Check 1:
Some web designers are less interested in selling your product / service and more interested in creating web sites that are extremely interactive and highly animated.

Rule - if a web site doesn't load in 10 seconds it has FAILED! Your potential buyer has clicked elsewhere!

Used in small amounts animation can catch the eye and create interest. Used in large amounts it simply annoys the user and makes the page load very slowly.


Check 2:
A current trend in webs site design is to hide the links or buttons to make the site appear more streamlined.

Rule - buyers need to navigate your site quickly and easily so you can sell your product/service. Difficult designs send customers elsewhere.

A pretty web site is good, a simple web site is better whilst a pretty and simple web site is BEST.


Check 3:
Another trend is to overuse flash so that visitors have a loading screen at the beginning of a website.

Rule - most people come to your website via a search. This search has hundreds of alternatives. Why would a customer wait 30 seconds for your site to load when a competitors site loads immediately?

Make sure you make a fast and effective impact when someone goes to your website. "Please wait while the website loads" lacks professionalism.


Check 4:
The use of bleeding edge technology to impress would be clients at the cost of real substance.

Rule - if you wouldn't be prepared to download "plug-ins" to view a site why would your clients?

Content is a sadly overlooked aspect of some websites. Many web designers create a shop front covered in neon lights which may attract a customer, but when they enter a site they are confronted by 'little substance'. Content is KING!