How to improve usability of the website: 10 simple tips
A website is like a print edition, readable by users only when the information presented is really interesting for them. The usability of the website is affected by a variety of factors. It is assumed that each structural element should attract the attention of the user who entered the corporate website or the online store’s product catalog. The article contains 10 basic recommendations for improving the «usability» of a WEB project.
Load speed optimization
Reducing the load time of resource pages is the first step towards the convenience of working with the website. If the user has to wait a long time until the desired page opens, his interest is reduced. Deciding to develop a corporate website, pay attention to the «massiveness» of its structural elements – they must correspond to the amount of traffic that will be convenient for everyone.
Main page
Make every effort to design the «main page», as the first impression is of utmost importance. When deciding to develop an internet store or portal for a service company, remember: when you design your start page, you must follow all the rules given in this material.
Resource related design
Try to leave «anchors» in each design element and in the textual information, which will impose a thematic connection with the goods or services monitored by visitors. If it is necessary to develop a Landing Page, then after clicking on the ad unit, the user should immediately see information about the product that was specified there.
The brevity and ease of information submission
Not «catching the wind in a net» is a principle that also applies to modern forms of content. Select typical volumes of information blocks for a resource, for example:
- news – up to 2 thousand characters;
- informational articles – 7-8 thousand characters;
- Reviews – up to 15 thousand characters.
Even with such volumes, there is no guarantee that the user will read to the end, and therefore try to give him only the desired content.
Readability
While designing the text blocks, befall to the work as a diploma writing. Ideal formatting, numbered / bulleted lists, the decent distance between semantic pieces, convenient font, highlighting the most important points, pronounced links, and quotes, etc. All this will allow you to read the text without hesitation and the constant desire to close the page.
Simple structure and easy navigation
Do not increase the number of tabs and transitions to new windows. Try to develop a corporate website or online store in such a way that each user intuitively understands where to click to receive this or that information.
Visual effects
Translate the maximum amount of text into a graphic format, tables or even videos that will replace hundreds or thousands of characters. In this form, information is perceived much easier and faster.
High-quality and useful content
In an age when the content can be not only created but also monetized, it is unwise to spend free space within an Internet portal for information that does not carry any constructive for the user. Constantly replenish the database of articles (or a product catalog), update the cited data, exclude unreliability, etc.
The convenience of entering user information
When registering, authorizing or ordering goods (services), the user must spend a minimum of time on typical actions. Therefore, try to form questionnaire boxes so that the website visitor’s brain does not hurt while filling them out. Be sure to add feedback or user support system, where everyone can go in case of difficulties when working with the portal.
Educational elements
If, however, a complex-structured corporate website is being formed, then form an unobtrusive training system that will make it easy to deal with one or another action. This may be small tooltips, or tips, submitted in the form of recommendations. This will help keep the website at the maximum number of users suffering from technical difficulties.
Conclusion
Any of your actions from the perspective of managing an Internet resource (corporate website, aggregator, online store or Landing Page representing a particular product or service) should be aimed at improving its usability. Independently analyze the resource for structural or functional elements, the improvement (optimization) of which can lead to an increase in user interest and, as a result, the demand for the goods (service) being sold.
