Why Web Developers Need To Chill Out

As a person who spends a fair bit of time on the Internet, like most people, I have noticed many changes. One thing we have to accept is that nothing is private. If you look at used Toyotas, the next thing you know, there will be Toyota ads popping up in your email, Facebook, and every other unrelated site you visit.

Even the power thesaurus site will post ads related to your recent browsing history. I was thinking – Gee, we better be careful when we shop for a bra online. Next thing you know your bra size might be posted with the thesaurus. Or on Facebook. Or in the comment section on CBC. They must have a computer model or algorithmic entry to avoid posting certain aspects of browsing history.

Just the other day I was doing some research on luxury brand consignment stores, and within a couple of days received at least ten direct email advertisements from them.

If things get a little crazy – the best thing to do is clear the cache, which can be done on the web browser at an advanced level. You just have to re-sign into all your standard accounts after clearing the cache, but it does solve some of the ad history as well. Web developers also have to clear the cache periodically on the admin panel, or back end of the store.

The advertising is understandable, since the Internet is a highly competitive marketplace. But what is of most concern is that web developers are putting pop-up ads everywhere now. They are at the top of the page, and on the sides in little boxes. They creep up from the bottom of the page, covering the text you are trying to read. If one ad doesn’t grab your attention, it is quickly replaced by another one, and seems to seep through the cracks to find a space on the already cluttered page.

Some websites have little chat corners with a real person trying to get your attention. If you close that, the person’s face goes away, leaving a small bar. Within a matter of seconds, the small bar starts jumping up and down. It is very annoying, to the extent I will not even stay on a website if it is invasive or intrusive.

What many web developers do not realize, is how many people they are losing by placing so many interruptions. Surely we all remember how quickly we would leave a clothing store, if there was an overly aggressive sales person following us around, who would not allow you to browse and shop at your own pace.

Another annoying thing, is when an online shop does not list prices. I can see why certain things may be open to offers, or have some exception to the rule, but overall it is human nature to price shop. Why not let people look? You cannot get inside their head anyway.

This could just be my own opinion, and may not be that widespread, but the most annoying things are pop-up ads that move. It’s quite distracting to start reading or looking at something, and then suddenly half the page is covered with a pop-up ad asking for login information, or a registration of name and email. As if that’s not enough, some of those pop-ups wobble and move, akin to waving a flag or flyer in your face.

Hopefully, I can cover all the pet peeves in one rant!

Another web developer blooper, is when they put the social media buttons covering part of the text in the article. Some developers wisely put the buttons off to the side. Others have a small x or arrow that allows you to move it out of the way.

In reading multiple news sources, left wing, right wing, and in between, biases can be quite obvious. But nevertheless, it is worthwhile to read the gambit just to get a bigger picture. One example is Rebel Media. They have published a few articles I might be inclined to read – but they have large social media buttons covering a portion of the text – so I give up.

For me, the worst placement of social media buttons, is when the left portion of the text is covered, because we read from left to right. When skimming articles, the left portion of the text probably instills the most comprehension – yet they obscure that text.

Even as journalists, they don’t seem to understand why it is beneficial to allow people to read an article, without covering up a percentage of the words. Do they think placing the social media buttons where you cannot ignore them, will make more people use the social media buttons? I’m not sure, but I bet it is not the least bit effective.

The Internet has evolved into one huge, busy page, with individually targeted ads everywhere. This is the main reason people believe the sale of paper books may make a big comeback. People do not want constant distractions when they are reading or looking at something. Maybe, we do not like to have our train of thought interrupted. Perhaps we do not like to have someone else dictate our intellectual priorities.

From a web developers perspective, I realize I have a long way to go. I do have social media buttons, but removed them long ago. I think the most important thing is to have quality content. The old saying “content is king” was replaced by an expanded adage “content is the kingdom”. That makes total sense to me. You can use all the gizmos and ads available, and without good content – it is merely Internet junk mail. We all know what happens to junk mail.

Most people who embark on developing a website might not know that all those plug-ins and widgets enabling you to put pop-up ads, wobbling, jumping, waving, tracking, etc. adds more code to your website. Some of the code is fairly clean. Some of it is not, and can cause glitches or slow your site to a crawl. On top of it all, the plug-ins can interact with each other, and make things so convoluted, you don’t know how to fix them.

In my opinion, plug-ins should be used sparingly. The analogy for me, is in comparing plug-ins to prescription drugs. There might be short term relief, or solutions – but they won’t be without side effects. Some web developers seem to think the more plug-ins you use, the more sophisticated the site. But in reality, it does the opposite.

I do hope the Internet trends back to a reduction of ads, or at least fewer well placed ads. I don’t think there is any point in being naive enough to believe there is anonymity on the website.

So far, even our online medical data is not secure. We know, because of numerous data breaches over the years. For some reason they have not managed to create a secure encryption for lab results and individual health records. One of the biggest concerns aside from privacy, is the chance of errors, which could cause colossal damages if treatment or drug dosages are based on erroneous diagnostics or patient identity.

Our banking data is well encrypted and seems to be the most secure, but even so, people have to use caution. PayPal has a very good reputation and when they or their merchant accounts are subject to phishing attacks, they have an email reporting system called spoof@paypal. If someone spoofs you, you can tell by the long string of characters, and the fact they do not address you by name, since Paypal always addresses you by name.

It has taken a few years, but I am much more aware of cyber attacks, phishing attempts, and things that don’t ring true.

Trust is central to any transaction, and even more so on the Internet, since the customer has to believe you will deliver. Thankfully, I have never had a Paypal complaint. One key benefit of doing all components of the transaction online, is that it is all documented, from the initial payment, all the way to the shipping and tracking number. Refunds are quick and easy. The customer is refunded immediately, if the funds have not already been transferred to the bank.

If the refund is issued later, after being transferred to the bank, it takes about three days to get the funds back to the customer. I had to refund a couple of payments, where the shipping costs were prohibitive, such as sending maps in a mailing tube to Australia.

In another case, the order was for antique ivory earrings. I issued a refund on those, because the order was from a State with specific laws related to the ivory ban. There are restrictions to be aware of relating to fur and ivory. It used to be okay to sell vintage fur and pre-ban ivory, but not anymore. The prohibited list does contain certain obscure furs that may not be properly identified, like those from some of the spotted cats.

Whether it is the best idea or not, I have chosen not to put moving images, pop-up ads, social media buttons, or track what people look at. The content and product can speak for itself.

My assumption is that the customer can think for themselves, and look at whatever they want, to their heart’s content. Soon, I will have to develop a marketing plan, to include social media. But for now – I’ll follow my own advice and remain low key.

I will work hard to make things independently interesting though. And hope for the best!