Many organizations are making one or more mistakes when building websites. If you want your website to end up being the best, follow these simple rules when creating, building or designing a website. Try to avoid the following mistakes that I am still finding on websites around the world.

As an Internet project manager and webmaster, I have seen literally thousands of websites. Part of my job for over one year consisted of finding the best websites on the Internet in specific categories. In those virtual journeys around the world, I found some websites that were excellent, some mediocre, and many that were absolutely terrible.

Mistake #1. The biggest mistake that many websites make is not having a user friendly Contact Page. If a customer cannot email your business easily, that is a lost sale. If a customer cannot call your business or get a mailing address (to mail you a letter with a check inside), chances are that that person will not do business with you. A business will lose sales and repeat customers, or they will not refer other people to you if they cannot contact that company. Make it easy to contact your organization. (Even large multi-national companies make this mistake). I personally will not do business with any organization on the web where it is difficult to contact them. There are many email addresses that do not work either. Make sure the contact information is up to date and that it actually works. Test your website and contact links frequently.

Mistake #2. It is OK to save money with websites hosted on servers that provide all of the services needed, such as with AAA Enterprises or with Homestead for example. However, when finances allow it, add the URL feature to your website, where you end up with your own domain name, such as Hawaii.com. We can do this for you. Your email should also be the same name, such as fred@hawaii.com . This will boost sales and add prestige to the company image. Select the domain name carefully though. This takes some planning and preparation, because once done, it is permanent, as in (FOREVER). In my opinion, it is better to start with a subdomain name and take some time thinking about this very huge step.

Mistake #3. Many websites take forever to load a page. Webpages should load at a speed of about 10 seconds from start to finish when using a 28.8K modem. This can be tested with a computer set up with a modem of this speed. If you have a website with a lot of pictures, graphics and special effects or large text files, it will slow down the loading of the webpage to the point where people leave before they even see it. Keep webpages small, inviting, simple and fast loading. Keep the file size of individual photos or graphics under 10K in size and the size of each page down under 50K. (I use this rule when building sites.) Personally, I leave if a site has not loaded in 5 seconds or less, because there are plenty of other sites that will load in that time and get me what I need. My time is too valuable to waste, waiting for a page to load.

Mistake #4. Do not add layers of advertising that pops up on the customer computer screen. Popup ads seem to be a fad with some large websites and they do it hoping to attract buying customers. This ad technique is also very annoying. I do not buy anything from websites that use this kind of advertising. This is really the only way to get websites to stop using this technique. Do not buy there! I also use a software program that stops pop up ads and other annoyances.

Mistake #5. Many websites use a technique that locks customers into their website. Some lock a viewer into a continuous loop of other linked websites that lead to a sales pitch on each one. Dozens of websites open automatically, one behind another one. One cannot back out of any website by clicking on the left hand arrow on the web browser, as one can anywhere else. The only way to leave this kind of Internet terrorist is to turn off the computer. I strongly detest websites that use this ad technique as well. I most definitely will never buy from this kind of website. I hope you set the same policy and let them know how you feel, if you stay long enough to speak with them.

Mistake #6. Some websites make mistakes in basic design. Some are so plain that they are actually a turn off. Would you buy a teddy bear without seeing a picture and getting a description? (Teddy bear; $50.00.) Other websites have an overwhelming array of flashing, moving graphics combined with very small print that does nothing but annoy and irritate me. I do not buy from this type of website either. I also avoid an auction offering webpage that does not include a picture of what I am getting. Make sure to detail your product and service with a picture or two, as well as providing a detailed description that people can actually read without a magnifying glass. If selling to seniors, make the type size large, because most of them cannot read 12 point type size print.

Mistake #7. Often a company will assume that if they have a website, that customers will find it and come buy from it. They never mention their website or market it anywhere. Then they wonder why no one comes to their website. A very small and simple website is just a brochure or business card. Unless you hand it out and market your business with a website address attached to everything, no one will visit or buy there. Use coupons or special incentives to get people to use your site. Use special services offered there. Use a website marketing service if you do not have the time or knowledge to submit your site to search engines. Add META tags, form affiliate program and trade links with other businesses or organizations. (I offer this service and consult with businesses on how to integrate their offline marketing with online marketing services, tools and products.)

Mistake #8. Not having banner ads or an email advertising program is a huge mistake, as your business name and service could be in front of hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis, at a much lower cost than TV or radio advertising. As soon as you can afford it, let your Internet marketing guru like AAA Enterprises do this for you. On the other hand, putting too many banner ads on your own site, and placing buttons all over the webpages for Amazon and other sites, just makes the website look cheap and cheesy. Keep the webpages simple and clean, with one banner ad per page at most. ( I can set up and include banner ad programs in a webpage building project.)

Mistake #9. Many business owners have big egos and assume that they can go it alone forever. What I mean by that is that most businesses do not seek out or form partnerships with other companies, even if it is to their mutual benefit. The business world is changing and even huge corporations are forming partnerships and MLM marketing programs. Forming links to other businesses and their products in return for a share of the profits only enhances the bottom line. This works both ways. The results will be much better if you specialize and offer specific products rather than a link to a general site. As an example, if you offer dolls that you make by hand, offer books about doll making or doll collecting with a link and an affiliation to Amazon.com. You get the benefit and profit without all of the additional overhead and expense. (AAA Enterprises can set up affiliate programs or build links to specific products like this.)

Mistake #10. Make sure that your website links and pages are all working and there, day after day. Do not take your website down for days at a time or move it around from one web address to another. I leave a site if they have too many mistakes and lots of broken links or error messages on the website itself. If I see that they are not paying enough attention to even fix their own links leading to their own or other sites, what kind of attention will they pay to me? Check your website to make sure it is working on a daily basis, especially if you are selling something there. Would you buy from a store that had the door locked for days at a time? Would you buy from a store if it was there today, gone for a week and then there again next week?

Mistake #11. Make it easy to find your organization by listing it on all search engines. Make it easy for a customer to find and talk with you. I recently talked with a customer service representative on two websites via on online chat room that was included on their website. I really enjoyed the experience. The chat room was free for both of us, solved the problem I had very quickly. The chatroom sold me on their service and gave me a sense that the company really cared about me personally. I did not have to listen to five minutes of recorded messages. I did not have to deal with a phone tree that ends up hanging up on me 90% of the time. Make sure your chatroom, email address, mailing address as well as phone number(s) are all there and working. Respond to all emails within several days, or risk losing a valuable customer. Include a signature line in every email and use email as part of your overall marketing campaign.

Mistake #12. Out of date information and not caring about customer service is a killer for sales and marketing efforts. I figure if a business does not care enough to pay attention to details such as keeping a website current or responding to me then that probably means that they do not care about anything else either, including the customer and potential returns, problems, etc. It is very frustrating when it is difficult to resolve problems or warranty issues. I leave and find another company that makes customer service a pleasant and easy experience. (People avoid pain and move towards pleasure). (Even big companies make this mistake in customer service.)

Mistake #13. Make sure customers know what your business does within 5 seconds of seeing your loaded homepage. If you cannot sell a customer on what you do within that period of time, they are most likely clicking to go on to another website. The average ad has to grab someone within 1-2 seconds maximum. The sales message needs to be short, appealing, clear, bold, clean, and simple. Fancy flash images that take a minute to load are a turn off to me. Flash is also not listed on any search engine. For me, these special effects are a waste of time and money because I go much faster than they do, and they do not communicate enough information. I think Flash pages are a waste of money that could actually do something much more productive and profitable. (They are interesting for beginners and for those impressed by flashy things like jewelry and expensive cars.)

Mistake #14. The homepage on your business website will ideally have a link to a mission, vision, and purpose statement. Making these difficult to find is annoying, frustrating and will make customers leave to go to your competition. These statements will also help your business. There are very simple, yet powerful ways to add tremendous growth to your business with this simple step. Consult with AAA Enterprises if you want to know more. If 90% of your employees do not know your organization mission, purpose or vision statement, chances are that you are doing it wrong or not at all.

Mistake #15. Websites often offer a service or product, but do not ship anywhere but to their own hometown or state. Some websites take nothing in payment except a money order. Some websites only take dollars, but will not accept foreign currency. A business website should offer the product or service to an international market with all currencies possible and all forms of payment possible. (AAA Enterprises offers an international shopping cart marketing technique. Euros, Yen, and well as other currencies, plus credit cards can all be accepted with no monthly charge.)

Mistake #16. Most websites do not offer a journal or online information such as articles. If your website offers free information, it can lead to increased sales. People will see that you really know what you are talking about. Knowing how you think increases their sense of safety and security around dealing with your business. Free information is also a reason to come back to your website, when they need to know something. Give the customer plenty of reasons to come back. If you offer plenty of services or products and good customer service, a customer will buy from you and then refer their friends, associates, relatives, or family to your business as well.

Bottom line, very few websites are perfect. But the more of these mistakes that you avoid, and the more you do the things that work as outlined above, the better your website will serve your business and end up making you a profit, instead of being a financial ball and chain around your neck with no real financial return or benefit.

Use technology to make your business better, bigger, faster and more international in scope, because that is what the Internet and websites are there for. (Contact me if I can help you in any way, such as automating your business, helping with communication needs, designing your website, assisting with marketing efforts or setting up ecommerce.)

Eric Straatsma has a Bachelors in Business Management and is completing an Master of Science degree in Business Management, along with a Certificate in Project Management through Colorado Technical University. He is the webmaster for AAA Enterprises