1. Writing a sentence or an entire paragraph in all capital letters does not add emphasis; it just makes it a lot harder to read.
2. Displaying an image that encompasses the drop-shadow, bevel, inner/outer glow, and the stroke... all in the same image... does not tell the user that they are looking at a professionally produced image, it just tells them someone just acquired Photoshop for the first time and went crazy in the effects section.
3. Hits really don't mean anything. Advertising that a site receives x-million hits is not only misleading, but it is a terrible use of data. Remember: information consists of helpful data..... not just data. You might try and report actual information. You know... sessions, visitors, unique visitors... stuff like that. It actually carries water.
4. Black on white is easy to read... white on black is not. I'm not trying to be racial or anything.... just delivering the facts.
5. Displaying "As Seen on TV" doesn't really help a reputation. Anyone with an IQ over 25 should take caution when that phrase is used.
6. Displaying "under construction" is not a good idea for about a thousand reasons. There's no time to go through all 1000, but here's a couple. It could mean that you publish unfinished work for the whole world to see. It could mean you don't have actually have a plan. It could mean you're stuck in 1995 and can't find your way out? If so, call AOL and sign up for dial up service.
7. "Coming soon" is almost as bad as "Under Construction". Though "coming soon" can occasionally be helpful if you are building a buzz about something.... and assuming that soon actually means soon.
8. Busy backgrounds are like digital headaches.
9. Using all kinds of color on varying sized text written in multiple font styles should only be the product of a novice web developer under the influence of heavy narcotics. ...and that's still not an acceptable excuse. Frankly, there are no excuses for failing at font consistency. If your body copy is in Times New Roman, and the rest of the site (navigation, headers, footers) uses Tahoma ... call the police and tell them to lock you up. You can't be trusted behind a keyboard.
10. The Flash Splash Page - Please. Pretty please with cherries on top. Please in the name of all that is good and holy and worthy of the web... please delete the useless animated splash page. The page is a nuisance nine times out of... nine. That little skip button might get you out of jail, but you're still on probation. The best action plan is loose it... forever.... and never turn back... be strong... you'll learn to move on without it.
It's surprising how many people making a living from web design get these principles wrong! You are dead on, Matt -- thanks for enlightening the masses. Great post! Love it! My favorite is #8. Cracked me up!
