Map and Globe logoThe Map and Globe Web site has some show-stopping problems, some of which will be seriously affecting how much traffic the site receives…

  1. Deep linking not possible – links to specific pages simply don’t work, sometimes generating user hostile server errors.
  2. JavaScript dependent navigation – most links rely on JavaScript, rendering the site almost unusable without script functionality.
  3. Product classification lacks coherence – it can be difficult to find the product category you are looking for. Main left-hand navigation is the biggest problem with one long unstructured list.
  4. Concealed links and buttons - some important buttons don’t look like links or buttons and don’t even cause a hovering mouse cursor to change indicating ‘clickable’ status.
  5. Unlinked thumbnails – many thumbnail images not linked to relevant pages.
  6. CAPS-TASTIC – excessive use of all-caps, particularly the main side navigation, making it jarring to read. Text in all caps usually slows down reading speeds.
  7. Small text – size-locked in most commonly used Web browsers.
  8. Almost non-existent search visibility – probably caused by a Script-dependent link handling technique which search crawlers cannot follow, and generally weak SEO.
  9. Right click disabled – this will not prevent people from viewing the source code or grabbing images.
  10. Large images used for thumbnails – scaled down, often distorted, look poor, and sluggish to download.
  11. Poor accessibility – comprehensively fails Web content accessibility compliance and Section 508.
  12. Site logo doesn’t link to home – the most important navigation device.
  13. and many more…

I have never seen an e-commerce Web site try so hard not to be found, and to discourage anyone who does find it from using it. This is a real shame – I like the products and wanted this site to be good.

There is no doubt that MapandGlobe.com could significantly increase its level of business by fixing these problems. Thankfully, these fundamental mistakes are becoming less common, but MapandGlobe.com is seriously afflicted and needs and a total re-build.