In direct contradiction of my last article … I've had to shift from the positive mindset to providing an alternate viewpoint of an article I did a few weeks ago about “ what your website needs”.

Interestingly a lot of the feedback shifted quickly to “so what should we avoid”.  So here's some things to avoid doing when putting together your website; trust me, I've done all of these, so now you know, why should you?

I have spent 12 years being self-employed and working in IT, five of those in roomsXML. I came from a management background in biochemistry where I taught myself IT skills from a basis of PowerPoint 97, Excel spreadsheets, Dreamweaver and developed my skills and lifted the quality of my output, moved into management and so on.

10 years ago there was very few rules and conventions about developing web sites and there was a lot of trial and horrible error, not only of my behalf but people who are significantly more talented and should have known better! 

So here are some things to avoid, in no particular order as they can all be equally offensive and damaging!

1. Too many words
   

   Websites don't read like a book, they skim read Deliver your content short, sharp and concise

2. Confusing layout

   A site needs to be intuitive and add a glance give you an idea of what it contains Overcrowding can have the effect of nothing really making an impact

3. Old content
   

   This one is really hard to avoid Would you keep going back to a website that just had the same stuff?

4. Impersonal
   

   “people” are trusting you to give them a holiday of a lifetime! Make them accessible on the website, build their personalities

5. Unclear offering
   

   Make it really obvious what you do and how you do it After all do you really need customers who you can't service anyway?