Special offer

Business Website Tips from Bill Bartmann: What Not to do with your Website

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Billionaire U

If you are building your business website, there are a lot of things you should consider putting on your site, like pertinent information about your company, how to order, how to contact you, etc... But just as important as what should be on your website are the things that you shouldn't have on your website. Here's a look at a lot of things that could doom your website from the get go.

 

Too Much Color

 

Bill Bartmann tip # 1 is while no one disagrees that the beautiful world of colors that are available when creating websites are nice, there is also too much of a good thing. When it comes to color in a website, you want to make sure that it is being used for the right reasons, not just to show you can. Make sure the colors you use work with your branding. Also, make sure they are not too overbearing. While bright colors may make you think of flashy advertising, they can be a strain on the eyes to have to look at. If people feel they are straining too much to see something, they may just decide to avoid it and go elsewhere.

 

Fonts

 

Bill Bartmann tip # 2 is don't do use fonts that will plague your website instead of help it. There are so many ways you can make the words on your website look, it may be tempting to try a number of them. Avoid the temptation.  You want to use a font that is easy to read and clear to those looking at it. Remember, all of the people who come to your website will not have perfect vision. That may mean that if you try to use too fancy of a font, they will not be able to figure out what the words really are supposed to mean.  It doesn't matter how pretty your website is if the people using it can't read what you are saying. They won't learn any more about you or your company that way.

 

Flash and Flair

 

Bill Bartmann tip # 3 is a lot of people want to use all sorts of flash and flair to dress up websites these days. While a little flash and flair here and there can really jazz up a site, try not to overdo it. There are a couple of reasons for this. First is that all that flash and flair may be lost on some users. Those who are looking up your site, but have slow connections, may not be able to see all of those pretty things. Additionally, if it is taking them too long to download, they may not be able to see any of your site and will end up leaving it altogether to go to one they can read more easily.

 

Music


Bill Bartmann tip # 4 is while it seems fun to have music in the background of your website, it is not always the wisest thing. Music, while attractive, can be a problem if not expected. Many people these days are looking up websites and services they need while at work. The music playing from that will do nothing more than get them in trouble with their boss and make them leave your site immediately. For others, the time it takes to download the music, and get it to play, will slow them down. Still others are already listening to their own music, either mp3s or Internet radio, and your music will interfere, annoying them. That is not a way to start a good customer relationship.

 

Bill Bartmann has experienced the ups and downs of business ownership as he has going from homeless to billionaire to bankrupt to billionaire again.  Bill Bartmann has developed an online course to help entrepreneurs make a good start in business and then successfully grow the business; learn more at http://www.billionaireu.com

Dave Roberts
Healdsburg Sotheby's International Realty - Healdsburg, CA

Bill, I"m late to the show, but think you hit a home run with this post. I see so many web sites that could have been special but instead are freakish demonstrations of one weird animation or sound effect or wacky design. There's a reason newspapers and magazines look like they do. Basic text on a light colored page is the easiest thing to read. Add in some nice photos and a few graphic elements to add some life to the page and you're done. Period. Spend your time doing great writing and the audience will follow you. Try to "flash" them into being fans, and you'll spend a lot of lonely days waiting for the phone to ring.

Jun 07, 2009 06:16 PM
Ginger Moore
Wilkinson & Associates Realty - Gastonia, NC

great tips!  I may have to do some adjusting on my website. thanks again!

love this active rain!

Jun 20, 2009 03:26 PM
Sandra Scott
DPR Realty - Payson, AZ
REALTOR of Choice! Payson, Pine & Strawberry, AZ

Bill,

Thanks for the tips.  I know most of them, but hearing it again helps.

Sep 22, 2009 02:34 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

I agree with Flash..don't overdo or don't do it. I figure you have six seconds with the guy that has the dial up 28.8 connection, the Commodore 64 old machine and as his ram crams and freezes, he curses, backs out as fast as he came in. Gone. There are so many "pretty" but meatless, vegetarian sites that are cookie cutter, look alikes. Simple, fast, helpful, loaded with information the surfer wants and don't make them give their blood type, political affilation, tons of information..let them browse and feel a salesman is over here to help, but not to bug or probe or pry!

Sep 23, 2009 10:57 PM
Song San
Coldwell Banker Dynasty - Rosemead, CA
Broker, MBA

  Bill thanks for the info. I think it would be great to suggest what standard fonts to use. About 85% of the computers use Windows and the default fonts on the computer are Arial and Times New Roman. Any fonts that anybody use on their website would display different unless they do more technical work like Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) or embed the fonts to the webpages.

  Andrew is pretty right about making your site not plain. There are so many real estate agent sites that look like they use templates or some quick wizard to put up. We need to make ourselves unique to separate us from the competition and of course having a good clean site with plenty of updated content.

Jan 01, 2010 07:12 PM
Donna Malone
Waterfront, Luxury, Family, Affordable, Cottage, Deals - Bridgewater, NS
Homes and Property for Sale Nova Scotia

I don't stay on web sites that are too busy. If there is too much going on I just want to get out of there.

Apr 05, 2011 03:08 PM