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"How You Can Avoid 10 Design Mistakes Businesses Make with Their Website!"
  © Copyright 2004 Miracle Studios Inc.
www.miraclestudio.com

1. Fixed on Frames

Just the sound of the word "frames" makes my blood freeze and stomach churn. If your site still uses frames, do yourself a favor and pull it offline NOW!
  Frames are bad.
  Bad for search engines, bad for bookmarks and just plain bad design taste. There are a few applications in which framesets are useful, but websites are not and will never be one of them. In fact, if you hire a web designer and he suggests you use frames or a "frameset" to accomplish your request, thank him for his time and hire a different designer!
  There is NEVER a good reason to use frames on a public website.
  Why? Let us count the ways
  1. Splitting a page into framesets is very confusing for users since frames break the fundamental user model of the web page.
2. You cannot bookmark a frames page and return to it (the bookmark points to another version of the frameset).
3. URLs stop working.
4. Users cannot easily print pages within a frames site.
5. Users cannot email specific frames pages to other users.
6. Pages within a frames site will NEVER be properly found and indexed by search engines.
7. Page titles do not show within frames pages.
8. Frames pages create accessibility issues.
9. Variable screen sizes will change your navigation frame. Frames get obscured at different resolutions or window sizes and are not cross-browser compatible.
10. The predictability of user actions goes out the door: who knows what information will appear where when you click on a link?
  So when you think about using frames in your website design next time, just remember it is ALWAYS the wrong decision.
  DESIGN TIP:
  Instead of using frames, try using include files to generate the template design.

2. Bloated Images

Probably the most common mistake made by non-technical contributors to website content is the mistake of inserting a cool looking image or clip-art from their royalty-free collection and resizing it to look smaller on the page. In theory what they are doing is fine - the only problem is that they have not taken the time to actually resample the image into a lower resolution. This means that you still have an image that is ten times larger than it needs to be in order to be displayed on your website.
  This poses some major problems:
  1. Users with slower Internet connections will not be able to download your site over dial-up.
2. The image will look grainier and less sharp than it originally did.
3. Your will use up more room than is necessary on your web server.
4. Your site, at best, will load slowly and, at worse, will not load at all.
  If used properly, images can help you sell your products and further express your ideas online. Just make sure to avoid the bloated image trap and you'll be fine.
  DESIGN TIP:
  Here is a few rules to follow for images on your website.
1. Make sure to resize them properly (screen resolution is 72 dpi).
2. Set the width and height to exactly what you want them to be BEFORE you upload your image to the website (usually no wider than 400 dpi).
3. If you must show a larger version of your image, link to it in a pop-up window so that users can opt to click on your smaller thumbnail and view the image full size.

3. Lack of Structured Navigation

We've all been there - a site that links to pages that seem to have nothing to do with the previous page and before we know it we're completely lost and ready to leave. This could all be avoided by creating a simple and consistent navigation structure to your website.
One of the most difficult problems in web site design is navigation. In fact, when you say "web site design," most people think of graphic design or the overall look-and-feel of a website. But the truth is that web site design is a means of sharing information (not art) and therefore the biggest challenges you'll face in "designing" your website will be in deciding how to navigate your content.

  Confusing, complex or inconsistent Navigation can frustrate your visitors and will inevitably cost you money in terms of lost sales or lost (literally) customers.
Remember, the purpose of navigation is to:
  1. Provide your visitors with the friendliest path to find the content they want as quickly as possible.
2. Ensure your visitors always know where they are on your website.
3. Allow visitors to move quickly and logically between pages on your website.
4. Give users the proper context of the document they are reading.
5. Highlight for the visitor parts of your content that you want to promote.
  There are a variety of navigation techniques that can be used to ensure your web site is as easy to navigate as possible. They include the following:
  1. Content navigation: Located in the body of your website where the main content is represented.
2. Site-wide navigation: Links to pages that must be accessible from every page on the site (Home, Contact Us, etc.). Global navigation should always appear at the top and bottom of every page.
3. Highlight navigation: Feature some attractive content on the web site. For example, you might want to promote a special product or new sale item.
4. Related navigation: Related navigation is usually at the end of a page. It lists a selection of web pages, documents or files that are related in someway to the content you have just read.
5. In-Text navigation: If your page content refers to another page within your website or another category of your site, you can link to it directly from the content reference.
6. History or "Bread Crumb Trail" navigation: This navigation tells you exactly what page of the website you are on and how it relates to the overall sitemap. It should always begin with a Home link and end with the page you are on. (For example: Home > Products > Product X)
7. Drop-down navigation: This is navigation delivered by a drop-down menu. It tends to be used as a space saver, and in cases when you want to present a section of the navigation that would be too long to present as hypertext on the page.
  DESIGN TIP:
  Start your design from the visitor's point of view and get the people who will actually use the web site involved in the design from the earliest point possible.

4. Pointless Pop-Ups

Users like pop-ups about as much as the door-to-door salesman who showed up to your last dinner party unannounced and uninvited. Nothing is more annoying than a million pop-ups showing up on every page when you least expect it. There is no good reason to use pop-ups - avoid them like the plague. Why?
  1. Users often associate pop-ups with spyware, or viruses - not part of the Internet you want to be associated with.
2. We have yet to hear of anyone who actually likes a pop-up window. Have you?!
3. It creates a sense of loss of control on the part of the user, which is threatening and pushy.
  DESIGN TIP:
  Instead of using pop-ups, consider launching your page in a new window. Here's the golden rule - it should always be at the command of the user and you should alert the user prior to launching the window by placing a disclaimer next to the link they are clicking announcing the impending pop-up that will arrive when they click the button. Your customers will feel much happier.

5. Super-sized Scrolling

Never design a site that has horizontal scrolling - users find it annoying. Check your site on smaller browsers. Your site should be able to be viewed on 800 x 600 screen resolutions or larger without horizontal scrolling. 47% of Internet users are browsing at 800 x 600 resolution. Make sure you keep them in mind when designing your site.
  Also, you should try to limit vertical scrolling as much as possible, especially on the home page. Did you know it's estimated that only 10% of users will scroll down further than they can initially see? Keep the important information and navigation at the top of a page. This is why it is essential to have a clean headline or sales pitch that entices the user to read further down the page. If you don't catch their attention with your message on the first screen they are likely to move on.
  Putting your most important content near the top of the page is beneficial to search engines, too, as they often only index the first portion of a page.
  DESIGN TIP:
  Remember, if your most important content is hidden "below the fold," many users will never see it. Make sure to focus your attention on the content they will see before leading them down the page to the rest of your information.

6. Perpetual Construction

Under construction signs are seldom necessary and often left unfinished for far too long. Inevitably there will come a time in every site's lifetime that you will give it the overhaul and freshen up the overall design. When this time comes for your site, consider creating an entirely different directory on your web server for beta-testing purposes. This way, you can leave your old site up and in good working order without any "under construction" messages for as long as you want.
  I have visited far too many websites that claim they are "under construction" only to find one month later that the same message appears to have not changed. It is pointless to leave a website under construction for more than a week. Most major changes you incur should be able to be modified overnight or at the very most within a few days to a week. Besides, you should always thoroughly test your new site design offline before launching it to your public address.
  DESIGN TIP:
  Monitor your use of the "under construction" tag and keep it to a minimum. A well-designed site will allow for regular content updates without requiring a major overhaul. A good rule of thumb is if you have to display the "under construction" sign more on your website than your physical business, something is wrong.

7. Stale Content

Let's face it, an article or copyright dated 1999 just doesn't carry the same weight as a article from this month. This begs the question - how often should you update your home page content? The answer will depend a lot on your line of business and the goals and objectives you have set for your website. However, one thing is for sure, your website should be a living, breathing resource of information for your customers. Now, I'm not suggesting that you should change the content of your site everyday, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to add some new articles to your site every quarter at least, if not every month.
  The bottom line here is that in the world of the internet, customers are used to finding reliable, up-to-date content in a flash. Don't leave stale content on your website whenever possible - but don't delete it either. The best idea is to create an archive for future reference by your customers. But don't leave it prominently displayed where the whole world can see that you've been neglecting your website.
  Think about it:
1. What does stale content tell your customers about how often you update your site?
2. What does it suggest about your level of concern for your website sales?
3. How reliable can they expect other information like pricing and availability to be when you don't take time to update articles on your home page?
Bottom line, if you want your customers to respect your website as a legitamate place of business, treat it with equal respect as your physical place of business.
  DESIGN TIP:
  Change your content twice as often as you expect your customers to visit. This encourages return customers to come again.

8. Hidden Contact Information

  This seems like an obvious mistake to avoid, but oddly enough most sites online make this mistake. In fact I'd venture to guess that 90% of the websites online are missing out on valuable sales simply because they fail to display contact information prominently on every page of their website.
Yes you heard me right - EVERY PAGE. Wow, that sounds like overkill right?
Why on earth should you display contact information on every page when everyone else is putting it on a contact page within the site?
  1. Why wouldn't you want your information on every page?
2. Putting your contact information on every page ensures that your customers will find a way to contact you.
3. If a customer prints your website to give to a friend your contact information will be visible.
4. A simple phone number will go a long way in building credibility and customer trust.
  DESIGN TIP:
  Although we recommend putting your phone number on the top of every page, you should at least consider putting it in the footer portion of your template

9. Mail Mines

You'll find them everywhere: hidden email links (we call them "mail mines") disguised as regular links to what you might assume to be contact information. At first the link seems harmless enough, but once you click on it.POW - your email program starts launching on your computer. Mail mines will frustrate your customers and harm their overall satisfaction with your website.
  There is nothing more disheartening than the feeling that you've been deceived, and disguising your email links as a standard hyperlink is deception. You are leading your customer to believe one thing will happen when in fact your website is ready to launch an application on their machine if they click "contact us."
  Take our advice. You don't want to do this.
  DESIGN TIP:
  Instead of disguising your mail links, actually write out your email address and make it a link so your customers have some idea of what to expect when they click on it.

10. Talking At the Customer - Not To the Customer!

"Our company is the best!" "We've been in business for over 40 years!" "Our products carry a lifetime guarantee!".
  What's wrong with these statements? Ironically, while the goal of the messages was to build credibility in your products or services, they are actually detracting from your overall "trust" image. Why? Because customers don't want to hear you talking about yourself (me messages), they want you to talk about what's in it for them (customer-focused messages). It's the difference of talking AT the customer instead of TO the customer.
  Let's look at a few examples. Which of the following statements is more appealing:
  "We've Been in Business for Over 40 Years!" (good for you)
or "Over 40 Years of Experience Ready to Serve You!" (good for them)
  "Our Products Carry a Lifetime Guarantee!" (good for you)
or "Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed for Life!" (good for them)
  Did you feel the difference? In both cases, the second statement feels like you care about my needs as a customer far more than the first. It's what we call a customer-focused message. You clearly state how they can benefit from the product you are offering.
  There is nothing wrong with stating that you've been in business for 40 years, but it's HOW you say it that makes the difference.
  DESIGN TIP:
  Avoid words like our, we, and us as much as possible. Instead, focus on saying you as much as possible. In fact, go through your website right now and change every "me" message on your website to a "customer-focused message." It's the best thing you can do for your customers and your business.