Throughout our extensive website development journey, we’ve encountered a multitude of trendy features that have come and gone. Regrettably, some outdated attributes still persist on many sites, much to the dismay of their users. Let’s delve into our top 5 list of website features that really get under our skin:

Annoyance level: 10/10

Picture this: you land on a website, and within seconds, an intrusive ad pops up or an ear-piercing blast of music starts blaring from your speakers. Why, oh why, would someone think forcing streaming audio and video content on unsuspecting visitors is a bright idea? This offence is top-tier, causing users to hastily close the website, and in some cases, even shut down their entire browser in frustration. Remember, subtlety is key when showcasing your brand.

Pop-Up Boxes

Annoyance level: 9/10

You find yourself exploring a website, engaged in its content, when suddenly, an invasive box materializes, urging you to submit your details or make a purchase. While this feature may have its merits, it can also backfire significantly. True, if you’re genuinely interested, you might go along with it, but most people, ourselves included, find these pop-up boxes downright vexatious, especially when they keep reappearing incessantly during your visit.

External Links that Don’t Open in a New Tab

Annoyance level: 8/10

External links leading to other web pages or PDFs are commonplace, but here’s the catch—they should never open in the same window, hijacking your browsing experience. It’s incredibly frustrating! We’ve all been there, opening a PDF and not intending to delve into it, only to close the tab and wave goodbye to the entire website. Sure, we could go back through the history panel, but honestly, it’s just irritating. Setting external links to open in a new tab is a small gesture that visitors will appreciate for years to come.

Overindulgent Special Effects

Annoyance level: 7/10

People visit websites primarily for their content—to buy something, find information, seek advice, or explore services. Incorporating interactive elements like fading images as users scroll can enhance their experience. However, some website owners go overboard and unleash a deluge of effects, bogging down the site and frustrating visitors. We’ve often observed website templates drowning in excessive effects, and trust us, it’s not something we endorse.

Unreasonable ‘Captcha’ Codes

Annoyance level: 9/10

At the end of certain online forms, you might encounter a rather challenging test: deciphering a series of words from images or solving a straightforward equation, like ‘What is 1+1?’. This test serves as a shield against bots and hackers, ensuring you’re a bona fide human user. Nevertheless, what starts as a good intention can quickly turn into a nightmare with captchas that are impossible to decipher. Characters overlapping, rotating, or even reversing can leave you scratching your head. Keep it simple, folks!

Remember, a user-friendly website is the key to retaining happy visitors. By steering clear of these frustrating features, you’ll create a smoother, more enjoyable browsing experience for everyone. Happy website building!

We are here to help you create a simple, beautiful & user-friendly website without annoying features. Feel free to send us an e-mail at info@tnf.edd.mybluehost.me or give us a call at +353 86 898 2147.