(^194) 97 Things Every Project Manager Should Know
9.7 Reasons I Hate
Your Website
Barbee Davis, MA, PHR, PMP
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
MoST CoMPAnIES Don’T KnoW that software and web development differ,
so software project managers and software developers are asked to create web-
sites. Here are 9.7 ways you can keep me from ever doing business with your
company due to your annoying website:
- Start off with a slow-loading Flash screen. Don’t let me bypass it, then
continue to make me wait endlessly as each page refreshes. The fast
response times of your competitors are calling me. - Surprise me with startling, ear-deafening video clips. I may be at work,
at home next to a sleeping child or spouse, or trying to buy a surprise gift.
If you really want to keep me away, omit an Off button. - Disable the Back button. You feel clever by keeping me from returning
to the search engine that got me to your website, but I won’t be trapped
twice. Next time, I won’t click on your page or buy any product or service
you sell. - Choose a low-visibility color scheme. Gray type on a slightly darker gray
background may be unique, but it isn’t readable. There are 25 other web-
sites at a mouse click where I don’t have to go blind to read information.
Also, reverse type (like white on black) that doesn’t allow me to easily cut
and paste means I can’t save your data for future purchasing decisions. - Ignore my portable devices. I may carry an iPhone, Kindle, or netbook
computer. If you don’t have a quick, low-overhead, mobile interface, you’re
not the modern organization I need. We’re headed away from the client/
server model, back to the old “dumb terminal” hooked to a powerful
computer in the sky. Plan for it.