The 5 Most Common Errors in Web Design

[rezzy]

Vg, I was actually working a post that would compile this listing (still working on the CSS tutorial) and further explain for outsiders looking.

[vangogh]

Now we can race to see who writes and publishes first Just kidding. I'm sure they'd be different posts anyway and there's room for two. Then again I have several posts going with notes that may or may not ever see the light of day.

[Jagella]

Websites designed by people that do not understand business and how business works.

I would add that the business model and the marketing research should be in place prior to the start of the website's design and development. In other words, websites that are not suited to the business model and the target audience are not likely to fulfill their business purpose.

Websites designed by people that know how to use a particular open source solution but no little else of website design and internet marketing... these websites after a while all look pretty much the same.

Such websites may still be suitable for hobbies, educational purposes, or for businesses and organizations that only want a website to provide basic online information rather than act as a marketing vehicle.

Websites that fail to deliver... a website should generate an income, if it doesn’t it is not successful.

Don't forget nonprofit organizations' websites and government websites, Steve. You may wish to broaden your statement to: “A website should fulfill its intended purpose.”

Jagella

[SteveC]

I would add that the business model and the marketing research should be in place prior to the start of the website's design and development. In other words, websites that are not suited to the business model and the target audience are not likely to fulfill their business purpose.

This is entirely different in that if a designer doesn’t understand business how can they ever hope to implement the best solution for a business, how can they interpret what you call a business model and marketing research... the simple answer is they can’t or they cannot as effectively as a designer that can. Or you could interpret what you are saying being the same dog, different leg action.

Such websites may still be suitable for hobbies, educational purposes, or for businesses and organizations that only want a website to provide basic online information rather than act as a marketing vehicle.

I guess our opinions will differ on this... however as with everything once you understand the rules, there are always exceptions... however you need to remember we’re not talking about hobby websites... we’re talking about business websites, and the websites designers generate.

Don't forget nonprofit organizations' websites and government websites, Steve. You may wish to broaden your statement to: “A website should fulfill its intended purpose.”

I’ll stick with my statement thanks... a non-profit organisation just like any other business has to generate funds, they have to pay their wages and cover all of their costs... the only thing that differs between a non-profit and a normal business is the disposal of any profits... the same can be said for government departments and everything else... everyone needs to generate income and the website should play an integral role in this.

[vangogh]

a non-profit organisation just like any other business has to generate funds, they have to pay their wages and cover all of their costs... the only thing that differs between a non-profit and a normal business is the disposal of any profits... the same can be said for government departments and everything else

For some reason this seems to be lost on many people. Non-profit has never meant no revenue. I suppose that would be a no-revenue if such a thing exists. Non-profits can take in a lot of money and as you pointed out it's what happens to the profit that differentiates it from a for profit business.