1. Difficult
to find – because most PDFs start life as a Word document, it is unlikely that they
have been optimised so that the content can be found by search engines.
PDFs tend to be long and text heavy, making it improbable
that they are optimised using keywords the intended audience will be searching
for.
2. Difficult
to open - your audience is less likely to be able to access PDF content because,
for example, they cannot open the PDF format you have saved using the software
on their device.
If users do have the right software (such as Adobe Acrobat),
they will have to wait for it to open before they can read the content – interrupting
their flow and causing unnecessary frustration.
3. Difficult
to navigating - browser commands do not work because the content of a PDF is
within its own sub-environment, and is not being viewed via the internet.
By opening a PFD users have now moved away from your
website and because a PDF does not typically contain the website navigation, they
will find it difficult to get back to their original location.
4. Difficult
to read – PDF is designed
to be printed on paper, not read on a computer screen. With an increasing
number of users accessing content via smart devices (with smaller screens), the
font will probably be too small to read (unless it is printed onto paper).
5. Difficult
to search – the search facility in PDF readers is primitive and relies on an exact
text string match. So, unless your users know the exact phrase they are
searching for (in your long, text heavy PDF), they are unlikely to find it.