As the online world continues to grow and business websites become more user friendly I'm often surprised at the a huge number of websites with features instantly scaring off potential customers. So I thought it's time to expose them, but rather that just give my opinion on the website features that have customers running, I decided to conduct a survey to get to the truth!

Survey respondents were asked "How annoying do you find these website features?" and to rate them from "1: I can live with this" to "5: I'm out of here!!" Fifty people responded, largely from the Flying Solo community and my treasured Twitter followers.

If you were one of the survey respondents then a huge thanks is in order! If you missed out on this one but would like to be part of our next survey, sign up to ClickNews to be notified.

And now ... the results! First, the top ten.

1. Pop-up ads

Yep, no surprises here. Pop-up ads are the bane of the Internet and we can't understand why they're still used! They tend to alienate website visitors rather than compel them to act.

2. Audio

Audio that starts playing when you enter the site: Ugh! Such an imposition! For people who are viewing the Internet at work, on public transport or late at night, audio blaring through the speakers is completely unwelcome, not to mention unnecessary. Give website visitors the credit to choose for themselves whether to listen.

3. Spelling mistakes and poor grammar

Huzzah! Nothing says "I can't be trusted to do a good job for you" like spelling mistakes and lousy grammar. Your business website should be all about your credibility, not a showcase of your failings. Pay a professional to write or proofread your content.

4. Too many ads:

If your business website generates the majority of your income from paid ads, then more power to you. But if you're using ads to finance your website and the result is taking the shine off your own products and services, then what's the good of it?

5. Video that starts playing when you enter the site:

You know when you open a business website and get momentarily distracted and you can't figure out where the sound is coming from? It's probably a video shoved way down the page and you have to go and dig for it. Annoying in the extreme! Again, let your website visitors choose the content they view.

6. Pop-ups for newsletter sign-ups:

We get it, ok? You want to maximise any opportunity to build your subscriber database. But is it really worth turning people off before they even get to know you? Sometimes subtlety works better than a whack in the face. Ok, always.

7. Difficult to use navigation:

Until they develop some kind of GPS unit for website navigation, you're going to have to make it simple for your visitors. Remove any barriers you can for those who come to your site! If you want them to buy from you or hire you, why would you want to make it difficult for them to do so?

8. Walk-on videos showing people talking about their site:

They do look cool, we'll grant you that. But this is not TV. This is the Internet and a different user experience altogether. As business website features go, we discourage this one wherever possible.

9. Splash pages with "click to enter site":

First you have to wait for the flash animation to load then when it finally does, you have to click again to get to the website you wanted to view in the first place. If you're thinking of adding one of these to your website, don't do it!

10. Broken links:

A highway sign is of no use whatsoever if it's pointing in the wrong direction or painted over. A broken link is a totally wasted opportunity. Not only does it not take the visitor where he wants to go but it's also highly likely to turn them away from your business website altogether.

The Complete List of Annoying Website Features

So that's the top 10, and the most important to check against your business website. Below is the complete list of 27 most annoying website features, included in the survey!

Survey Comments

And finally, some comments from survey respondents that completely validate complaints about bad website design, and give some more options to include in next years survey:

"Sites that have been designed for only one particular screen size/resolution so everything stretches or overlaps strangely on yours. And weird scrolling boxes. And most frames."

"Websites that once you start navigating through, each page looks completely different, its important as a user to know where you are in the website."

"Being forced to watch a video before being allowed to view the content you are interested in."

"Anything that insists that you sign up before it will let you even view the site."

"Exit pop-ups, making you click a button to confirm you want to exit. It's an Internet marketing thing, probably effective but very annoying."

"The context of the transaction has a lot to do with the reaction - some of the "4" ratings are show stoppers if I'm buying, but not researching."

"Instant quote forms which aren't instant at all."

"Anything Flash and anything with ads that take over the page and block what you are reading."

"Online quotes that are really a contact form."

"Pretty much any of the major car brands sites. All flash and no info."

"Copy which is completely focused on the company (me, me, me, by golly we're amazing!), rather than on their target audience (hey, if you're looking for [product/service], we might be able to help you)."

"No contact or about us details."

"Dividing one article into multiple pages- > When the whole page refreshes when you click the next image slide!"

Check your website against this list. Experiment and monitor website bounce rates and conversions. Get help by asking others to look at your site and provide feedback; there may be other causes such as low quality website traffic. If more is needed consider a website redesign.

If you have more annoying website features to add to the list, drop them in the comments box below!