The following mistakes are commonly made on many websites on the Internet.
Large Banner Ads
Advertisers usually demand on displaying their large banner ads on the best real estate on the home page, which is at the top of the page.
However, there are negatives in placing a large banner on the home page:
- This increases the web page download time, which will frustrate your users. Moreover, search engines such as Google consider page speed to be a critical element in search engine optimisation.
- It will push down the start of the page. Your users will commence viewing your content further on.
- An advertisement will compete with other on site promotions. A banner advertisement is promotion another website, service or product thus diminishing what your website is offering.
Too Much Content
Some Web designers try to squeeze in as much content as they can fit into a home page as possible. It’s suggested that you don't try to promote every single item your Web site has to offer on your home page.
It is much more effective to promote a few hero products.
Below are four reasons why you shouldn't squeeze in too much content onto your home page:
- Longer download time: most web users will wait no more than 8 seconds before they give up on a website. The more content you add to your home page, the longer it is going to take to download;
- Decreases readability: people are put off by large amounts of text. Large amounts of text and graphics also require the user's mind to work hard to filter out the useful content from the junk. People are much more likely to read two paragraphs than ten.
- Too many options: don't make your visitors overwork by putting too many options on a page. Web surfing should be enjoyable and easy.
- Requires too much scrolling: generally, web users typically don't like to scroll too much. Since most Web users select the first reasonable option, or link, the content towards the bottom of a long webpage is hardly ever going to be viewed.
Go Away Links
The main objective of the home page is to encourage the user or to explore the site further. So links that lead visitors to other external Web sites only encourages them to go away! You have worked so hard to get them to your Website, why do you want to push them away?
Minimize the following go away links on your home page:
- Advertising banners, buttons, and text links;
- Affiliate program banners, buttons, and text links (unless your income depends on them!);
- Cross-promotion banners, buttons, and text links;
- Search forms for other sites;
- Links to content on other sites;
For more information on web design Melbourne and online marketing, get in touch with Whiteblack Digital on 1300 559 971 or info@whiteblackdigital.com.au.
