When having a website isn't worth it? part1
The internet has become a habit. Every one is using the Internet for a reason (or reasons). Some uses it for fun, and in social media. Others are using it as the only source of information, and others are using it for everything (from playing games to buying their house, and car from the internet).
All businesses have realized the power of the internet, and have seen how the internet has changed the way we think about business. We used to think that to have a successful business, you must have a physical place (office, or company), and start using the traditional marketing (local magazine, news papers, TV, and/or Radio) system. But we have seen how a 13 employees company has been sold for 1 billion dollars (Yes 1.000.000.000$). I am talking about Instagram.
Having a website is the standard now. If you don’t have one, you aren’t a professional company, or business. But sometimes having a website may destroy your online business. or at least having it maybe isn’t worth it.
You made me angry, Don’t piss me off!!!!
I will make it simple. Having a non professional website is pissing off your visitors. Look at this case scenario. You are selling some electronics (PCs, Laptops, Cameras,……) . I entered your website, and waited it 2 minutes to load!!! After it loaded finally. You hit me with a yellow/orange pop-up (trying to sell me an offer). Why should I buy your offer without even knowing anything about your website, or your business!!!! I started to feel eye strain (Your colors have made me blind). Yet I decided to continue using your website (I am a good man, most people would close your site 2 minutes ago). I want to buy my first HP laptop. I tried to find where is HP menu, but I couldn’t see it. All I see is a 5 items menu (Home, Electronics, Offers, About Us, and Contact Us). I clicked on the Electronics menu, and I found your categories, (PCs, Laptops, Cameras, ……). I clicked on laptops, and finally I have found HP. I clicked on it, and found a long page of items, without any sorting options!!!! I want to sort items according to price, but I couldn’t. I decided not to buy anything from you, and bought it from one of your competitors, and have told all of my friends about my pain buying a damn HP laptop from you.
What have happened here? Why you are loosing a lot of potential clients?
1- Website Speed
Users don’t like to wait, we all don’t like to wait. In fact 90% of visitors will close your website if it toke more than 15 seconds to partially load. This don’t apply to all industries, like the design industry, you must use fancy and heavy elements to wow your visitors. If you like having fancy design, at least optimize the page load on mobile devices, and tablets.
2- UX Design
User Experience is one of the most important key elements for having a professional website. Bad UX design will decrease your conversion rate (converting visitors into clients). Users love to use easy & clean interface. They don’t like to see yourpop up windows. You are distracting them, without any positive effect. You can use pop-up on limited cases, and after giving your users something valuable.
3- Usability
Usability insures that your visitors can use your website easily. Users want to find what they are looking for immediately, they don’t want to start digging around to find what they want. You must insure that your website navigation is clear, and easy to navigate. Don’t put your important content, or products very deep on your site. Make it easy for your visitors to find your products.
There is a book called “Don’t Make Me Think”. This book discusses the fact people don’t like to think too much. If they want to buy any product from you, they don’t want to think how to buy it. They like you to guide them through their buying process. A lot of design elements now are created to guide your users through your website (called user flow). Knowing your visitors behaviour will save you a lot of time, and money, and will help you converting more visitors.
4- Functionality
Users expect that your website is 100% functional. If they can’t do what they want on your website, they will close itimmediately. If you are selling products, try to offer sorting options, this is very powerful.
You must know your visitors behaviour. Can your visitors use the internet efficiently? What is their education? Are they using smartphones or not? All these things will help you to know what is the must have functionality for your website.
If you have website that have any problem like i mentioned before. Your site isn’t worth it. You don’t have a professional website, and your business isn’t a professional one also.