Easy navigation and usability are one of the most important aspects of creating a "user friendly" website. However, there are still a plethora of web-sites out there that are, to be politically correct, "functionally challenged". Does your website keep people captivated, or does it send them fleeing as soon as they get to the first page? Do you offend your visitors by employing these ten web design faux pay's?

Yes, there are still website owners who think that putting their Midi version of "Play That Funky Music White boy," for more detail go to www.impacts-audio.com will some how impress their visitors? Always give people the option of listening to any recorded information you have on your website. Don't automatically assume that your visitors will be captivated by your voice, or your music.

Floating cursors that follow me around while I am visiting your site. If you want to distract me from viewing your information, then incorporate this "flotation device" into your design repertoire! It is like having a security guard follows me around in a retail store to make sure that I'm not stealing!

Oversize font that takes up the whole landing page, and web pages that do not fit in my viewing screen.

Web-sites that are "Under Construction". Don't promote what you don't have. It is almost guaranteed that once I see that logo on your site, I will not visit again to see if your construction is finished. Web-sites that don't not allow me to use the back button. Eliminating my ability to move out of, or through your website, has me looking for the X button. If you want people to visit much, and often, then make your site with the dynamic content that will persuade people to add your site to their favorites file.

Multitudes of "flashing" or "blinking" banner ads shoved in my face as soon as I reach your landing page will send me running. Flashing banner ads are the equivalent of a carnival barker trying to lure people into his sideshow! You don't need to shout to people to get you message heard on the Internet. Keep you banner ads limited, and your content abundant!

If I have to jump through "link hoops" to get to your information I am outtalk there. Make your product, price, or service, clear, precise, and easy to find. The "about us", or "frequently asked questions" section of some web-sites, leaves me with more questions than answers. Design your content so that even elementary school children can understand the purpose of your website.

I don't mind one, or even a few. But, if I have to close multiple pop-ups to get to your website, I will flee the scene. I have encountered some sites that had so many pop-ups they froze my computer screen, even with blocking software. The same applies for any of those "fly-in" or "hover ads" that bounce across my computer screen. If you have to use anything, incorporate a pop-up that loads when a visitor leaves, not before, for more detail go to www.web-audios-plus.com or during my visit to your site.

I have discovered many a website in which the background and the text fonts are indistinguishable from each other! It looks like your are staring into a black hole! Lighten things up a bit, and don't make me turn the brightness controls on my monitor to full! And no, I don? t wants to highlight the text so I can read the information on your website!

While I love Macromedia's Flash, I think it should be used sparingly.

Unless you have a film site, or a product that requires a detailed visual description, just forget about using flash for e-commerce. There is a majority of people out there who still use those pokey dial-up modems (me being one of them) and I "hate the wait!"

Even when I use the skip feature it still takes to long for the page to load. I noticed that some designer clothing wholesalers where using flash to sell their product. The same applied to retail sellers of designer shoes, designer handbags, and designer clothing.

My question is why? If you are using your site to sell a product, just stick with high quality, fast loading photos, followed up with good creative descriptions of each item. If you have to make people wait to buy your product, people will buy your product somewhere else! If you absolutely, positively, must use Flash, then make your files as fast loading as possible, especially if you are selling a product.