Surfing the Internet has quickly developed over the years into one of the top things that people like to do.  However, nothing turns Internet users off faster than those web pages that have too much or too little going on.  The following is a list of some of these things that annoy us:

Ten Web Design No-Nos

1. Flash-  Flash introductions are usually met with a click of the mouse.  While many people think that flash introductions will make their page stand out, quite the opposite is true.  Even if your page loads your fancy introduction quickly, the same may not be true for others with varying computers and high speed access.  Impatient Internet users won’t have time to wait around for the “page loading” bar to disappear before they do.
2. Text Size- As if reading text on a computer isn’t difficult enough, some web pages contain text that is way too small.  For most, this problem is corrected simply by holding down the ‘control’ button and then pressing the ‘+/=’ button to enlarge the text.  But, why should you have to go to these lengths?  Small text can turn off an Internet user who doesn’t want to sit there and squint or figure out how to make the text bigger.
3. Images & Color Schemes-  When people click on your web page, does it look like you’ve just taken a trip back to the 1980s?  People are incredibly smart.  They can spot a crappy picture a mile away.  If your images are lacking in quality and the only color on your page is the white spaces inbetween your text, then you’ve got a problem.  You want to have a good balance of white space on your pages in conjunction with a good balance of imagery so that readers don’t feel overwhelmed by text, text, text.
4. Pop-ups-  Perhaps the most annoying thing to any Internet user is having to wage a war against pop-ups.  Not only are they distracting, but all it will take is one pop-up to turn a reader off to your site.
5. Horizontal Scrolling- People who use the Internet tend to be one-dimensional- or should I say- ‘one-directional’.  We hate having to scroll horizontally and avoid it at all costs.  Typically, most web pages are created so that users only have to scroll vertically.  Know what the standard size pixels are for most windows and try to adhere to it!
6. Opening New Windows- Cross-linking is great because the thought behind it is that it keeps the user on your web site.  However, if when people click on a hyperlink, it opens up a new window, things can get hairy fast.  I don’t proclaim to be a web designer by any stretch of the imagination, but if you’re using a laptop or a computer with a smaller monitor/screen, having too many windows open can add up pretty quickly.  In most cases, when someone clicks on a hyperlink, it should refresh the page so that the new content appears on the same page that they’re looking at- not in a separate window.  Get it?  Nowadays, most Internet users are savvy enough to know that if they DO want to have something open up in a different window, all they have to do is right click on the hyperlink and choose the option to do so.
7. PDFs-  If there’s anything Internet users hate coming across, it’s a PDF file.  If you’ve ever seen those commercials for the Visa checkcard then you know what I’m about to say.  Coming across a PDF file while your out and about on the Internet is akin to what happens in the Visa commercial; it interrupts your flow of web browsing! Often, if you are brave enough to open up a PDF, it will take a little time to load and then once it comes up, it is often not formatted properly which means that you will have to resize it so that you can actually read the text. Whenever you have the chance or option, convert PDFs so that they are readable on the web.  It’ll keep your readers happy!
8. Scannability- Most people reading things on the Internet don’t actually read everything; they scan it.  Keeping this in mind, it is important to remember when you are writing web content (i.e. blogs or actual content pages), make sure that you include bold text along with italicized or underlined (whatever is appropriate).  Remember the rules that you learned when you were in elementary school about how sentences and paragraphs are formed?  Now would be a good time to use these rules.  Know how, where and when to recognize that a sentence is getting too long or when a group of sentences need to be broken up into two paragraphs.  All of these things contribute to the usability and readability of your web page and will make it easier on the reader.
9. About Me- I certainly can’t speak for everyone out there, but one of the first things that I look for whenever I visit a new site or blog is an “About Me” tab or link.  If your web page doesn’t have one yet, I highly advocate creating one.  The “About Me” section should include a little more in-depth information about you and your site and what it’s all about.  Some people choose to disclose more personal information here although it is certainly not necessary.  Sometimes, I will click off of a web site if it doesn’t have an “About Me” section because it raises suspicion as to ownership and what the intentions of the site/person/persons really are.
10. Linking-  When it comes to website design and usability, the attention truly is in the details.  This brings me to hyperlinking.  When linking to other pages, ALWAYS make sure that the link works and that it is linking to the page you intended.  Additionally, it is sometimes helpful (although certainly not necessary) to have the links change color once the person has clicked on them.  This sort of acts as a reminder to the user that they have already looked at a particular link (just in case they forgot).

The year 2009 is rapidly approaching and is promising to be a year of changes: a new president, a new resolution to lose weight and hopefully- a new job..

If you’ve found yourself among the millions of unemployed people, there’s still hope for you yet.  People who went to college for one degree, thinking that it would provide them with the background knowledge they would need for a financially secure job, are now finding themselves back in college once more.  Just because you lost your job doesn’t necessarily mean that you should run to the nearest university.  However, in these changing economic times, it may not be such a bad idea either.  That being said, if you’re pressed for time, there are some great jobs out there for those who possess a two-year degree.  According to AOL Find a Job (via Careerbuilder.com), the following are the 10 best jobs for those with two-year degrees:

Top 10 Jobs for 2-Year Degrees

1. Computer Specialists: $71,510
2. Dental Hygienists: $64,740
3. Fashion Designers: $62,810
4. Registered Nurses: $60,010
5. Environmental Engineering Tech: $40,560
6. Radiologic Technologists and Techs: $50,260
7. Industrial Engineering Techs: $47,490
8. Paralegals and Legal Assistants:$44,990
9. Occupational Therapist Assistants: $45,050
10. Computer Support Specialists: $42,400

For more information about Internet marketing, visit Create Business Growth today!

Here’s the lineup of noteworthy blogs for this week:

1. Laurel Papworth- Laura Papworth is a social network strategist based out of Australia.  She is also well known and respected throughout the social media spectrum.  She is in the top 150 Media and Marketing Blogs globally, a Top 100 Australian blogger and mentors TV and Film social network projects- just to name a few things she is known for.  Definitely check out her site!
2. Logic + Emotion- Written by David Armano, who has over 14 years of experience in digital marketing and design, this blog is ranked among the top 20 media and marketing blogs (Advertising Age). A definite ‘must see’ for those looking to pick up a some ideas!
3. Matt’s Musings- Written by Matthew Hodgson, this blog deals with the impact of technology on social change as well as the various roles that interpersonal communication and knowledge sharing play in the digital world.
4. Network Public Sector Communicators Blog (NPSC)-This is the blog for the NPSC.  There are approximately 10 people who regularly contribute to the management of the blog and site, which is based out of New Zealand.  The goal of the NPSC is to provide a professional forum to share information, contacts and experiences. Each year, the NPSC organizes up to six seminars on topics of special interest to people in the communication business. It’s definitely worth checking out.
5. Signal vs. Noise-is a weblog written and maintained by a company called 37 Signals.  The blog deals with design, business, the web and communication.  It’s really informative and worth taking a look at.

For more information about Internet marketing, visit Create Business Growth today!