Welcome to my blog. Welcome to my Web site. "Thank you." We mean that sarcastically. If you use this sort of thing on your site or blog, get rid of it. The sooner the better.
These words do a lot of damage. To you.
- They appear at the top of your Web page, so search engines like them. Google the word - welcome - one of those 3.4 billion responses is you. Looking at one site per second it will only take 96 years to see them all. Hey, what's the hurry?
- They waste valuable, and we mean valuable, "real estate" on your page. That space could be selling for you, marketing for you, doing something productive. Do you think the word "valuable" is too strong? How much did you spend, and continue to spend, on your site? How many square inches is your monitor? Figure it out per square inch. Valuable is the right word. It represents some of the most valuable real estate, per square inch, on the planet.
- The words "Welcom to my web site" provide nothing to the reader. No value. People ignore them, actually.
- Many people, usually those who design their own Web sites, place these words in bold letters, or in large text to compound the disaster. So, if you want to make a bad situation worse, that's the way to do it.
What people want to find on your Web site, your blog, and your social networking campaign is quality content, great navigation, and a well designed site that works for them.
People read very little on Web pages, so lose the verbiage and get to the point. Don't waste your time trying to make people feel good, they won't feel any better after reading your wasted text than they did before. Personally, I feel worse after reading it. I really do. A lot worse, because it makes my head hurt. I mean real pain. Why?
I'm a Web content expert and recovering Web master geek sort of a guy, and this makes me feel so bad that I start jumping up and down. Well, I mean, you know, I jump up. Gravity brings me down. Point is, the ceiling of my office is all stove in and my bald head is getting sore.
So, please stop "Welcoming" me to your site. Rather, give me good content that is well written, a consistent navigation system that's easy to use, and good design. Your "Welcome" may be heart felt, but its hurting you, and me too.
Makes my bald head feel better just thinking about it.
