the strength of your website, you can rank for a keyword that is (a) in the title of the page (b) on your pages (in the body text or links) or (c) in the description tag alone.
Permalink to Don’t Alienate Your Audience: How Web Site Design Can Affect Your Profitability