Some things that people find annoying on websites:

• Music starts to play straight away. Can be embarrassing in an office situation, or if you’re listening to something else. Use a ‘play sound’ button.
• Anything flashing. Usually indicates the ads are more important than the content.
• Can’t find the ‘home’ button. People like going home.
• Welcome page that says ‘click here to enter site’. Why not just enter the site to begin with, instead of requiring an extra mouse click.

People have learned where to look for certain things through their previous experiences of using websites. Over time, conventions have developed as to where people expect elements to appear on a website.

Most businesses should avoid breaking these conventions, or risk confusing the users of their website.

Some standard conventions include:

• Logo top left, linked to the home page
• Search form top right (if required at all)
• Primary navigation that stands out. It can be horizontal or vertical:
  • If horizontal, located near the top of the page
  • If vertical, usually on the left, but the right is also ok
• The home link is always located top left of the primary navigation

Radical, cutting edge designs that challenge users expectations have their place, but not on your business website.

Ten years ago, most people would look for goods and services in the Yellow Pages or newspaper classifieds. Today, people ‘Google’ the business they are seeking. A business with a professionally built website is more likely to be found near the top of the results for a relevant search.

The types of business that don’t need a website are diminishing as more and more people search for everything online. Five years ago, many categories of business didn’t need a website. Why would a motor mechanic need a website? Today if you are searching for a local motor mechanic on Google and the top result takes you to a well designed web page, you may well contact that business first. Especially if it provides details of the services provided, operating hours, pricing and contact information.

Consider a restaurant website for example, it could contain information about the style of food served, the location, operating hours, menus, how to contact or make a booking. This information would be very useful to the person looking for somewhere to eat out in the local area.

A brochure website is simplest and most economical type of website; it can even be a ‘one pager’ – just a home page and nothing else. It’s an information source about your business that is accessible to potential customers wherever they are located. As a minimum it will contain sales and marketing copy and contact information. It is for businesses operating in the ‘offline’ world – also referred to as ‘bricks and mortar’ businesses – which have a physical office or shop that they operate from, and they don’t sell goods or services through the internet.

As more and more people search for goods and services online, consider the advantage for your business of a professionally designed brochure website.