Websites have been around for several decades now, but still, website owners continue making the same mistakes that have driven thousands of sites downhill.
Here’s a list of the 10 most common website mistakes, the ones that will repel visitors and lead you to your online death:
1. “Under construction”
This is probably the worst sign you could have on your website. Websites are supposed to be active, they should lead somewhere, and they should change and evolve. This sign shows you are not a serious website owner. If your site is not ready, don’t put it out there.
2. Visitor counters
People normally don’t care how many people have been to your website. In fact, it may be counterproductive because if the number is low, you will be perceived as a novice, and if the number is high, visitors will think you falsified it. Use website analytics to measure accurately how many people visit your site, and get rid of that counter.
3. No copyright statements
Protect your assets! The entire content of your website should be copyrighted. Put copyright statements on every page and update the year appropriately. It’s counterproductive to find a copyright statement from 1995 on a website.
4. Technology overuse
Technology is awesome, and there are many cool things you can program into your website; however, if these distract your visitor from your website’s main purpose, or if they take too long to load, then you are better without them. Visitors like simplicity and websites that are easy and fast to navigate.
5. Passive verbs
Active verbs and sentences denote power and energy, and this will be felt in your site. Passive verbs do exactly the opposite, so don’t use them.
6. Long sentences
People hate reading long sentences simply because they have to remember too much in order to understand what you’re saying. Visitors get distracted easily; so help them stay focused by writing short and confident sentences.
7. Long pages
Most people won’t read a long page on their screen; they will print it or scan it in search for the main information. The wise thing is to keep pages short; if you have lots of material, create several easy to navigate pages, and always put your contact information at the bottom of each page.
8. Failing to mention how your product or service benefits your prospects
People buy a product or service either to get rid of something negative or unwanted, or to obtain something that presents a positive advantage, and they want to know directly and exactly how your product or service will help them do just that.
9. Not telling the visitor what to do
This is known as a ‘call to action’ in marketing. Let your visitors know what you want them to do: sign up for your newsletter, call you, order online, answer a survey, etc.
10. Believing that people will visit the website as if by magic
Magic tricks are neat; however, in the Internet marketing field nothing happens out of the blue. If you want visitors, you have to create a website and then market it. You have to let people know you are out there.


