11 Things You’re Doing Wrong on Your Website (and how to fix them!) by Matt

1. It is not cross-browser compatible.

There is a huge list of web browsers out there and most likely you have heard of (or use) Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Opera- but have you made sure your website works and looks the same in all of these? You don’t want the first impression of your business to be a broken website. You can check out how your website looks in many browsers here: http://browsershots.org

2. It is hardly usable on mobile devices.

Have you considered that in two years more internet connections will be made from mobile devices than full-sized computers? Not only is this a cross-browser compatibility issue, it is a content issue. A website needs to have simple navigation, fast page loads, and directed content no matter what type of device is used to view it. Imagine your computer screen at a quarter of its current size, and make sure your website is still [marginally] useable.

3. It doesn’t use proper authentication for secure areas.

Most communication paths for a computer start at a router, then to a modem, next to a larger hub, then off to the Internet Service Provider (ISP), yatta yatta. All it takes is an attacker to be snooping on any one of those lines to catch all your data, including passwords and personal information. Using proper authentication certificates (keywords: SSL or TLS) utilizes “https://” web addresses, and properly encodes data so it is safe to transfer.

4. It doesn’t make use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).

You always want to make sure to use a style sheet on your website. Style sheets have been around for a while, and not only do websites often become cleaner by using them, it makes it easier for a website to be handed to another web team and still be easily modified. Search engine optimization (SEO) can also be affected if styles are “inline”, and use of CSS is not done correctly. See W3Schools CSS Tutorial for an in-depth look.

5. It is a little too glossy.

Sometimes we call this “Web 2.0″, the era that we began to use fades, reflections, and drop shadows on everything. These elements are [sometimes] needed for a great design, but only in small amounts. Effective web design is simple; gradients are subtle, drop shadows are not heavy, and reflections are definitely approached with caution. Make sure to not abuse this type of new-age styling, your web team should have no problem toning it down on a website if requested.

6. There has not been any thought given to usability, or action placement.

We can’t tell you how many times we land on a website and have to click into another page to actually see what a business does. While the “about” page is common to put company information, you want someone to understand why they would hire you, use your service, or buy your product on page one (the homepage). If there are “action” buttons, or links to important information, make sure the stand out! Consider the Gutenberg Diagram below.

7. Its URL structure is not SEO friendly.

The URL structure refers to the individual page links, like “www.example.com/about”. These pages can have a huge impact on SEO, so you want to make sure each page has a relevant URL. For example, you might list case studies on your website, and instead of “www.example.com/casestudy1″, use something like “www.example.com/automobile-human-factors-case-study”. This is just one of the many things that can enhance SEO.

8. It includes the file extension in the URL.

You’ll notice on many webpages that there is a “.html” or “.php” at the end of it. This is the type of file the webpage is saved as (just like a .doc for a Word Document), and presents a couple issues. First, these extensions are not needed, pages operate the same with or without them, and they are visually distracting. Second, by listing the file extension you are giving hackers great insight into the type of files your site uses, which allows them to more easily plan an attack. To remove these extensions, contact your web team and ask them about the “.htaccess” file, or take a look at this Removing File Extensions tutorial.

9. It doesn’t properly use meta-tags or titles.

Have you ever wondered how Google knows what to put when they link to your website, or try to describe what you do? This is contained inside the website in hidden header information, using either “meta-tags” or the title tags. Properly filling out this information is crucial for SEO; every search engine listing relies on this information being filled out correctly and to be relevant. For instance, you often see homepage titles like “Home”, “Welcome”, or “Index-1″; something more effective might be “David’s Customs | Where We Repair Custom Cars”. Now users are more informed when they scroll down their search listings for “custom car repair”.

10. The on-page copy (text) is not relevant or descriptive.

This problem is two-fold. First, it affects SEO a great amount, and when the Google Bot visits your website it will read through whatever text is on the page and rate your site largely by the words on there. If you talk a lot about baseball cards, you will most likely find yourself higher in search results for “baseball cards” because the search engine assumed that’s what your website offers expertise in. Second, many websites don’t properly address what users are looking for. If the about page has one stock photo and just says “We have been around since 1995 and help customers find potential in their business”, there is no reason for it to exist. If you have very little content, consider a one-page website (here’s a couple we have done: Woodward The Band, Oasis Tan Northville). Consider spending just a small amount of time every week to write a little about what you do, every little bit helps!

11. It does not provide any link to social media or blogging.

We are definitely not advocates of having stagnant twitter accounts, or a Facebook page just to just be part of the hype, but these tools can not only help you market your business (and website), but they can help you connect with communities. Sometimes users just want to know that your company is alive and there are real people working there, and this is just one thing “micro-blogging”, or short-updates can do. Maybe you have a new product, or want to mention a new client project you’re working on, this can give outsiders some more insight into what you do and a human-level connection to your business. Also, using social media can connect you with potential clients, or like-minded experts in your field; these are people you want to have around you! Here’s a list of the Top Web Designers to Follow on Twitter. Use Google to find people in your field.

If you don’t know that you are doing all of things, or would like us to help, make sure to visit the Prime Studios Homepage and get in touch.