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