Common Website Mistakes
I have seen so many web sites make the same mistakes over and over again. You can easily avoid them! Just run through this list of mistakes and crucial points, and double check your site!
Using Free Hosting
Users may well think if you aren't willing to pay the $25/month for hosting, you aren't very serious about your business.
No Domain Name
The same thing goes for not owning your own domain name. You can get a domain name for $20/year - there's just no excuse for not doing it anymore.
Slow Download
Don't make people wait for your site. Keep the graphics to a minimum, and keep the sizes small. If you need larger pictures to show details of your products, use a thumbnail on your main page, and link to the larger picture.
Unnecessary Cool Stuff
Unless you're a web designer or graphic artist that specializes in creating flash animation, or rotating logos, you probably shouldn't have such things on your site. The "tip of the day", ripple effect, stars following the mouse pointer, etc. - unless you know that visitors keep coming back for these things, or they contribute in some way to the bottom line, can them.
Lack of Clarity
Don't make your visitors guess who you are and what you do. Make it clear in your headline and in your first paragraph. Phrases like "welcome to" And "congratulations, you've found" are over used. Just get to the meat.
Hiding Behind Your Site
Put your contact information (email, mailing address, phone number) somewhere findable on every page. This helps establish credibility, and lets your visitor know you're a real person.
Typos
Proofread your copy, and then have two or three friends do it too. Spell check won't catch everything, and misspelled and misused words cut your credibility as a business person.
Browser Incompatibility
Check your web site with a variety of browsers and window sizes. And don't say "this site was designed to be viewed with XXX" - why on earth would you want to alienate the rest of the online population? They might be interested in your product or service, but if they can't view your site, they can't buy.
Unclear Navigation
You want people to be able to make their way through your site, not get lost or confused, and just click out. Be consistent: If you have a side bar with navigation buttons on your home page, put it there on every page.
Too Many Options
Don't confuse people by giving them too many choices. Think about the one (or maybe two) things you want them to do on your site, and seriously consider getting rid of everything else. At the very least make sure you give them a minimum of choices per page, and organize your site very carefully.
Unreadable Fonts
Make sure your fonts are of a readable size, face and color. If you decide to use colored text for emphasis, don't overdo it - it looks childish. If you are running a business, try to stick to fonts that are clear and easy to read, verdana is good.
No Headline
Spend some time with your headline, and try out a few different ones. You might be surprised at how a few changed words can increase your sales.
No Testimonials
They can be a very powerful sales tool. Write to past buyers and ask for a testimonial.
Not Asking For It
Ask for the sale. Ask them to bookmark your site. Ask them to tell a friend, subscribe to your newsletter, whatever. Sometimes they just need a little push, so push!