Thursday 11 July 2013

The SECRET to drive people AWAY from your website!

 The SECRET to drive people
AWAY from your website!


It’s a really tough job in todays scenario to get someone to visit your website. We go to extremes to ensure finest Search Engine Optimisation and Social Media Plans to bring visitors to our site. The competition is getting tougher everyday.

Now that they are here, how do we ensure they do not run away? Making your website an enjoyable experience is most important in making sales, building a user base and getting people to recommend you and add to the line up to your website.

Here is a list of the most crucial factors that make people want to run away.
The site loads slowwwww.
Nobody has time. We live in a fast paced world and on the internet this is especially true. No one is going to wait for you as your website takes a million seconds to load.
Why would someone want to wait when in a few seconds they can go back on Google and click a link to some other website? If your website is loading slow it will cost your brand to lose clients and thereby business revenue.
Some of us think that since the internet is a lot faster than earlier times, we can now go and make websites larger and more heavier with unnecessary images, graphics and folders. This will only help to slow you down, so ensure to keep material on a minimum.
Use the various tools available online to check the loading speed of your website.
Advertisements in my face
If your website is cluttered with advertisements it puts people off. Someone is on your site for a particular source of information and he may not like ads. We agree that advertisements are the only source of income for some website owners.
In such cases, you should consider reducing the size and quantity of ads or you could plan on placing them so that they are not irritating your visitors.
Also remember that such “active and colourful moving” ads will be heavy and make the website loading very slow. Advertisements need tons of flash or java scripts. So beware.
Pop up windows
Most web browsers are now committed to block pop up windows. But its not over yet. Today, websites create modal windows requires the visitor to react to it if he wants to return to the webpage.
This is very irritating and the user will classify your website as such. People come to you for some specific information and they do not want to react to any windows to jump over.
If you want your visitor to join your subscription or newsletter you should have a link for it like a blog or newsletter section on your site. If the user wants it they will join. Don’t put it in his face which will make him leave. I would!
Sounding off a Scary start
If we land on a page that has a live music or video automatically on it, then we usually run away from there. It is a situation that makes you really angry.
I may be checking a site while I am at the office or in a quiet area. Imagine sound coming out of my computer disturbing the peace in the office or annoying others.
If we run into a website that has sound/music playing automatically, you can bet they will never go back to that website again. Maybe it was a fashion long time ago. Not now.


Sad state of design and navigation
Humans are visual creatures. They need graphic appeal. The user also needs an interaction which they can easily understand how to use and enjoy using.
However, the most graphic appealing website will be wasted if the user had no clue how to use it. They will leave and find the info somewhere else.
We wonder what makes designers think an average skilled internet user with less time is going to be able to figure it out? If someone can’t see how to use it for it’s purpose then what is the need for the site?
Crafting a website design and navigation that looks good and is easy to use is very important in keeping people on your website.
Redirecting to elsewhere
Again, the visitor came for something specific. You don’t want them to hang on to your website like the answering service of a telecom company. “If yes – click 1 or else click 4. If No click 7 or else click 100. This will take you to select the complaint…”
Having redirection route on your website is the worst irritant. Imagine sending them to another page and then yet another to get an information. It will only frustrate the user and enlighten them to avoid your website forever.
Content and layout is king.
They came for something specific. Why should they stay on your website and read about it if your content is bad?
Having spelling errors on your website and or in your articles makes people know that you didn’t take time or that you are not good enough and this information could also be wrong and not well planned.
It is important to recheck whatever you publish before it goes live to your website.
The layout is also important. You will just confuse visitors if layout is not smooth and easy to access content. Images need to be properly aligned to its written content.
Text needs to have easy readability. Limit the amount of characters per line. The web page is small and font size too. People may lose track with too much content. If content is too less also, it can cause a user to skip lines because they are reading the next line of text before finishing the current line. Proper paragraph breaks are very essential for the smooth flow.
Material is history…literally!
Outdated content will not only turn users away but it will also turn browsers away.
The world is transforming with speed and the web is evolving twice as fast. You will find that corporates are already planning the next project even before the current one is even released.
People are coming to your website for information, and keeping it latest is the most important factor. Imagine, if a visitor thought he got good info from your site and gets embarrassed when he finds it wrong.
Design and versions of software should also be upgraded constantly. People catch your site on new machines everyday and you need to be designed for that. Are you ready for tablets and smartphones, et al. The name of the design is “responsive”.

Device friendly
If you have a web design or solution that is outdated or created on older software versions, then your site is not compatible and easy to view on a mobile device. Statistics say that over 80% of smartphone users will access a site on the smartphone and in this case you may lose visitors, traffic and revenue streams.
In today’s age, users need information immediately. They get on their mobile device to get what they need quick. If your site is not ready for this, it will make the user to go to another website that is more friendly and easier for them to view.
Who are you?
Believe you me, many websites still lack essential pages like Contact us and About us, etc. How can this help them in making a decision on whether to use your business or find something else?
You need to have a very apt content and design for the about us page that gives info for a visitor in order for them to make an calculated decision.
I wonder how websites expect to generate leads or get revenue and business if the user is not shown how to get in touch with you? Ensure your name or company name, email, physical address, phone number and even a feedback form is available to lead the user to you.
Good luck.

Have fun creating an amazing web solution for you or your business. Don’t hesitate to contact us for any support or help on the way. 
Call on us at business@qtlindia.com

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