Examples of Bad Websites

When it comes to bad websites, some of them are easy to spot.  This newest entry has obvious problems, such as the use of what seem to be wingdings in the header for some reason.  The url is also different from the name of the business, which could be on purpose.  Notice the url is what a person might actually search for to find this service business.  Shady?  Or just tricky?  Most of the images are broken too.

To be fair, this business has a lot of good reviews on a popular review site that begins with a "Y" (not going to give them any free referrals, though you can probably guess.)  Replacing keys, getting you into a locked car or apartment, and providing many other locksmith services - they seem to be good at.  Web design, not so much.

UPDATE:  Good for you, American Lock and Key - congratulations on your new website! 

Sometimes, a website is submitted that is just plain ugly.  Some poorly designed websites are confusing or busy, with slipshod or absent navigation.  Quite a few are all-Flash websites, believe it or not there are people out there still excluding all iPhone and iPad users.

In this case - the website for this company strikes us as disappointing and lonely more than anything else. It's a substantial company, we checked.  Earnings, according to a popular and common website used to look up company data lists an annual revenue in the range of $10-20 million.  Yes, we said 'million'.  So why have this sad, nearly empty website?

The navigation, which you'll have to click on the thumbnail to see, is weird.  The buttons are dual-purpose. If you click one, the label changes.  History changes to Fabrication.  Galvanizing changes to Fabrication.  And so on.  Weird...and ultimately - not doing anything to impress website visitors.  Your website should speak for your company - and this one's saying "Help!"

You'll probably find it hard to believe that this latest "worst website" was made by a web design company. 

A WEB DESIGN COMPANY. 

Take a few moments to let that sink in.  This recently submitted boogersite is awful in its own right - but to rely on it to sell the design services of the company which created it is an utter failure.

There is no navigation, except for an invisible link to an Index page just below the half-picture of what may be computer monitors on the landing page.  Why in the world would you hide it?   Who knows - the site says right on it that it was last updated in 2009. 

Let's hope "Chris" has found something better to do with his time - because we're betting he does not have a career in web design.  At least not a successful one.

Bad website design – that’s what boogersite.com was made to showcase.  In some cases, the critique is technical.  In others, it’s purely visual: a bad color scheme, mismatched fonts or silly animated gifs.  In the case of this restaurant – simple common sense is all that’s needed to see what’s wrong.  Where is it?  What are the hours?  How about a menu?

None of these necessary pieces of information are present.  There’s a 42-image slideshow of food pictures, a phone number (thankfully), and links to the Facebook and Twitter pages for this restaurant.  Perhaps those pages show current specials and information?  Nope.  Neither has been updated in over 8 months. 

If you’re going to spend money on a website, you should have it developed by someone who can advise you on much more than the basics, which aren’t even present in this case.

No, it's not Easter, although this website's color scheme may have you believing it is.  Either that, or you have a sudden urge to try on bridesmaids' dresses.  Not that it matters, this 'design' company is currently "NOT Accepting any New Clients!".  They are booked "SOLID!"

Really?  We can't imagine there's a waiting list to get a lilac website.  UNTIL...we clicked on the Custom Banners link.  Everything suddenly becomes clear.  If you'd like to see years-old Custom Banners created for the 2003 season of child 'beauty pageants', you have definitely come to the right place. 

The pricing structure kind of makes sense now.  We've advised you often that 'you get what you pay for' is not only true but glaringly obvious when it relates to website design.  For the low starting price of $65, here you'll get a page including Music, a Guest Book (how quaint!) and a Site meter.  Too bad they're booked SOLID.