As a Digital Marketer, I see a LOT of websites… good and bad, mostly bad. Usually that is because most people instead of getting a professional web designer who knows about marketing, they get a quick and cheap website from a local “web guy”.

This article provides in detail the ways in which your BAD website design is hurting your GOOD business reputation and credibility which may be driving your customers straight to your competitors.

Research shows that it takes only about 1/10^th of a second for site visitors to get a first impression (which may be good or bad) about your business. The first impression your customer gets when they visit your website determines if they will stay on it to explore what you offer or find another website. All of this happens very fast.

Have you read the book series The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins? Suzanne Collins is one of the most-read, successful and amazing authors, when you look at her book covers (especially the latest of the series, Mockingjay) you have to be impressed. The visual of the logo, the flames, the black background, and the typeface, of course, the artwork was done for the multi-million dollar movies and the Hollywood studios have endless money. Also, when you look at the book Catching Fire, you will clearly see that the cover is very professional and it was created by a professional artist.

When it comes to a website, you would expect a successful and award-winning author to have an eye-catching website. The is not the case however as most of them usually have a really bad website that looks old and wasted (a website from the 90’s will even look better in most cases). This has a very bad effect on your business as customers may think you just do not care.

You might have a really good excuse for have a such a website which may be either because you got the website designed at a really cheap rate or because you hired an unqualified web designer. Whichever the case may be, always have it in mind that your you will not have the opportunity to explain to your customers why your website does not look good enough. A website that looks outdated, ignored or old sends a message to visitor (you just do not care about what customers really want) and they might also think you are not qualified enough to do business with.

Secondly, always remember that fans look up to their idols whether it is a movie star, TV personality or a book author and whichever category you fall under, having a bad website is a disservice to fans. Just as you would a little bit disappointed when you see a popular movie star or even a musician looking like a normal citizen (with a cheap cloth, wrinkled face, no makeup and so on) even though looking that way is totally fine, the same also applies to a website irrespective of who owns it (Suzanne or you).

A bad website diminishes your credibility, even though you may have the most experience, most trustworthy and most qualified team in your area of expertise, if your website is not up to snuff, it will be best to avoid inviting new people to visit your website because as soon as they do, your credibility will definitely take a nose-dive and your competence will suffer especially in cases where your website has so many errors and outdated information.

A bad website will make your competition look great. When the information you offer does not make you a credible or trustworthy source for their needs, visitors will leave your website never to return