Examples of Bad Websites

The setup, design and maintenance of a website can be time consuming and expensive, especially when you figure in a hosting cost of $1.99 a month. So it is understandable that sites turn to advertising revenue to offset costs or make a little extra change. Mancow has more attention on adspace than on content. When you decide to run ads, take a look at the finished product and if you get a seizure from all of the flashing ads then rethink your ad strategy.

By the way, what exactly IS a Mancow? A steer? No, that's a bull that has been gelded. I think we'll just leave the definition alone - although a website should attempt to tell you what it's about at the very least.

Another issue with this self-appointed psuedo-political guru's site can be found on the station listings. Unless they only care about every other station, they may want to reconsider white text on a white background.

We have no idea what this site is about. They claim to be the number-one source for professional service. From their name, we could assume that they are a paper company (and more) but good luck figuring anything else out on this random collection of pixels. When you decide to make a website, sit down and come up with a site map, outline or scribbles on a napkin - just make sure there is a clear purpose and focus for your site.

The other pages on the site appear to have the start of a design but at the risk of telling us any sort of useful information, the designer wisely stopped so that they could focus on the squiggly fire line graphics. By the way, touting “months of collective comprehensive knowledge and experience” doesn’t go a long way toward establishing trust.

We maintain that no one reads text but even if you tried to read some of the copy on these pages, you are faced with statements such as "everythig is disposable equipment". To be fair this site is probably still under development, but at the same time if your page is not ready for the world to see it then don't leave the door open when your pants are down.

If you are compelled to write instructions on how to use your site, you’re doing it wrong! If people are emailing you and saying that they do not know how to find things, you’re doing it wrong! If Superman with his super-human eyes can not read your blue on black menu then (say it with us class) you are doing it wrong!

Everything on this site is weak at best, it's not a complete assault on the eyes but it is a sorry excuse for a shopping site even if it is just a collection of links to other stores. The sole purpose of this site is to get people to click on one or more of the banners on the hidden pages. Make things easy for your users! If you are selling products then show products on the front page. If you are a portal of links, (yep you guessed it) show links on the front page.

We could say that this site suffers from a lack of branding because "Big Daddy" the logo is off the bottom of the page. Daddy must have noticed and he put his name at the top side and conveniently it is in the phone number too! Having your name on your website is important but clear concise branding is better than assaulting your visitors with your name. On second thought, most of the users here are probably in jail or getting someone out of jail.

The Most Wanted section is by far the best thing that we have seen today, who doesn't love looking at drunk reprobates showing off their tattoos on their very own wanted posters.

Believe it or not, at one time this was probably considered a good e-commerce site. For the most part this site is a victim of time and it looks like this site has not seen a makeover in almost a decade. A lot of blogosphere experts will tell you that a site should be redesigned every year. The truth is, a website should be a living organism that should grow and change constantly. If your original design was flexible and sound then you can use a design for several years or until you get tired of it.

You should not have to welcome people to your site. A good design and layout will do that for you. Instead, describe your business. People will read about that, and so will the search engines.

Scrolling marquees are old relics that never seem to die. If you are hell-bent on using them, please make them readable! The seizure-inducing cadence in which these characters march across the screen is enough to make you want to buy a gun..