I always dispair when searching for a product or service online and come across a website that is so poorly designed that it defies belief. It appears that web site designers completely lose sight of the purpose of a website and make it so hard for a potential customer to navigate the site to find out information.
Ultimately the question is this - what is more important - a pretty looking site that is impossible to navigate or a site that provides all the information for a customer.
The primary failings in websites I have seen recently
1) Missing or flash based navigation
2) Flash sites with extended intro that cannot be skipped
3) Entire sites that are "under construction" for many months even years in some cases
4) No easy way to go back to previously viewed pages or navigation that reloads flash intro pages if you click the "Back" button
5) Poor Google optimisation so site is effectively invisible.
6) Multiple Windows loading for pages on the same site
These are just a few examples but one site that sums up many of these points is Autosparx - I was looking for a fitter for a car audio system and they are in my local area. The website looks very flash - in Adobe Flash - so won't be visible on iPhone or iPad but is very slow and not easy to navigate round when the flash intro is so long and of no use to customers. http://www.autosparx.co.uk/
Leonard D Anklebiter has written some more design hints that may be of use to budding web designers or those that consider actual website users after everything else. You can view his web site design tips at LDA Design.
Thank you for your comments, obviously when the original site was designed, Flash was the 'in thing', as all web designers would agree back a few years ago that was the ultimate website! Bearing in mind gadgets such as the iphone and ipad were not even launched!
ReplyDeleteWe have a new website if you would like to have a look..... www.autosparx.co.uk, as for optimisation, you will find we are top in yell.com listings and many business directories and networking forums, Autosparx are actively engaged in Social Media such as Facebook, linkedin and tweet daily!
If we can be of any assistance in the future, rest assured, being North Kents only Accredited installers, you will receive a first class professional service.
Anita McAloren
Sales & Marketing Director
Autosparx