One thing that gets me about some websites is how they have an animated person who pops up and stands next to the text talking to you (without your permission of course) right from the moment you arrive on the site.
I’m not referring to streamed videos of a talking head here – although I’m not keen on these either if they have auto-start.
But rather those “talking gnome” type things. Especially the ones dressed in suits or pant suits.
I find talking gnomes very irritating. It makes me want to squash them.
I recall a website from I think Rosetta Stone who had a pant-suited woman who appeared and started talking intrusively the instant you arrived at their site. Worse, she actually followed you as you scrolled down the page. You couldn’t get rid of her – other than just leaving the site.
Here’s another talking gnome..
The above example is documented by a web design specialist called Vincent Flanders who runs a site called www.webpagesthatsuck.com (that’s the guy speaking in the background – not the talking gnome on the site).
I love the hand movements and the way he gestures at everything around him and then points directly at the audience. Boy, have I got a deal for you!
Vincent Flanders at Webpagesthatsuck.com covers a whole range of faux pas that should be avoided. In fact, he really rips websites apart, but he does it in a very funny way and his criticism is informed and relevant.
I think people have these effects on their sites because they think it’s “cool”, magical and clever and also to boost their own egos. Look what Ive had commissioned.
But they annoy and alienate the public.
Keep off the clever effects and the black magic. And don’t try to use talking gnomes to sell on the web!
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Written by kevin
Topics: Entrepreneurship