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Requiring Downloads

By Linda Roeder, About.com

Problem #6:

Requiring Downloads - You added music or some other program to your site and it requires your readers to download software in order to view it but they don't have the software and don't want it.

Solutions:

1. Don't have anything downloading as the reader is opening the page. This causes the page to load slow and can upset users that don't like to download things unless they know what they are.

2. If you require something to be downloaded to view the page offer it as a link on the page and not as something that is going to automatically download whether they want it or not.

3. If you have music, video or something else on your site that you think your readers will be interested in, add a link to the software that they will need, next to the link to the music or video. Do this even if you think it's common software.

4. Try to use software that is common with most standard browsers so you user won't have to download anything new.

5. Don't require your readers to download programs they will have to pay for.

** Back to "7 Problems With Your Web Site"

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