Whether or not your business already has a website, you have to be concerned about its effectiveness, and how it is helping you to promote your products or services. Have you ever wonder how long your visitors stay at your website? Are they frustrated by its navigation? Will they recommend your products or services to your friends? If so, here are the top ten design and usability issues that you need to be aware of.

1. The first Glance
Visitors to your website usually look at the top left hand corner of any website. Therefore, it is important to put your essential information there, such as your offers and promotions, and how your customers can benefit. Some visitors are at your website only for a little while, and it is vital to engage them as long as possible, or better still, engage them until they are ready to make a purchase. You should be able to let your visitors know what you are selling or offering for services right away, instead of having them search for it. Be mindful of how long your site takes to load too. It might just annoy some visitors who are inpatient.

2. Navigation
If your customers are looking for more information, they will loiter longer on your website to search for it. In this case, make sure that your information are easy to find. Place your information in the usual places, and make it very obvious what your visitors need to click on in order to find what they need. Never have more than 5 choices in your main navigation. Although creativity is a plus, follow the rules strictly when it comes to navigation and usability.

3. Contact Information
Will your customers, or rather, the search engines such as Yahoo or Google be able to find you when they need you? You must put your contact information very clearly and accurately so that they can be easily found. Usually, visitors will visit your website a few times before they decide to purchase, and when they do, make sure it is easy for them to contact you. It should be easy for them to complete an order through your website or get more information. Include a clear call to action.

4. Above the Fold Focus
Most of the time, your visitors will not bother to scroll down your page, unless you have already convinced them, in your first few lines, that it’s worth their while to do so. Hence, make sure your most vital information and propositions are above the fold. Visitors who have reached your FAQs page or your blog will be interested enough to continue to read what they have found.

5. Inviting Content
Give your visitors something they can look forward to every time they visit your website, and this means updating your website frequently. You need to give them something of value so that they will return, and this can be a blog, your latest events, or your new products or services.

6. Well-Organized Pages
Make sure that your page layout is clear, concise, and is able to give your visitors exactly what they want without them having to search for it. Visualise yourself as the customer, and try navigating your own website. Decide what you want the customer to know, and plan before you write, so that you can be sure  of coherent paragraphs.

7. Visual Appeal
While content is very important, so is an attractive website. Research on the colours that will work well for your target audience, and remember to leave some open space so that your site does not look too cluttered. Engage a professional website designer if you can afford because it is worth it.

8. Portraying Sincerity and Trustworthiness
People usually buy when they trust the supplier, and if you can ensure that your website is trustworthy, people will be more likely to buy from you. The search engines also base your web rankings on how trustworthy they think your pages are, so it is important to take this into consideration when you build your website.

9. Social Media Functions
Social media such as Facebook, DIGG and de.li.cious are getting more and more popular, and you may want to be sure each page on your website has a button that enables your visitors to share it with their friends easily. This will help you promote your products and services.

10. A Polished Finish
Finally, before you promote your website, make sure all your information are correct, and all your links are working. Check your spelling, layout, and grammar, in different browsers like Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, the three most popular browsers nowadays. Visitors will have more faith in you if you have an error-free and up-to-date website.