When it comes to building and designing a user-friendly website, you would like the design to cause the user to have a comfortable, inviting, and easy-going experience while he or she visits your page. You can accomplish this by incorporating website design that is responsive, beautiful, and simple. If you want your site to be a user-friendly experience, check to see if it includes all of these qualities of an easy to use website. If not, then you may need some professional help.
1. User-Friendly Website Navigation (Keep it Simple)
Perhaps the most crucial element of a user-friendly website is how simple it is to navigate. Users need to easily navigate through each page, find what they need with little effort, and explore each option in the website. All without having to read content more than once. One of the best ways to learn from an efficient navigation system is to see the mobile-exclusive versions of some websites. Because mobile phones are viewing content on a reduced screen size, the mobile versions of most websites cut to the chase and supply users with exactly what they are looking for.
2. Organized Menus (Don’t go Crazy)
The menus of a user-friendly website have simple, concise titles for their options, are large enough for the user to read them without taking up too much valuable space. And they link to the exact pages they describe. If the site has multiple pages and features then you should use a branching system to organize each page in a logical sequence; while also simplifying the menu’s layout in the process.
3. Strong Sense of Identity (Be Yourself)
If the website is part of a business or corporation then it should display the logo prominently on some part of the site. The logo needs to appear organically and consistently, and in places where the user is most likely to visit. Most company websites use taglines or slogans as an efficient, quick, and understandable way to communicate the business’s mission statement. If the company website has a blog or regularly produces content, it uses clear calls-to-action (CTAs) to remind the user of the primary purpose of the site, as well as several of the services offered.
4. Accessible Content (Design For-All)
Accessibility in modern web design is important. Proper colors, the right text size, and alt image attributes are just a few aspects needed to increase accessibility. Your content should be easy enough for anyone to read, or even skim through. The text needs to be large enough that most people can read it. Meaning a developer should break it up with images, videos, short paragraphs, subheadings, bullet points and numbers. Or they should employ other tactics that make reading the content a dynamic experience. Writers should use as little jargon as possible, writing in a tone that balances professionalism with friendliness.
5. Social Media Interaction (Open Your Doors)
Social media is an increasingly significant part of the online experience, allowing people to instantly share the content they enjoy. A savvy website has features and content that give users the ability to share them through their favorite social media websites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Social media awareness can drive potential new users to your website, and an accessible website can keep them on your page. The owner of a successful website likely also has social media accounts for the company, with the website’s social media icons encouraging viewers to follow their accounts.
6. Learning From Experience (Listen to Feedback)
The most effective ways a website owner can appeal to users is by addressing their specific concerns regarding the site. The owner of a user-friendly website tries to investigate what potential clients dislike about the website. From small, technical problems, such as broken links and images; to larger problems, like a cluttered menu or an overstuffed main page; responding to specific complaints shows the page truly is user-oriented.
Questions to Ask (Stay Humble)
Now that you’ve seen some of the most important qualities in a user-friendly website, review your website. Keep the questions in mind as you go through every page and explore each option. Try to pretend you are a completely new person who has only discovered the site for the first time.
- Is the site easy to navigate?
- Are my menus organized and simple?
- Does my site have a strong sense of identity?
- Is my content accessible to the general public?
- Is my site embracing the benefits of social media?
- Am I learning from user experiences and applying that to the site?
Does your current website meet the above criteria? Do you think your website is user-friendly? If not, then now is the time to seek the guidance of a professional web designer. Contact Imagine Monkey today to start working with experienced web designers and developers in the Orange County area to create a website that your users will love and return to multiple times.
