| I have visited websites and wondered what the | | | | business card, it's too long. If you have to stop |
| developer could possibly have been thinking when | | | | typing and go back to re-read what you already |
| devising their website marketing scheme. Website | | | | typed to figure out what to type next, it's too long. |
| design and marketing should work together to | | | | Keep it simple. You will quickly grow tired of typing it |
| increase traffic to your website. Here are a few | | | | in yourself if it is too long. Short domain names are |
| things you should not do on your website. | | | | catchy and much easier for your clients to remember. |
| 1. Unreadable CAPTCHA code. Maybe you did not | | | | Let's take this a step further. That is just the domain |
| know what it was called, but it is the code often | | | | name. If it is a blog, for example, pages and posts will |
| requested on a website to differentiate between | | | | be extensions of the domain name. So then, you will |
| computers and humans. Technically it stands for: | | | | end up with: |
| Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell | | | | "mymotherlivesindallasandiliketovisitheratchristmas.com |
| Computers and Humans Apart. It is designed, then, | | | | name-of-post-or-page." If you add a banner in the |
| so that humans can read it, enter the code, and | | | | images area of your site, you'll end up with: |
| prove they are not a robot or a computer. Then | | | | "mymotherlivesindallasandiliketovisitheratchristmas.com |
| why so often are the codes unreadable? I've often | | | | images/nameofimage.gif." That is around 77 |
| had to request a new CAPTCHA code several times | | | | characters. Enough said. You get the idea. |
| because I could not read the ones I was given. It | | | | 4. Do not force people to "join" your site before |
| makes absolutely no sense to generate unreadable | | | | allowing them to browse. That is a huge turn-off. |
| and illegible CAPTCHA code. Computers cannot read | | | | Maybe they'd like a few minutes to look over your |
| it anyway, and often times neither can humans. | | | | site to determine if it is actually what they were |
| 2. Incredibly lengthy URL addresses. Did you ever | | | | seeking. If it is not, you won't gain much by having |
| receive an email with a URL link in it, and you could | | | | them on your mailing list anyway. Give folks some |
| not click on it? When a URL is long, it often has to | | | | space. |
| "break" in the email and wrap to multiple lines. In | | | | 5. Cloaked URL's. You come across a great page and |
| order to use the URL link, it has to be manually | | | | you want to share it with others. You go to the |
| copied and pasted into the browser, which is | | | | browser window to grab the URL, only to find it is |
| inconvenient. | | | | non-existent or cloaked. Link referrals generate |
| 3. Super long domain names. I've often cringed at | | | | traffic, which is a GOOD thing. You want to make it |
| some of the domain names I've come across. I'm not | | | | easy for others to link to your website. |
| kidding. Here's an example: " | | | | There are other things to avoid doing when |
| Do you honestly think anybody wants to type that in | | | | developing your website. Just remember you want |
| a browser window? Do you think that there is a | | | | to attract traffic and visitors. You do not want to |
| chance of many folks actually doing it without making | | | | make it difficult or uncomfortable for people to find |
| a typo? I recommend 15 characters or less if | | | | and surf your site. Generally, just follow quality web |
| possible. Some experts recommend 8 characters | | | | design guidelines and use basic common sense. Happy |
| max. If you cannot fit it easily into the space of a | | | | Surfing. |