Comments on: The Top 5 Ways to Irritate Your Blog/Website Visitors http://www.wp-vybe.com/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/ WP-Vybe Premium WordPress Magazine Theme Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:18:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Andre Kalishttp://www.wp-vybe.com/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Andre Kalis Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:18:31 +0000 http://michaeldpollock.com/dev2/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/#comment-101 I was actually in search of a new theme for my blog, stumbled upon Vybe (which I think I will get!) and got the bonus info about the irritants. Now I know exactly what route to follow with my blog to do something about the embarrassingly high bounce rate I'm faced with.My current theme is a big part of the problem, but the pop-ups will now go out the window with the theme. I hate pop-ups myself. Why did I install them? Must be because I was told it's more compelling than an opt-in box and serves a purpose resembling a squeeze page... Anyway, I agree. They are horrible and they must go.Thanks for the post! I was actually in search of a new theme for my blog, stumbled upon Vybe (which I think I will get!) and got the bonus info about the irritants. Now I know exactly what route to follow with my blog to do something about the embarrassingly high bounce rate I’m faced with.

My current theme is a big part of the problem, but the pop-ups will now go out the window with the theme. I hate pop-ups myself. Why did I install them? Must be because I was told it’s more compelling than an opt-in box and serves a purpose resembling a squeeze page… Anyway, I agree. They are horrible and they must go.

Thanks for the post!

]]> By: sandrarhttp://www.wp-vybe.com/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-100 sandrar Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:15:57 +0000 http://michaeldpollock.com/dev2/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/#comment-100 Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post... nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R. Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.

]]> By: Marj Wyatthttp://www.wp-vybe.com/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Marj Wyatt Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:34:29 +0000 http://michaeldpollock.com/dev2/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/#comment-99 I totally agree with you regarding flash sites and hypie stuff.The first time I saw the "lightbox" plugin on a Worpress blog, I was offended by it. Blogs, by definition, are meant to be perused. Enforcing an opt-in, within 5 seconds of landing, seemed counter-intuitive.What I can't agree with is opening links in a new window. I have my browsers set up to do this, by default, as I was weary of the goofy back button. (smile)Something you didn't mention, which will drive me away from a site, is "noisy" banner ads. I don't mean audio noise. I mean scrambling gif banners that distract me from the content that I'm trying to read. If a page is too busy, it isn't for me.Nice post. I totally agree with you regarding flash sites and hypie stuff.

The first time I saw the “lightbox” plugin on a Worpress blog, I was offended by it. Blogs, by definition, are meant to be perused. Enforcing an opt-in, within 5 seconds of landing, seemed counter-intuitive.

What I can’t agree with is opening links in a new window. I have my browsers set up to do this, by default, as I was weary of the goofy back button. (smile)

Something you didn’t mention, which will drive me away from a site, is “noisy” banner ads. I don’t mean audio noise. I mean scrambling gif banners that distract me from the content that I’m trying to read. If a page is too busy, it isn’t for me.

Nice post.

]]> By: Brooks Van Normanhttp://www.wp-vybe.com/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Brooks Van Norman Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:57:26 +0000 http://michaeldpollock.com/dev2/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/#comment-98 I wonder if I've failed in the usability of my blog after reading this post. I mean, my tag line at the moment is "things I'm inspired to blog about", which has to be the most innocuous description ever.However, I DO not have any Flash auto play and definitely do not force links to open in a new page.I don't have 5 million ads all over my site either... ...ok....maybe 4 million. :) I wonder if I’ve failed in the usability of my blog after reading this post. I mean, my tag line at the moment is “things I’m inspired to blog about”, which has to be the most innocuous description ever.

However, I DO not have any Flash auto play and definitely do not force links to open in a new page.

I don’t have 5 million ads all over my site either…
…ok….maybe 4 million. :)

]]> By: RJ Levesque, Jr.http://www.wp-vybe.com/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-97 RJ Levesque, Jr. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:18:54 +0000 http://michaeldpollock.com/dev2/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/#comment-97 I feel ALL off site traffic should be in a new window/tab period. Things I hate? Let me count the ways... 1. videos that autoplay 2. flash flash FLASH! Wow what a neat thing to build your entire site in flash! SO now if my OS and browser can't load it then oh well, I miss your site and products or services. 3. 5 million ads all over the site, I understand you want/need to make a little money with your site but give us a break 4. People that honestly expect a degreed software engineer to do a freelance theme customization for them in wordpress for $30! Oh wait, sorry that's one of my personal gripes, not for here :P I feel ALL off site traffic should be in a new window/tab period. Things I hate? Let me count the ways…
1. videos that autoplay
2. flash flash FLASH! Wow what a neat thing to build your entire site in flash! SO now if my OS and browser can’t load it then oh well, I miss your site and products or services.
3. 5 million ads all over the site, I understand you want/need to make a little money with your site but give us a break
4. People that honestly expect a degreed software engineer to do a freelance theme customization for them in wordpress for $30! Oh wait, sorry that’s one of my personal gripes, not for here :P

]]> By: Larry Annenhttp://www.wp-vybe.com/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Larry Annen Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:55:08 +0000 http://michaeldpollock.com/dev2/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/#comment-96 Busy videos. I hate busy jumping around flashy hip-hopping visual noise. I've sent more hate mail to CNN over the stupid car driving over my screen, the stupid jumping people, ohh look~ I scared myself... EGADS I HATE THEM FOR THAT.I will immediately get off a site if I've got too much 'visual noise', and if I want music, I've got an old clock radio... Busy videos. I hate busy jumping around flashy hip-hopping visual noise. I’ve sent more hate mail to CNN over the stupid car driving over my screen, the stupid jumping people, ohh look~ I scared myself… EGADS I HATE THEM FOR THAT.

I will immediately get off a site if I’ve got too much ‘visual noise’, and if I want music, I’ve got an old clock radio…

]]> By: Martinhttp://www.wp-vybe.com/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Martin Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:48:38 +0000 http://michaeldpollock.com/dev2/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/#comment-95 1. Make your off-site links open in a new window.Might be time for me to disable that feature... I have been using a plugin called Zap_NewWindow to make all external links open in a new window. 1. Make your off-site links open in a new window.

Might be time for me to disable that feature… I have been using a plugin called Zap_NewWindow to make all external links open in a new window.

]]> By: Michael Pollockhttp://www.wp-vybe.com/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-94 Michael Pollock Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:12:59 +0000 http://michaeldpollock.com/dev2/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/#comment-94 Peggy:Thanks for the input ... I think with modern browsers, the new window issue is largely irrelevant ( I write that article nearly 2 years ago). Now, new windows open in a new tab rather than a whole new window, so it's really not such a big deal anymore. It used be a problem, because you could be surfing along from site to site, and before you know it, you have 10 windows open.Best - Michael Peggy:

Thanks for the input … I think with modern browsers, the new window issue is largely irrelevant ( I write that article nearly 2 years ago). Now, new windows open in a new tab rather than a whole new window, so it’s really not such a big deal anymore. It used be a problem, because you could be surfing along from site to site, and before you know it, you have 10 windows open.

Best – Michael

]]> By: Peggyhttp://www.wp-vybe.com/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Peggy Wed, 06 Aug 2008 23:21:09 +0000 http://michaeldpollock.com/dev2/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/#comment-93 I'm extremely curious about the new window / same window question. I studied web usability in University, where they taught us to always make them open in new windows. But this was around 2000-2002, when things were very different. I've just setup a poll at my own blog about this - click to http://s231411637.onlinehome.us/editors_blog/2008/08/06/browsing-preferences-links-in-a-new-window/. We'll see what people say, and I'll adjust my own stuff as per the poll results. I’m extremely curious about the new window / same window question. I studied web usability in University, where they taught us to always make them open in new windows. But this was around 2000-2002, when things were very different.
I’ve just setup a poll at my own blog about this – click to http://s231411637.onlinehome.us/editors_blog/2008/08/06/browsing-preferences-links-in-a-new-window/. We’ll see what people say, and I’ll adjust my own stuff as per the poll results.

]]> By: Ray Renteriahttp://www.wp-vybe.com/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Ray Renteria Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:15:06 +0000 http://michaeldpollock.com/dev2/2006/07/23/the-top-5-ways-to-irritate-your-blogwebsite-visitors/#comment-92 I appreciate the advice! I'm good with all of them except the open-in-a-new-window issue.I had no idea that was annoying to visitors.--Ray (Magazine Theme customer--still my favorite.) I appreciate the advice! I’m good with all of them except the open-in-a-new-window issue.

I had no idea that was annoying to visitors.

–Ray
(Magazine Theme customer–still my favorite.)

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