Examples of Bad Websites

We all loved the 80s, right?  Even if you weren't alive back then, you can appreciate (while often mocking) the music, the fashion, the relative innocence of the times...but we digress.

Unless this website is purposefully "retro", which we don't think it is, it's hideous.  Some of you will cry "Geocities!" with a bit of nostalgia.  Some of you will claim that your corneas will never be the same again.  Some of you may even follow the link to a 7 CD boxed set of this music on Amazon, and actually buy it.

If you do, the creator of this website will actually make money.  And isn't that the purpose of a website?  Maybe this one isn't such a fail after all.

When we first heard about "Boxed Meat", we were naturally curious as well as skeptical - but apparently it's a real thing.  This submitted website is actually amusing, especially when "Little Debbie Snacks" is listed among the suppliers.  Are they making meat cupcakes now?

On a serious note, misspellings abound, and other than the actual title of the website, you wouldn't know it was for a business that sells meat.  Even the Products page is blank, except for a banner stating "Why Boxed Meat is UNIQUE".  What a tease!  Now we want to know.

There's a link to click for 'hundreds of recipe ideas' which LEAVES the site and goes to allrecipes.com.  Free advice:  it's never a good idea to direct users away from your website.

When this website was submitted to us, we noticed right away that the blinding pink and black design is indeed "vivid".  What we also found is that the time it takes to load this website and navigate around it is unforgivable - not just to us - but to search engines.  You need to make sure your website is optimized for fast load-times or you'll be penalized.


It's also a good idea to get someone with a good grasp of writing to look over your content before putting it out on the Interwebs.  "Staff" page - we're looking at you.


There's also a scary security warning that keeps popping up on the contact page - so we aren't hanging around on it any longer.

While we have no doubt that the owners, instructors and staff of this business could totally kick our butts - we're betting that our sponsor could kick their web design in the butt.

It's not that this website is short on useful content, or explanations of their expertise.  There is a LOT of information; it's just poorly arranged and presented.  Where is this place located?  Why isn't the phone number boldly visible as part of the header and on each and every page?  Where's the class schedule and hours, so I can see (quickly) if their programs fit into my free time?  We did find an old schedule, from January of 2010, but had to first discover that there are horizontal nav buttons hidden under swipes of gray paint.  Or is it eye-black?  Hey, you tell US.

A quick Googling for 'martial arts schools' in the city this school is in shows a LOT of competitors.  Some have worse websites...but not many.  You need to stand out above the rest if you want to attract business.

Fact: Lightning Will Strike.

Fact: Websites Can Suck. And this one does. Oh, we suppose it was really rad right around the time people actually used the word 'rad' with a straight face. But lightning is not to be screwed around with! And neither is good website design.

If you want to sell a protective service - from anything - wouldn't you want to convey an impression of security and trustworthiness? Danger, doom and scary growing fonts don't do that. Tell users what you do, and why you are better at it than anyone else that provides the same service.

There is some good advice to be found on this site, though. DON'T "Ride a bike or horse as a thunderstorm approaches." Bikes are made of metal, so we understand. But horses??