Archive for the ‘Website Usability’ category

Having a great website is clearly important and it all comes down to the design. The content could be amazing, but if it isn’t usable no one will stick around. Here are 7 things that you should look for that may be impeding the success of your website.

1. Does your page load fast? If your page takes forever to load no one is ever going to see it, much less visit it often. Slow loading pages can be a symptom of design and some other things. If your page is loading slowly on a good connection, it’s something to check into.

2. Is navigation clear? Does the way your site is laid out make sense to most people? It should be clear how to get from place to place on your site and the page links should be prominent.

3. How does your site look in different resolutions? There are all kinds of screens out there these days, your site should be designed to look the best on as many of those as possible. Consider laptops, desktops, people using their TV’s, tablets, and even mobile phones. The more screens your site looks good on, the better.

4. Is your site compatible with all kinds of browsers? Have you experienced your own site in IE, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, Safari, Flock, or all the rest? A well designed web site will look nice in all of the browsers your potential customers may be using.

5. Is your text readable? Cool fonts are nice and sometimes hard to resist, but they can be distracting. It is generally a good idea to go with a very readable and professional font. You and your design team can find one that fits your personality and is also easy on the eyes.

6. Is there any white space? Filling all of the page might be the urge, but in most cases it should be fought. Using a background that leaves the eyes a place to rest and let the design elements pop in contrast will prevent people from getting color shock or being visually overwhelmed by the page and leaving.

7. Are there broken links? Obviously broken links are going to frustrate the people on your site. Don’t you hate it when it happens to you? Not only is it annoying, but it also looks unprofessional.

When the time has come and you have decided that your website needs some serious design work, choosing the right team to do the work will will make all the difference. It can a tough decision, but here are 5 must ask questions before settling on one.

1. Do you have examples you can show me of projects you have done that had similar goals and needs to my own? A firm that has experience in your field or with meeting the types of demands you have is probably more likely to succeed with your site than a firm charting new territory with your site as guinea pig.
2. How dedicated are you to the usability of the site? They should have something to say about keeping the focus on the visitor at all times. The visitor is the most important thing to your success and as your website design team, it should be their focus as well.
3. Can I meet everyone? If they say yes, the work isn’t all outsourced and they are more likely to have experience working together on projects. Keep probing to find out how they work together and if they bring in outsiders or not. You want a tight knit and experienced team working for you.
4. How do I make changes later? Most likely, it isn’t going to be perfect the first time. This is why it is important to see what the relationship is going to be like after the product is delivered. It should be a continuing one with a team that is willing to keep adjusting and serving your needs during the life of the site.
5. How will we know if it’s working? It is important to decide on success factors and critical numbers on your own first and then see if their answer lines up. The answer might be technical, but they should have some things to say about traffic, bounce, usability, and conversion at the very least.

If you happen to be looking for a web design team of your own, start by checking out our portfolio and please feel free to give us a call or drop us an email to schedule a meeting with our team, you can ask us all the questions you can think of.

Download your copy of the free whitepaper: What to do BEFORE you redesign your website.