10 Rookie Website Mistakes That Will Annoy Your Customers And Cost You Business: Mistake #5

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ignore this space I am starting a new thread on this comment I just deleted.
 
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help.
 
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help..
Click to expand...
Iris you either removed them or I have them blocked, it asked me to RUN something when I went to your homepage and I denied it.
 
Any sound on a homepage would irritate me. Also, not good for those folks who are cruising website while at work, etc.
 
When I hit ANY page with sound, I first quickly look for a way to shut it off, without having to turn off my computer speakers. If I don't find a mute button FAST, I'm out of there FAST.
 
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help..
Click to expand...
Iris, while I love the peaceful sound of birds song having it repeatedly chirp while I am trying to read a site is just plain annoying to me and I will quickly depart a site that does not have an option clear in view to nix the sound - any sound mind you. And as mentioned by others you must think about those that are viewing your site while at work. You may think they will come back to your site at home, but 99.9% will look elsewhere.
The big city newspaper recently stepped up on their online presence and reduced their printed version from daily to 3 (or 4) days a week. While doing this they upped their online advertising as well adding video ads to the side bar. These adds automatically started with each article you clicked on, repeating over and over as long as you were on the page. As you may have guessed, I quickly became frustrated and moved to another source for my news as well as expressed my frustration to the CEO's office. I must not have been alone, as now while the video still runs (which is annoying as well) the sound is muted unless you click on the ad.
Do you use Goo gle An aly tics? If your bounce rate is very high, I would suspect this to be the main cause. Remove the sound and follow the bounce %, your answer may be in black and white in the bounce results.
 
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help..
Click to expand...
Two things. One is that it requires quicktime, so I wouldn't hear them unless I have quicktime installed. Second thing is... you would lose me immediately unless I really really wanted to stay with you. I close every damn page that has sound on it, immediately. So yes, you should remove it.
 
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help..
Click to expand...
Take them down. Sounds like that are obnoxious and you may get favorable comments but they are just being nice ;-) REALLY you don't want it on your site.
 
Mistake #11
USING ADOBE FLASH
Adobe Flash is a proprietary software and is not considered proper HTML coding as defined by the Worldwide Web Consortium. While it creates fluid transitional graphics, it is not viewable on any Mac iOS mobile device. So, you will be alienating a huge percentage of the population using iPhones and iPads.
Much of the functionality of Flash can be accomplished by using readily available Javascript or by using CSS.
 
EmptyNest said:
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help..
Click to expand...
Take them down. Sounds like that are obnoxious and you may get favorable comments but they are just being nice ;-) REALLY you don't want it on your site.
.
Click to expand...
EmptyNest said:
Take them down. Sounds like that are obnoxious and you may get favorable comments but they are just being nice ;-) REALLY you don't want it on your site.
Click to expand...
Okey dokey
wink_smile.gif

 
Eric Arthur Blair said:
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help..
Click to expand...
Two things. One is that it requires quicktime, so I wouldn't hear them unless I have quicktime installed. Second thing is... you would lose me immediately unless I really really wanted to stay with you. I close every damn page that has sound on it, immediately. So yes, you should remove it.
.
Click to expand...
Eric Arthur Blair said:
Two things. One is that it requires quicktime, so I wouldn't hear them unless I have quicktime installed. Second thing is... you would lose me immediately unless I really really wanted to stay with you. I close every damn page that has sound on it, immediately. So yes, you should remove it.
Click to expand...
Ok just as soon as I can get my web guy on the horn
embaressed_smile.gif

 
copperhead said:
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help..
Click to expand...
Iris, while I love the peaceful sound of birds song having it repeatedly chirp while I am trying to read a site is just plain annoying to me and I will quickly depart a site that does not have an option clear in view to nix the sound - any sound mind you. And as mentioned by others you must think about those that are viewing your site while at work. You may think they will come back to your site at home, but 99.9% will look elsewhere.
The big city newspaper recently stepped up on their online presence and reduced their printed version from daily to 3 (or 4) days a week. While doing this they upped their online advertising as well adding video ads to the side bar. These adds automatically started with each article you clicked on, repeating over and over as long as you were on the page. As you may have guessed, I quickly became frustrated and moved to another source for my news as well as expressed my frustration to the CEO's office. I must not have been alone, as now while the video still runs (which is annoying as well) the sound is muted unless you click on the ad.
Do you use Goo gle An aly tics? If your bounce rate is very high, I would suspect this to be the main cause. Remove the sound and follow the bounce %, your answer may be in black and white in the bounce results.
.
Click to expand...
copperhead said:
Iris, while I love the peaceful sound of birds song having it repeatedly chirp while I am trying to read a site is just plain annoying to me and I will quickly depart a site that does not have an option clear in view to nix the sound - any sound mind you. And as mentioned by others you must think about those that are viewing your site while at work. You may think they will come back to your site at home, but 99.9% will look elsewhere.
The big city newspaper recently stepped up on their online presence and reduced their printed version from daily to 3 (or 4) days a week. While doing this they upped their online advertising as well adding video ads to the side bar. These adds automatically started with each article you clicked on, repeating over and over as long as you were on the page. As you may have guessed, I quickly became frustrated and moved to another source for my news as well as expressed my frustration to the CEO's office. I must not have been alone, as now while the video still runs (which is annoying as well) the sound is muted unless you click on the ad.
Do you use Goo gle An aly tics? If your bounce rate is very high, I would suspect this to be the main cause. Remove the sound and follow the bounce %, your answer may be in black and white in the bounce results.
Click to expand...
yes, yes, I get it. And thanks for taking the time to speak to me. Call to webguy was placed this afternoon.
As for go..., I don't use it. Have you seen my reservation calendar? I have not had an open night since mid June. I have more people on my waiting lists than you can shake a stick at. I am at my capacity for having the "house full" and for people all around me 24/7.
I don't, at this point, need any analyzing - thank goodness for that, because my ADD would be hindersome <----- is that a word?
 
Joey Bloggs said:
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help..
Click to expand...
Iris you either removed them or I have them blocked, it asked me to RUN something when I went to your homepage and I denied it.
.
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
Iris you either removed them or I have them blocked, it asked me to RUN something when I went to your homepage and I denied it.
Click to expand...
That's right. They are still there but it will ask you to install something if you want to hear them. It's just a recording of the birds on our property. I have not really wanted them there since the early 2000s but others have loved them. So, I was lazy and didn't put my foot down. The guests can't always have what they want, right? The birds are leaving the nest
 
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Joey Bloggs said:
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help..
Click to expand...
Iris you either removed them or I have them blocked, it asked me to RUN something when I went to your homepage and I denied it.
.
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
Iris you either removed them or I have them blocked, it asked me to RUN something when I went to your homepage and I denied it.
Click to expand...
That's right. They are still there but it will ask you to install something if you want to hear them. It's just a recording of the birds on our property. I have not really wanted them there since the early 2000s but others have loved them. So, I was lazy and didn't put my foot down. The guests can't always have what they want, right? The birds are leaving the nest
.
Click to expand...
think of all those potential guests who left your site immediately upon hearing those birds:)
 
Your guests can still have the birds, just not on auto-play -- instead have a button that says "click here to hear the birds"
 
EmptyNest said:
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Joey Bloggs said:
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help..
Click to expand...
Iris you either removed them or I have them blocked, it asked me to RUN something when I went to your homepage and I denied it.
.
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
Iris you either removed them or I have them blocked, it asked me to RUN something when I went to your homepage and I denied it.
Click to expand...
That's right. They are still there but it will ask you to install something if you want to hear them. It's just a recording of the birds on our property. I have not really wanted them there since the early 2000s but others have loved them. So, I was lazy and didn't put my foot down. The guests can't always have what they want, right? The birds are leaving the nest
.
Click to expand...
think of all those potential guests who left your site immediately upon hearing those birds:)
.
Click to expand...
EmptyNest said:
think of all those potential guests who left your site immediately upon hearing those birds:)
Click to expand...
Oh I totally agree. but there are other things that turn potential customers/guests away too. I see so many of the Inn sites with pictures that are laughably small. What is the point of that. Those are things that turn me away.
So, I am saying you can't be all things to everyone...
But I am with all of you on the stupid birds, lol. I have not liked them for a long time.
 
EmptyNest said:
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Joey Bloggs said:
IrisoftheWayfarer said:
Ummmm, I have birds tweeting on my home page. I am torn about taking them down. I do get a lot of favorable comments on that. I do realize that as many people as like it also potentially dislike it. I might be driving potential guests away. Help..
Click to expand...
Iris you either removed them or I have them blocked, it asked me to RUN something when I went to your homepage and I denied it.
.
Click to expand...
Joey Bloggs said:
Iris you either removed them or I have them blocked, it asked me to RUN something when I went to your homepage and I denied it.
Click to expand...
That's right. They are still there but it will ask you to install something if you want to hear them. It's just a recording of the birds on our property. I have not really wanted them there since the early 2000s but others have loved them. So, I was lazy and didn't put my foot down. The guests can't always have what they want, right? The birds are leaving the nest
.
Click to expand...
think of all those potential guests who left your site immediately upon hearing those birds:)
.
Click to expand...
EmptyNest said:
think of all those potential guests who left your site immediately upon hearing those birds:)
Click to expand...
alright, the birds have flown the coup. Thank you all for your input. We sometimes get stuck and don't notice when an outlet cover is missing
wink_smile.gif
hehe
 
You'd be surprised at how many people round here think that having the bagpipes playing on their websites is a good idea.
Someone even had cartoon sheep jumping up and down on the homepage to accompany the bagpipes, can you image how quickly that gets old when you're trying to book a B&B.
 

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