Many companies are often not getting what they want from there websites, and there is a reason for why this is happening. Many of the business websites that are out on the web are just not professional. Some of the features of very non-professional looking websites include standard blue links that are enlarged to about a size 16 font, busy backgrounds, flashing images and being very unorganized. The lack of pride in the companies website usually reflects to the consumer a company that does not take pride in its products either. And if you want sales you have to instil trust in your customers.

Your web site is a direct reflection of you and your business. The appearance of your site is the most important factor in determining your sites value. In other words, if your site doesn’t look professional or pleasing to the eyes at first glance, its perceived value and the value of your products and services will be low.

On the other hand, you may have a great web site, well designed and a quality product or service, but if it takes too long to load, the value will still be perceived as low. Why? Because your potential customer won’t wait. Ultimately costing you business.
Another consideration of great importance is your content. Not just links, but content with value. When someone is surfing the net and they visit your web site, they are visiting for a reason. Your website has something they want. Whether it is your product, service or information, that is why they are there. If they don’t find what they’re looking for, they’ll move on to the next site and so on.

If you want your visitors to stay at your site, provide the quality content they’re looking for in a nicely organized fashion. Give them a reason to want to explore your site and to continue to visit your site in the future.

In website design there are just some things you should definitely not do. And here is a list:
1. Poor load time
2. Poor overall appearance
3. Spelling/Grammar
4. No contact information
5. Poor content
6. Poor navigation
7. Broken links and graphics
8. Poor browser compatibility
9. Large slow loading graphics
10. Too many graphics
11. Pages scrolling to oblivion
12. Multiple use of animated graphics
13. Animated bullets
14. Too many graphic and/or line dividers
15. Busy, distracting backgrounds
16. Multiple banners and buttons
17. Poor use of frames
18. Large fonts
19. Pop up messages
20. Over use of java
21. Poor use of tables
22. Poor organization
23. Different backgrounds on each page
24. Over powering music set to auto play
25. Confusing
26. Too much advertising
27. Large Welcome banners
28. Multiple colored text
29. Text difficult to read
30. No Meta tags
31. Multiple use of different fonts
32. Under construction signs
33. Scrolling text in the status bar
34. Large scrolling text across the page
35. Poor use of mouse over effects

Take some time to really look at your website. Compare it to sites that you feel look professional. Time your site’s load time; your customers won’t wait. Their time is valuable.

The simple, well designed sites make the sales. If your sales aren’t what you had hoped, take some time to seriously evaluate your site and make some changes before spending your time and money on advertising and marketing. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results.