May, 2016 : 5 Helpful Indicators of a Boring Website

📅 May 23, 2016 - We don't always know what other people are thinking, and when it comes to evaluating our own websites, we may feel even more uncertain. How do others see the website? What impression does it leave them with? And, maybe most importantly, do they think it's boring?

If users are bored on your website, they won't stay long and they won't return – two of the most important factors in getting conversions. You literally cannot afford to have a boring website when there are so many informative, interactive, and interesting websites out there.

5 Helpful Indicators of a Boring Website

Here are some signs to watch for that indicate customers may think your website is boring. Watch for these signs and take appropriate action if you notice any on your website.

1. Images are in short supply

We are visual creatures, so having images on a website is important for grabbing our attention and keeping us interested when we lead busy lives. In fact, some people learn primarily through the aid of images and video, so without them, your website is doomed to be lumped into the boring bin. If you don't have many images on your website, or if your images are too small to be enjoyed, it's a sign that customers may find your website boring.

P.S. If you're using stock images that look generic, you're sending a visual cue to visitors that your company is generic. Avoid stereotypical stock images like these.

2. Big chunks of solid text

See the note above – people enjoy images. Not only are images visually interesting to your visitors, but they also break up chunks of text and keep a webpage from seeming like a textbook.

Big chunks of solid text are signs of a boring website because if you can't be bothered to hit Return to create smaller paragraphs or add relevant images to break up the text blocks, you're probably not putting much focus on providing great content and aesthetic design.

3. High bounce rates

They came, they saw, they left. High bounce rates are a sign of boring websites and are dangerous to ignore. After all, if most people leave your website after viewing just one page, you're not likely to get many conversions or build a positive reputation online.

Bounce rates measure the percentage of visitors that navigate away from your site after viewing one page, so high bounce rates usually mean the people visiting your site are finding it boring.

4. Low average time on page

Just as bounce rates clue you into how customers feel about your website, so does the average time users spend on your page. The less time visitors spend on your website, the more likely it's boring to them. Unless you're seeing low average time on page and a low bounce rate (which usually means the user is leaving the page to navigate to other content on your website, not leaving it altogether), low average time on page is a sign that customers think your website is boring.

5. You only have a landing page

Landing pages are a nice tool for new businesses that want to get online quickly, but haven't fully hashed out the website plan or are still coming up with product or service offerings. However, while you're using a landing page, you're limited in the amount of content and information you can include. Limited content and information means customers will find your website boring. Don't assume that a landing page is a long-term solution for your website because you've seen others do it – transition into a full website as soon as you're able.