Examples of Bad Websites
There are countless examples of embarrassing website designs and development out there. These are the latest examples we have discovered. For each site below we provide a brief analysis to assist you in avoiding the same pitfalls.
After looking at the websites and critiques below, please visit our free advice area.
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National Taxidermists Association
If the happy fella in our screenshot is any indication, he did indeed benefit from joining the NTA. Why, that looks like an actual human lady! Well done, sir!
Here's a question: If you have a logo that you like - why stop there? Why not make another one, so you can have one at the top left corner of the website - and here's the crazy part: another one in the top right corner?
It's also a good idea to actually HAVE an secure site if you're going to ask people to enter their credit card numbers, including the CVV number. Maybe that's why the text on the NON-secure page says to "simply fill in this *secure* " (wink wink) form. We're not sure why they didn't also ask for your mother's maiden name while they were at it, so your credit card number could be used for a variety of purchases.
We're also not sure why there's a bald eagle in the header image. We're not supposed to kill and stuff those...are we?
p.s. Any business or organization will appear to be more professional if the contact email addresses are @theirdomain, rather than aol.com. Just sayin'.
The Owners Store!
Every day, we all get junk emails, right? These days, few people fall for clicking on any of the links in those emails. Here at boogersite, we enjoy looking at those (usually) crap websites and today's boogersite is no exception. The email promised, and we quote: "Everything a business owner needs, in one place."
Feast your eyes, business owners, on one of the poorest examples of a WordPress website that we've seen. It's as though someone was dreaming of Windows 8, then woke up and vomited on their monitor.
This site's only purpose - and correct us if we're mistaken - is to lure the unsuspecting into buying something on Amazon. I think we all know how to find Amazon on our own.
Private Property
We hope that the person who submitted this boogersite is okay. If looked at too long, the images flashing by on this website burn themselves onto your retinas. Please be forewarned before you click on the thumbnail to the left.
But seriously - what is UP with the multitude of crazy animated gifs? Check out the About page, with it's yellow forest featuring Tweety-bird and a "faceabook" link. Or the photo of the website's featured Actor holding a knife to his own throat. ??? The guestbook page, for some reason, has a dangling skeleton. Do you know the ABCs of website design? Always Be Consistent. Theme, design, and navigation should be consistent, or you're going to wind up with a hot mess that just makes site visitors confused, or even angry.
When you hire someone to develop a website, you're (in theory) promoting a person, business, or product. Why else would you bother with a website? The point is - if you're going to spend time and money on a website - please hire a professional. Just as you'd do when hiring an Actor. (just sayin'!)
Apex Alarms
There are many companies that provide alarm systems for your home. You may see their signs in your neighbors' yards, and recognize the logos of nationally known firms. Not once, however, did you see a brown sign with neon font colors on it. We'll bet the farm on this. Would such a garish color scheme inspire confidence in the quality of the service? In the professionalism of the company? Probably not. It doesn't look so good online, either.
This unfortunately-designed all-Flash (WHY???) website seems hell-bent on driving site visitors away. Put aside (if you can) the sheer unreadability of the text, and try to navigate around the site. You have to scroll around within the pages to see all of the text!
Don't use the 'back' button, though, or you'll leave the website. Which, as you'll soon see, will be exactly what you can't wait to do.
Softnoze
We don't know what a 'weld slag repel sheet' or a proxplunger is...but we'll bet that anyone who uses the products that this company is known for should probably buy a lot more of them. Maybe then this 'World's most experienced integrator' would buy a modern website.
Testimonials and mentions on other industry websites indicate that this company knows what they're doing, and may be the only company out there that does what they do. If that's true - or if, as a company, you want people to view you as THE resource for a product - make sure your web presence is up-to-date. Having your most recent Expo appearance listed as having been in 2001 is no way to illustrate your relevance to today's marketplace.
The lesson here is - keep your website current. And if you are self-aware enough to realize you should call on professionals for help, please contact our sponsor.