Is Your Website Easy to Use? - By VEM GlobalTM

So design is key. Not visual design. User-centric design is the standard approach to a successful and profit-oriented website. In fact, if users can’t use a tool, it might as well not exist.

How can you make your website easy to use? Below are several tried-and-true tips to remember: 

• Don’t make users think – Your website should be obvious and self-explanatory. Remove all questions marks visitors make consciously and provide a clear module on how to get from point A to point B. Clear structure, moderate visual cues and easily recognizable links are key.

• Focus users’ attention – The human eye is highly non-linear. For this reason, users can easily identify edges, patterns and motions. Your brand and/or logo should be the main attention attracters on the website’s homepage. When the brand or logo is the main focal point, users are provided with enough incentive to find out more about this company. Note: video-based advertisements are great from a marketing standpoint, but these should be used cautiously. Play and stop buttons allow users to watch video when they want to.


• Make use of effective writing – See our article on Best Practices for Effective Website Content.


• Don’t be afraid of the white space – Not only does it reduce our cognitive load, but it also makes it possible to perceive the information on the screen. Thus, white space is good. You’ll have an easily-scannable layout which presents the content as the dominating force.  


• Test early, test often – Always test your website! Testing early can provide significant insight about problems or issues. This also helps you to correct these pitfalls before your website launches. Accoring to Boehm’s first law, errors are most frequent during requirements and design activities and are the more expensive the later they are removed. Testing websites produces results.


• Strive for simplicity – I can’t stress enough how important this last point is. Always keep it simple, keep it clean and keep it relevant.

Some websites are just too hard to figure out. This is where usability comes into play.

Websites should allow users to find what they need and do what users need them to do. Confusing websites, mislabeled links and lack of vital information can cost you customers.

*Usability can increase your customer base and sales*

 

If you have further questions about website design and other website related inquiries, please visit VEMGlobal.com or call 1-877-757-8229.

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