Examples of poorly designed websites (part 1)

Update: of course since I pasted the screenshot the site has now changed and indeed implemented a suggestion of mine: to move the text over to the right and make space for the floatable support tab. I still feel that more valuable links should be used for that space as well but hey, who am I to say anything?

Disclaimer: I just want to say that I’m not at all against the content of the following websites. In fact, some of them I actually quite admire (like Timothy Sykes who managed to turn a $12 000 Bar Mitzvah present into over $1 million). I’m in no position to judge their overall site’s user experience. This is just a humble man’s opinion.

1. TimothySykes.com support tab that covers the site as you scroll.

my rant: I understand the new “floating” bars, which I honestly feel are a great addition to much needed tasks. But really, a support tab, that covers text as I scroll? It definitely left a sour taste in my mouth. I would have much rather enjoyed a small bar at the bottom of the window, or moving all the text to the right.

problem 1 (main): covers text, user needs to scroll around it to view text (the core, data)

problem 2 (minor): I’m not even sure what support is. Support for the website? Support Timothy Sykes?!?

solution 1: I’m a fan of simplicity. Does the support tab need to be there? Does it increase sales? Does it make users want to read, or does it get them irritated because as they read they have to scroll around it (which happened for me on more than one occasion). If the answer is no to all of the above, it doesn’t need to be there.

if there’s still value in it (perhaps there have been many complaints on the site’s usability) then make it available, but not so in your face. perhaps a bar on the bottom or visible but not overcrowding text. This is such common sense , I feel bad saying it.

solution 2: if it for website support? perhaps name it something other than just “support”, such as “website support”.

This post has gotten longer than I wanted. Stay tuned for part 2.