Website Mistakes That Kill Your Sales - Pt. 2

In the first part of this blog, I covered 5 basic website design mistakes. This week I am going to highlight 5 more. Stay clear of these 10 mistakes to have a chance of a successful sales driven website.

Mistake # 6 – Confusing Navigation

Never require your visitor to have to figure out how to get around on your site, like a maze. Have a simple, clear navigation layout. It’s frustrating for your visitors to have to guess about your website, or to not know exactly where they are going when they click a link. A confused mind does not do what you want! A confused mind rarely makes a purchase.

Mistake # 7 - Music

Unless you are a band selling your songs, having music start playing automatically when your visitor reaches your home page is not a good idea. It’s subpar-cheesy and screams “I designed this site myself.” Plus, people have their own tastes in their music – most of them different than yours. Having music play/loop on your website might be just about the quickest way to cause your visitors to hit the back button as fast as they can.

Mistake # 8 – Frames/Too Much Java

Avoid the use of frames in the structure of your website. Search engines don’t like them. To prevent phishing, most updated browsers don't like them. They also increase the time it takes for your site to load. Pages using frames often can’t be printed. If your visitor likes an article they read in a frame, they often can’t book mark it from your page. This could have an effect on your return traffic.

Mistake # 9 - Boring and Wordy Writing

You can’t sell by boring your reader. Your headline has to get your scanner reading. But if your first sentence is boring, your reader will go on to the next site. The easiest next step for a reader to take is always to stop reading and find something else that’s more interesting. Each sentence must be so interesting that your reader reads the next sentence. Don't be ashamed to hire a sales writer. Watch the wordiness.

Mistake # 10 – Making it too difficult to buy

Make it as easy to buy from you as possible. The more steps that a buyer has to take, the less likely they are to buy. Sites often require too much information from the buyer. And filling out the order form is a multi-click process. The first page you provide your name and email address. The next page your provide your address. The next page you provide your credit card information. There’s too much friction.

Half of your shoppers, who are trying to buy, abandon the "Buy" process half way through. You've made it too difficult to do business. People shop on the Internet primarily because it’s convenient.

Always strive to reduce friction to buying your goods. Always strive to simplify!

There you have them, my top 10 Website Design Mistakes That Kill Your Sales. Are there more than these 10? Sure. Is there room for improvement from your website? Are your sales increasing from your website? Chances are you have some of these same design mistakes. Retool & Simplify!

Here's some additional great reading: Writing Sales Copy That Get Results!

Happy Viral Business Marketing,

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Chuck Woo
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