9 reasons your website is driving customers away
No business owner wants to drive customers away from their website. That’s crazy right?!
Unfortunately it happens. So I’ve put together a list of 9 reasons why website’s drive customers away.
Take a few minutes to look over this list. And if your website is guilty of any of these, make the necessary changes. Some of them, like proofreading or adding contact information, are easy to do. But others like responsive pages and improving content are more challenging. Just start with what’s easier and go from there.
Before you begin, what do you think is driving customers away from your website?
Auto-Playing Audio Or Video
Some websites automatically play audio or video when a page loads. Although it was a cool feature in the 90’s, it’s not so much anymore. Customers want control over what happens in their browsers. And you shouldn’t force them to experience something they didn’t ask for. You should avoid auto-playing audio or video to give customers a better experience.
Spelling And Grammatical Errors
It goes without saying that all written content should be checked for spelling and grammatical errors. Spelling is less of a concern because most computers identify errors automatically. But grammatical errors are not so easily identified. Poor grammar leads to reduced understanding and lack of respect for the author. Make sure to proofread written content on your website. Your customers will always appreciate this.
Confusing Navigation
Clear and concise navigation can make or break a website’s effectiveness. Confusing navigation will frustrate customers and drive them away from your website. All navigation should be easy to use and support the overall information architecture.
Lack Of A Call To Action
A call to action (CTA) is a concise statement designed to provoke a response from a customer. Websites with a CTA (or multiple ones) have an increased chance of engaging with a customer. And it helps them understand what next steps to take if they want to make a purchase or contact you. Call to actions are essential and shouldn’t be neglected on your website.
Non-Responsive Pages
Responsive websites respond to different screen sizes such as phones, tablets, and desktops. It’s a standard feature of modern websites. Customers expect a great experience no matter what type of device they use to view your website. But non-responsive pages will prevent the best customer experience. So the importance of a responsive website shouldn’t be ignored. Check your website today.
Lack Of A Clear Purpose
Every website should have a clear purpose that informs its design and content. Otherwise it will be ineffective and confuse customers. Once on your website, it should be immediately clear what it’s about and how it benefits them. Consider your target market and goals for the website to help provide a clear purpose.
Pop-Up And Scrolling Advertisements
Although pop-ups and scrolling ads can be effective, their misuse will annoy customers. It’s kind of like reading a book in a library and then being interrupted with sales talk. Not fun and likely to drive away customers. If you choose to use pop-ups or scrolling ads, make sure to carefully consider their placement and use.
Poor Content
Many before me have long said and understood that content is king. It’s the purpose of your website to offer relevant and quality content to customers. So if your content is poor, you’ll likely lose the interest of customers. Examples of poor content are a weak or nonexistent blog and outdated information. If at all possible, dedicate time to revise and update your content each week.
Missing Or Hard To Find Contact Information
In many cases, the next step for a customer will be to contact you about your products or services. Basic information like your phone number, email, and address are essential for them. So if your contact information is missing or hard to find, you’re losing customers. Focus on clear and consistent placement of your contact details on all pages. Doing so is a good strategy to better connect with customers.
Thanks for reading my words! In addition to web design posts, I write about life design and topics I find interesting. If you’re curious, check out some of my popular posts:
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Note: I first posted this content on January 2, 2018 at my blog.
