Usability is one of the most fundamental factors to consider in web design. Even if appealing graphics and search engine optimisation is in place, it will not be worth much without a proper mindset for website usability.
Getting your web usability factors right can make visitors following a logic path on the site and eventually leading to web conversion.
Here are a few usability tips to for web designers and internet marketing professionals to keep in mind:
1. Set up goals on your website
Begin with setting up goals for the website. What do you want visitors to do when they arrive? Perhaps you should track sales and even visits to important sub-pages, but factors like newsletter sign-ups, RSS sign-ups and queries in the contact form can also be useful to track.
2. The 80/20 Rule in web design
It’s said that around 80 % of all problems on websites are created by 20 % of the components in the web design. When designing the site from the beginning, make sure to not use all too complicated elements.
3. The Cost/Benefit ruleRemember that activities should only persist if benefits are equal or greater than the price to be paid. From a web design perspective, the cost/benefit rule can be used to assess the ROI connected with new web design features, functions or elements.
4. The Golden Ratio (1.618)
The golden ratio is based on the greek letter "phi". If dividing a line into two parts, the longer line divided by the smaller part is also equal to the whole length divided by the longer part. Mathematically, it can be written as a/b = a+(b/a) = 1.618.
So how do the golden ratio relate to web design? 1.618 is a said to be a golden ratio in many design elements and can be found throughout nature, in modern gadgets, architecture and art.
Remarkable examples include Apple’s iPod’s and iPhone, music instruments like violins and the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Perhaps there is room for a golden ratio in your web design as well?
5. Do you web design forgive users?
When designing websites, try to keep in mind to design and develop your website so it forgive users making errors. User friendly web design is about helping people avoid doing errors, while minimising negative effects or errors when they happen.
A perfectly designed website use physical features of the design that influence its correct usage. One example can be warning signs coming up to help and assist when a user type incorrect data.
Finally, consider to use a feedback form on your website. This way, users can easily notify the webmaster when an error occurs.
Markus Jalmerot is an SEO consultant from London, UK. He has been involved in website creation for a wide range of both small and blue ship companies, advising about web usability, search engine optimisation and link building. Markus launched SEO School in 2011, a free, simple and straight forward SEO guide. The guide covers 50 lessons to website optimisation, which can be done at your own pace.
Getting your web usability factors right can make visitors following a logic path on the site and eventually leading to web conversion.
Here are a few usability tips to for web designers and internet marketing professionals to keep in mind:
1. Set up goals on your website
Begin with setting up goals for the website. What do you want visitors to do when they arrive? Perhaps you should track sales and even visits to important sub-pages, but factors like newsletter sign-ups, RSS sign-ups and queries in the contact form can also be useful to track.
2. The 80/20 Rule in web design
It’s said that around 80 % of all problems on websites are created by 20 % of the components in the web design. When designing the site from the beginning, make sure to not use all too complicated elements.
3. The Cost/Benefit ruleRemember that activities should only persist if benefits are equal or greater than the price to be paid. From a web design perspective, the cost/benefit rule can be used to assess the ROI connected with new web design features, functions or elements.
4. The Golden Ratio (1.618)
The golden ratio is based on the greek letter "phi". If dividing a line into two parts, the longer line divided by the smaller part is also equal to the whole length divided by the longer part. Mathematically, it can be written as a/b = a+(b/a) = 1.618.
So how do the golden ratio relate to web design? 1.618 is a said to be a golden ratio in many design elements and can be found throughout nature, in modern gadgets, architecture and art.
Remarkable examples include Apple’s iPod’s and iPhone, music instruments like violins and the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Perhaps there is room for a golden ratio in your web design as well?
5. Do you web design forgive users?
When designing websites, try to keep in mind to design and develop your website so it forgive users making errors. User friendly web design is about helping people avoid doing errors, while minimising negative effects or errors when they happen.
A perfectly designed website use physical features of the design that influence its correct usage. One example can be warning signs coming up to help and assist when a user type incorrect data.
Finally, consider to use a feedback form on your website. This way, users can easily notify the webmaster when an error occurs.
Markus Jalmerot is an SEO consultant from London, UK. He has been involved in website creation for a wide range of both small and blue ship companies, advising about web usability, search engine optimisation and link building. Markus launched SEO School in 2011, a free, simple and straight forward SEO guide. The guide covers 50 lessons to website optimisation, which can be done at your own pace.
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