Once again, via delicious I found another article about the suckiest qualities of sucky websites. Written by Sandra Rossi, the article lists the top five web site features that users hate, according to Theresa Cunnington, a senior usability consultant for iFocus. The top five are:
1. Invasive advertising: Cunnington says users widely despise ads that cover content, ads that flash wildly and ads that chew broadband.
2. Re-inventing the wheel: people do not want to have to learn how to use a site before they can browse it, Cunnington said.
3. 'Leap of faith' links: that means disclosing information on content and file size.
4. Attention-deficit Web sites: "Users have a special hatred of flashing icons and banners, because they draw the eye away from what is important and hinder their progress," Cunnington said.
5. War and Peace length: "A common mistake in Web design is to just [convert] a brochure to the Web. But the Web is its own medium, and communication has to change to reach users. Users are known to read 25 percent slower on the screen than on paper, read fewer words and don't like long pages which require scrolling down," she said.
I agree with the article's mention of site blindness down the right-hand side of the screen. One of our client's sites has buttons that run along the right-hand side, and I had seriously visited the site several times a day for a couple months before I realized that the buttons I was ignoring were actually content-rich navigation links and not advertisements.
My one skepticism with the article is how Cunnington says that, in response to annoying Flash sites, "the skip intro button is the most used button on the Internet." While I admit that when I do chance upon a Flash site with an annoying intro I hit the "skip intro" button faster than Rand can tie his yellow Pumas, it's not every day that I run into that problem. Flash sites aren't too too common (at least in my opinion they aren't), and Flash sites with skippable intros are even less common. I'm not saying that I never see them, but wouldn't you argue that the back button or some other button is the most used button on the 'net? I would.
I agree, the main issues affecting a website design varies from the design to the content and finally how the seo has been implemented. Using complicated layouts and navigation systems can detract from the site's intial design, causing it to look cluttered and over the top.
This article has addressed the key factors that can make or break a website. It would be nice to see a follow up article discussing how seo can have an impact on your website.
2. Re-inventing the wheel: people do not want to have to learn how to use a site before they can browse it, Cunnington said.
This one seems to be the most important to me! When people come across a page there are elements which they expect to be on that page (nav bar on right or left, topical nav on the top). I see many sites that break out and try to be clever with how they navigate the user, this is fine, but sections need to be easily identified.
my 2-cents.
I don't think he was being literal about the "skip intro" button being the most clicked button on the internet, he was just making the point that everyone skips flash intros.
Speaking of sucky websites, someone sent me this gem today. Horrendously old-school - someone really should open up a museum for these sites. Although maybe a haunted horror house like they have at the county fair might be more appropriate than a museum.
Wasn't being literal when she said that "the skip intro button is the most used button on the Internet"? I don't know if I buy that.The statement is worded as if it is factual when in actuality it doesn't sound like it can be true.