Many companies make the error of ignoring usability. Any
website's usability is crucial to its success, and it should never be
disregarded. Usability can help your website perform better and boost your
chances of success. It can also help your company increase sales and revenue.
Your website must not only appear attractive but also
deliver a seamless user experience for visitors in order to be successful. This
is why usability is so crucial. It will make your website stand out from the
crowd.
The goal of good website usability in web design is to make
it simple for users to locate the information they require quickly and simply.
There are numerous ways to make your website more
user-friendly. This article discusses 11 key qualities of a user-friendly
website. These easy usability suggestions can improve the appeal of your
website to clients and increase your chances of online success.
A user-friendly website must have the following 11 features.
1. Mobile Compatibility
As more people use their phones to access the Internet,
having a mobile-friendly website has become a requirement.
The first step is to see how your current website looks on a
mobile device. You may find out by using Google's mobile site tester. If your
website can't be accessible on a mobile device right now, you can make a mobile
version for free using web-based mobile website builders.
2. Accessible to All Users
Everyone, including the blind, crippled, and elderly, should
be able to visit a user-friendly website. Screen-readers are commonly used by
these individuals to access the Internet. By making your website accessible,
you are ensuring that all of your potential users, including people with
disabilities, have a decent user experience and are able to easily
access your information. By implementing accessibility best practices, you are
also improving the usability of the site for all users.
3. Well Planned Information Architecture
Usability is determined by how content is organized and
presented on your website. It is, however, frequently overlooked. It is much
more critical today since websites provide a wealth of information and tools in
order to attract their target market. Plan your website's sections and
categories carefully, and present content in such a way that users can easily
discover it. Always consider your users' point of view. This is especially
critical if your company's website has a lot of material.
4. Well-formatted content That Is Easy to Scan
Instead of reading every word from top to bottom, the
average Internet user skims through the text on a web page. Users prefer to
quickly scan essential sections of a website to see if it is relevant to their
needs.
It's critical to format your content in this manner.
Headings, subheadings, paragraphs, bullets, and lists are all useful for
breaking up content and making it easier for readers to scan.
5. Fast Load Times
Nothing irritates website visitors more than a website that
takes a long time to load. In fact, delayed loading times are one of the most
common reasons for people abandoning a website. It's critical to ensure that
your website loads in 4 to 6 seconds for optimal usability. It has an impact on
your search engine rating as well.
You may use a free tool like Pingdom to evaluate the speed
of your website and obtain recommendations on how to improve it.
One of the most prominent things that affects website speed
is third-party website plugins and widgets, such as website monitoring and
social networking. Limit your use of them to only those that are absolutely
necessary.
6. Browser Consistency
It's easy to neglect browser compatibility. Due to
negligence, even some of the most renowned companies' websites suffer from this
issue. This is detrimental for branding and has a negative impact on the
usability of the website.
Despite the fact that current browsers have progressed and
become more efficient, there are still significant differences in how various
browsers read a webpage. It's critical that your website looks and behaves the
same on all major browsers, including Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox,
Safari, and Opera. Simple details like this distinguish a professionally
designed website from the competition.
7. Effective Navigation
One of the most crucial parts of website usability is
navigation. Simple HTML or JavaScript menus are the most reliable and
consistent across all browsers and platforms.
It's also crucial that the navigation is clutter-free. As
far as feasible, keep the number of menu items to a minimum. On a large site
with many sections and pages, a drop-down menu or sub-navigation may be more
useful.
8. Good Error Handling
Optimal error handling and on-screen message descriptions
are critical for good usability. It is, however, frequently overlooked. The
correct handling of errors at the code level ensures that the website is stable
and bug-free. The user experience and overall usability are improved by
displaying the appropriate error message.
9. Valid Mark-Up & Clean Code
A website that follows applicable web design best practices
and standards is usually more stable and reliable. It also guarantees that the
page loads quickly and looks the same across all browsers and devices. It also
makes it easy to track down issues and troubleshoot them if necessary.
10. Contrasting Color Scheme
One of the most fundamental yet crucial web design aspects
that should never be disregarded is the proper contrast between the website's
background and content. Your material will be legible and easy to read if there
is a good contrast between the background and the text, such as black font on a
white background. On the other hand, a lack of contrast makes it harder for
visitors to read your material.
11. Usable Forms
On company websites, forms are a critical component. They
make it possible for users to interact with the website. Forms can also be used
to generate leads for a company.
It's critical to make sure your forms are simple to use and
accessible to everyone if you want to get the most out of your website.
The success of a website is determined by its usability.
Usability boosts your chances of success by allowing visitors to have a
seamless experience. It's one of the things that distinguishes a well-designed
website from the others. The 11 usability qualities listed above must be
present on any website. It can aid in the success of your website.
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