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HELLO! The 1990's Called and They Want Their Website Back!

This is officially my first Active Rain RANT! Ok maybe "rant" is a little over the top, however these things really do make me go crazy and force me to want to leave your website.

If your website has any of these components or missing critical information...I'm looking for the back button or even worse, the dreaded X to close my browser. These are in no particular order...I just detest them all!

Splash/intro pages! More hoops to jump through....why! What an absolute waste of my time!
Music or videos that start automatically without asking me first if I want to hear it or see it. (It's rude)
A homepage that scrolls forever. Remember - less is more! Just give me (and Google!) about 200 words of content, a few pretty pictures to connect with me and I'll be happy. BTW - make the content is easy to read too!
Any widget that spins, blinks, or whirls (The # 1 pet peeve that is the inspiration of this blog! The 1990's called and they want their website back!)
Multiple sizes, styles and colors of fonts. To make life more confusing some words are even underlined to lead me to believe they are links and their not...ARRRRG!
Where is that blasted MLS Search Homes Button? It's why I came here in the first place. Why are you hiding it from me? Ok, I'm gone!
Your homepage takes FOREVER TO LOAD...I'm impatient...outta here!
I can't find your email address anywhere on the website. You mean to tell me the only way I can contact you is through that stupid contact form page. See Ya!
Where is your office located? I can't find a physical address on your homepage. That must mean you don't want to let me know where you work! This information is particularly useful for service providers like the termite inspector, the home inspector, the appraiser...people who actually need to know where you are located to carry out their jobs. Come on, this is basic information.
99 navigation buttons on the left side of your homepage. Too much information. GONE in less than 60 seconds!
Any homepage copy that starts by saying... "Welcome to my website!" Another lame 1990's idea!
Websites that use crummy photography. It's so unprofessional. The worst images are the ones that are distorted, obviously sized incorrectly. Question, so are the pictures of my home going to look that bad too? PLEASE! At least get this part right!
Website copy that is so self-absorbed. Website copy that has way too many "I's", "me's" and "my" references really bugs me. You seem to love yourself so much I'll leave you to yourself. Get a clue, tune into WIIFM. (What's in it for me.)
Spelling mistakes. I can handle a couple of mistakes but are you really a professional if you can't even spell!

News Flash - It's 2007!

Come on people Web 2.0 is here to stay and many of you are still camped out in the 1990's with that website of yours. If your website is guilty of the sin of omission or commission of the above points, fix it pronto before you lose another site visitor!

Let me know what bugs you about 1990's websites.

If you think this post is beneficial, feel free to subscribe to my blog.

To your success,

Bobby

Posted by Bobby Carroll - Real Estate Marketing on 10/07/2007 02:41 PM

Comments (55)

bad websites, rant, design, photography, content, website copy

55 Comments on HELLO! The 1990's Called and They Want Their Website Back!

OCT

2007

Bobby you make some really good points, keep up the good work.

I have my website updated every few months. I got a kick out of your rant. My personal pet peeve:

Multiple sizes, styles and colors of fonts. To make life more confusing some words are even underlined to lead me to believe they are links and their not...ARRRRG!

It kills me when I feel I can't keep up and I can read pretty well for a collage graduate!

I agree with you on all of these items although I do use in my introduction underlined links to a specific area to get the information quicker.

Christopher - I appreciate your comments.

Great point Virginia!

Gary - As long as they link - great! It's actually a good idea from an SEO perspective to link to area information and other articles in your site.

I agree 110% although I am not sure my email is located anywhere but my contact me page - will have to check that out - thanks for your thoughts

Thesa - Anything to make it easier for the site visitor to contact you is important.

I'm with you on this for sure - I'm not that 'web' - conversant, but I do know the kiss principle applies to avoid frustration, confusion, and wasting my time.

Deborah - We're speaking the same language. The simple things work best!

It looks like you are already familiar with this site, but it is worth mentioning to those who aren't.

www.webpagesthatsuck.com is an excellent site for making sure your page doesnt suck.

Brian - Brad told me about the site as I was uploading my post.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Unfortunately, Realtors get sucked in to these cookie cutter web business that throw up a web page for them. Their templates are so dated! I personally don't want to see 50 calculators on your home page. If your visitor can't find what they want in three click or LESS, you have a bad website!

I've been developing websites for years. Less is always more.

Thank you for the information. We have a template but there are some things we can change. After reading your blogs I have changed quite a few things.

As for email - also can't find the phone number. I had to contact an agent recently and all I had was a bad fuzzy fax, didn't leave his phone number on my voice mail or anything. It must have taken me 15 minutes to find the phone number as it was completely buried in his web site.

Bobby - thanks for giving a prospective as an objective outsider. Sometimes I think we get in love with our own creations, web-sites includes and think that every word we write is priceless. What do you think of the endless logos of various directories? Supposedly they are there for links, but do they really offer anything to the reader? I am leaning towards the idea of blog/web site -mostly blog+search MLS. My web site has been quite dead ans stagnant. I watch the sites of top local agents and they are also static and not changing, yet high on the organic search. I figure, they must have a lot of back links, or is it something else?

Nothing bugs me because that means more visitors for me!

MEOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!

I am in the midst of building my new site. I have decided that "current" web strategies aren't going to carry a growing site. Because it isn't done yet, I'll make you look in my blog if you are curious. It is very much a work in progress. Minimal font changes, easy to navigate, a lot of content.

Bobby, you're in a great niche, offering web design services to Realtors. There are too many do it yourselfers out there with a 1995 website.

Hi Aaron - Amen Brother! If you can't find what you need within 3 clicks, you're not likely to find what you really want anyway.

Hi Gita - Always glad to help you.

Hi Steve - I'm totaly with you my friend. Isn't it a complete pain to have to go on a mission just to find someone's contact info.

Renee - You're so funny! I'm always glad to have you stop by and comment.

Faina - Good question: "What do you think of the endless logos of various directories? Supposedly they are there for links, but do they really offer anything to the reader? It's nothing but clutter....be a good stager ...hmmm website owner and "de-clutter" your website. Blog sites seem to be SEO monsters and get noticed quicker by Google than static sites. For blogs to really work, try to avoid the hard sell approach on your blog and be an expert or as many corporate types say a "SME" or a "subject matter expert".

Hi Lane - Wasn't sure if your blog is located at this address: http://lanebailey.blogspot.com/

If this is the correct URL, I like the blog. Just curious why you decided to deviate from your branding design theme you have currently on your other sites with the beach imagery?

Hi Christopher- Brad and I certainly love what we do for the real estate industry! I must say I probably wouldn't dare do it without him. You need a sharp young mind to stay ahead of the digital curve. We do have a nice balance if I say so myself. His tech-centric marketing mind and my practical real estate and corporate marketing experience. The biggest kick we get is from educating and coaching. I love to travel and speak with Brad and Michael Russer for Michael's conferences and Online Dominance Training.

Love your area... my sister lives in Lake Mary.

I hate websites that look spammy, and there are lots of them out there! Clean and simple it easier to read and easier to navigate. I am going to have to check my email address though! I think a lot of people have removed them as they were getting scraped and spammed.

Bobby, please check out my site: www.teddybearhomes.com and let me know what you think.

Thanks!

OCT

2007

Joanne - Spam from an email address can be a problem however the email link doesn't have to be a "live" link for consumers particularly if you have spam concerns. It just needs to be available as information.

I agree with almost all of it!! I hate really "busy" webpages and if I can't find what I am looking for rather quickly I am gone. My website does have a list of buttons down the left side though (all the Important ones at the top). I track my pages and if they do not get looked at often I will delete them. Thanks for the blog.

Hi Blair - You might review the forth item in my list in reference to your website. Also, I'm not a big fan of reversed text (white text on black background) unless your target market is oriented to the luxury buyer and seller. Fortunately, the only page using reverse text is the homepage. Judging from the branding "slant" of your website, I would assume your target audience is families with small children which is a terrific target market.

Very helpful post. I've been tinkering with my site for about 2 months now. I think--according to your list of don'ts--that I only make two errors on mine; the email address on the main page and my physical address on the main page. Thanks.

My pet peeve is website that have too much going on. They have so many useless text boxes, links and buttons you can't find anything because there is just so much crap to sort through, and even when something is right in front of your face you can't see it because your eye gets drawn to a bunch of other crap.

Seth -Making those changes will not only help your site visitors but your service providers too!

Hi Rebecka - It seems I've been to that same website myself on more than one occasion!

OCT

2007

I'm with you. I hate the sites with so much info and scrolling text that it hurts my eyes. And I'm not sure who thought it would be a good idea to give me a 30 second flash commercial before I get to the site.....obviuosly they haven't seen the damage I can do with a remote control.

I can't believe some poeple like this flashy stuff. I think I pass your tests above - but need to make sure my contact info is on the homepage! Thanks Again

OCT

2007

Hello Stacy and Jackie - Infomation overload is a real problem on many websites. Then again, you'll see sites with no information on the homepage which keep you guessing where you landed. There is a happy medium for sure. I agree with you - the "Intro Splash page" is a complete waste of time!

Jill & Ron - Flashy thingamybobs and wirhling widgets are annoying too. Glad to hear your site passes "the test". FYI - You guys are about the hardest working people I know. I love how you are absolute sponges for information. Can you tell I'm your biggest fan?

Bobby, you found the blog, but the new website is www.GarageHomesUSA.com and hasn't been templated yet. It will carry a design theme similar to www.LaneBailey.blogspot.com (which has changed in the last week). The older site (www.LaneBailey.com) doesn't look like the new image.

And thank you for taking the time to look.

Bobby, frankly I don't put a whole lot into my website. I put a lot into my blogsite which drives the traffic to me. The blog really acts as my website and has all the necessary components that I think are necessary to the reader. I must admit that I am with you all the way on what you have to say in this article. All those little creatures that twist and turn about on my fellow bloggers sites are very distracting and really take away from their articles but to each their own. There may be those that love that kind of stuff...there is something for everyone.

Lane - Thanks for the update and the explaination.

Gena - I completely understand and many take the same philosophy when updating their online presence. As you say, when it comes to design, everyone has their own opinion and taste.

We love ya too! We want to be STRONG when this market recovers! If were half as busy when it recovers as we are now we will be just fine!

OCT

2007

Hi Bobby,
Thanks for all the information you and Brad put out there for us. I'm still working on mine, think I might have to have mine built from ground up to get what I want.

Hi Cynthia It's our pleasure. If you have any questions when you start the process, let us know.

Thank you for the information. When I do my new website I'll keep all this in mind.

OCT

2007

Thanks for such solid info.. I might even consider spending money with you!!! I will contact you directly to talk more.................. Mike Norvell Sr

Great post, but I LOVED the title!

Adele - Send me your link to your site whn it's launched. Appreciate the comment.

Hi Mike - Thank you for the supreme compliment. No solicitation just happy to share our philosophy. We can talk anytime!

Sara- Inspired by Brad's comment one day when we were looking at RE professional's website that unfortunately suffer too many of the problems identified in this post. It proved to be the impetus for the post.

OCT

2007

Thank you! My site is brand new, and definitely a work in progress. I just buzzed over there and added my office address and email.

Hi Sandi - Aren't they all! :>) Glad to hear the post was of value to you.

MAY

Solid post.

"Too much information. GONE in less than 60 seconds!" - I tend to disagree that I'm gone from the website. However, as you suggest, the site is much less useful because of the effort it requires from the user. I might not be GONE, but I'm certainly less likely to come back...

"Tune into WIIFM. (What's in it for me.)" - I think this is the critical perspective to have in the design phase. Absolutely critical.

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