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Website Usability
Just as usability is a critical factor in the
design of a successful software application, usability
is also an important factor when considering website
navigation. Websites are essentially interactive
sales materials, and if customers are unable to
easily and intuitively navigate a website, they
are not going to be easily sold on your products.
Every effort should be made to increase the usability
of a website.
Follow these steps to increase your website's
usability...
1. Use Simple Terms
Use clear and unambiguous terms on your website.
Keep in mind that not all website visitors will
speak in your native tongue. Avoid using complex
terms or industry "buzz words" to explain your
software. Use simple, easy-to-understand phrases
that explain your applications benefits.
2. Clear Navigation
Navigation and structure should be clear and
obvious. Navigation paths should be obvious on
all web pages. Remember that visitors will not
always enter your website through the main "Home"
page, so proper navigation is important even deep
within the website.
3. Explain
On each page in a website, there should be a
clear "tag line" that explains the product or
service, so that the website's purpose is obvious.
4. Structure
The structure of the webpage should be hierarchical
and make sense to website visitors. The most important
information should appear first. Follow any standard
design conventions that exist, as many visitors
will be accustomed to looking for certain things
in certain locations -- such as navigation menu
bars on the left, copyright notices and contact
links at the bottom, etc.
5. Free Of Clutter
If something is not relevant, remove it from
the webpage. White space should be used to accentuate
important information. The website should be easy
for visitors to visually scan.
6. Communication Details
Include company contact information, product
pricing, and delivery information, so that potential
customers can easily find those details with just
a few clicks. Prospective customers will often
consider such information to be critical to their
decision making process, and they may simply abandon
a website if they are unable to locate such information
easily and quickly, or if they feel that these
details are being made intentionally hard to find.
7. Search
Search functionality is now commonplace on websites,
so be sure that customers can find what they are
seeking by adding a local search function.
Website usability is an important part of the
web design process. Improve your website's navigation,
and your financial bottom line is likely to grow.
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Developer
101
Website Usability