Confusing Navigation

Think of navigation as a website’s “table of contents.” It organizes the site so that the visitor has an optimal experience. Have you ever visited a website and you were confused where to find something? Or have you ever gotten lost in a website while clicking from page to page?

If a website is too confusing and the visitor is unable to locate the information he or she wants, he or she will probably leave and visit a different site. Remember to always design your navigation for the reader instead of you. Be sure to place the menu in an obvious location with clear, concise titles. Keep it simple!

Slow Loading Time

If your website take more than 3 seconds to load, you have a serious issue. We live in a world where everyone wants instant gratification. Visitors are searching for information and they want it as quickly as possible. If they have to wait, they’ll just go somewhere else.

Not Being Mobile Responsive

Reports show that mobile searches have surpassed desktop searches. In fact, Google started penalizing websites without responsive design. People are constantly on the go and need information quickly. If your website is not compatible on mobile devices, it results in poor customer experience. If they cannot view your website on their mobile device, they’ll quickly go to another site where they can.

Broken Links

Broken links will not only have an adverse effect on your search engine ranking, it will result in a bad visitor experience. There is nothing more frustrating to a reader when they find a link that they think might hold the information they desire, and then see a “404 error page” when they click it. Just like content, links need to be updated on a regular basis. If you are not doing so, it looks unprofessional because it might appear that your website is not being properly maintained.

Poor Content

Ask any marketer and they will tell you that content is king because it is what drives traffic to a website. Poorly written and formatted content will also affect your page ranking on Google. Remember, that your website should be for the visitors benefit.

• Avoid block text and opt for bullet points so people can scan information quickly.
• Don’t neglect headings and subheadings
• Use appropriate page titles so readers know exactly where they are.
• Make sure that your content is not out of date.

If your content isn’t great, it paints a negative image of your brand. It may cause readers to believe that you are not competent and they cannot trust you.

No Social Sharing Tools

These little gadgets are now a necessity on a website. Never underestimate the power of social media and word of mouth recommendations. Imagine you write an excellent blog post or you created a cool infographic; visitors might want to share your content with their friends on social media. If you do not have social sharing buttons, it is more difficult for people to share your content. As a result, they may be less likely to do so because they do not feel like putting in extra effort.

Auto-playing videos & music

The idea of automated multimedia on your website might seem like a good idea, but it is actually more trouble then it’s worth because videos run the risk of never being viewed. People like having the option of reading or watching something. If you force them, they may become frustrated. Also, it might catch them off guard. What if they are in a library or somewhere quiet and your video creates an embarrassing loud noise? They’ll be startled and put off from ever visiting your website again.