The Health Problems of a Website
Over the years I have launched many websites. My favorite part is watching the statistics when that thin blue line begins to pulse like a line on a EKG monitor. The anticipation relieved as your website is no longer flat-lining, your website now shows a steady heartbeat as each user flows in.
I think relating a website to the human body is very fitting. None of the parts really matter without a steady flow of healthy website users to feed the body. This may seem like common sense but let me diagnose the web health problems that affect the website user: Advertisements, Security and Over Regulation.
Displaying advertisements on your site is not always toxic. I also enjoy the idea of earning money as my website sleeps. 
Beware: Ads are like junk food - eat in moderation. The average website user will tolerate one or two modestly placed ads per page. Avoid ads that will interrupt or cover your content; it will go straight to your thighs! Pop up ads? That is a heart attack waiting to happen.
Of course if your website users are healthy enough you can afford some extra calories as many larger established sites enjoy. Just keep your diet balanced between the amount of website users and the obtrusiveness of your ads.
Website security is the endless battle between virus and immune system. Most security measures are very much a necessity, I won't argue that, although some precautions applied to a site are like a hypochondriac with a stolen prescription pad.
The most commonly used prescription is CAPTCHA, the hard to read letters in an image used to make sure you're not a robot. This system is great for preventing most of the viruses from taking over and filling up your site with spam, but this system is also great at annoying and clotting your website users. I'd rather spend time as a website administrator cleaning up the spam then risk losing blood, but if it does become a full time job then by all means write that prescription!
Over regulation is the leading cause of website death. It is cancer. Let's say your website has a great service which will attract many users. The absolutely wrong thing to do is to require the user to fill out a lengthy registration form to use it. Treat your website users with care and only make requests when it is necessary. Remember the only reason they are visiting is because of the service your website provides. They owe you nothing.
Always remember: Your website user is the life's blood of your website. Be your own site doctor; analyze and treat these web health problems or your site may end up in the emergency room!
Kyle Robinson Young
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Hi Everyone! Our team is excited to begin sharing some helpful and interesting knowledge about the web. So please bear with us as we get this blog rolling.
Kyle Robinson Young