YOU SAID IT! What You Find Annoying on Websites (Fall 2007)
by Pattie Stone, Principal, pattiedesign (multimedia designers)
I’ve gotten quite a few emails from my readers lately venting about what they found annoying on websites. Websites can be a great tool for any type of business, but you only have a few moments to capture and keep your audience. If you already have a website, are planning on updating your website or are considering getting a website, you might just find it interesting to see what your ‘viewers’ are thinking…
Intro Pages…
• I don’t like intro pages. -uc
• Intro pages that are way, way too long! I end up just going somewhere else. -tp
Certain Types of Animations…
• Too many animations/flash. -uc
• No, I don’t care for animated b.g.’s (backgrounds) – they make me feel dizzy and distracted. -ra
• Blinking items (CHEESY), animated gifs, cheap background music (midi sounds), website counters (i.e. 5,858 hits today). -cn
• I don’t like anything that ‘explodes’ - bombs, firecrackers, sudden bursts of light, etc. It’s supposed to grab one’s attention, but all it does for me is create anxiety. -cb
• SitePals* …urghhh. They are sooo creepy and annoying. (*SitePalsTM are a 3D computer generated humanoid that speaks and shows ‘emotions’.) -dw
Poorly Constructed Layout & Design…
• Unorganized menus (when I have to spend too much time going through the different menus/links to find what I want). -uc
• Layout is very important to me - I want clear and precise so when I need to get information it’s easily accessible. -tl
• Homemade-looking websites are a real turn-off. They make the company look unprofessional…having the same effect of a cheap-looking printed brochure. -sb
• I get annoyed / frustrated when I can’t figure out how to find the info that I am looking for that I know is on the website. -sr
• The other thing I don’t like is when websites repeat information or put information in an unclear way. Kind of scattered and not making a lot of sense. -ra
• I will say… I like a simple, artistic, original website that is easy on the eyes and brain. -ra
• Hard to find LINKS…that’s always a problem...i.e., calendar’s should have a separate button as people always want to know dates of events, etc. -jr
• I hate it when information that I consider VERY important for security reasons is hidden in some remote corner in small print. -cb
• Also, long loading pages are extremely annoying. -jr
Spelling Errors…
• I also don’t understand why a webmaster wouldn’t check how to spell everything before placing incorrectly spelled words on a website. -sr
Music Without Controls…
• Music! I know it could be a nice idea to have music but most often it is really disruptive. IF I have my speakers on and go to a website and suddenly there is music blasting it is very jarring and embarrassing if I am at work or anyplace where someone else is in the room. Also, sometimes if I have more than one website open I will here multiple songs playing at the same time – not very pleasant. -rm
Hard to Find Contact Information…
• My pet peeve is contact info that does not include a phone # or address. -ra
• Hard to find telephone numbers, addresses and any information that one would need if getting in touch directly...it is so annoying. -jr
Certain Types of Log-Ins and -Outs…
• I can’t believe how many sites I view where the ‘log out’ box is nearly impossible to find despite the fact that one can’t do anything until he gets past the VERY visible ‘log in’ box! -cb
• I hate all the websites for ordering things (buying I mean) that ask you to remember your user name and password and do not let you order without it – there have been many items I was going to buy but did not because of this – would call it sales prevention - some seem to be changing this, but I still run into it a lot. -jl
Bottom Line: There are many considerations and variables that go into the successful planning and implementation of website design and layout. Hopefully, the above ‘what I find annoying’ comments can assist you in weeding out what works and what doesn’t when it comes to getting your web audience to stay connected to your site and find it user-friendly.
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