Websites often act as a first impression and business card in today’s digital-savvy world, which is why it’s important that they are user-friendly on every level.
From behind-the-scenes programming to usability and design, developing your website with user friendliness in mind is important to making that good first impression.
If visitors find your site user-friendly, there is a better chance that they will come back again and again for the information they are looking for. Keeping this experience consistent will increase your chances of converting them into a repeat customer.
Take a look at these seven characteristics of what makes a website user-friendly.
1. Mobile-friendly/responsive.
If you’re designing a website for mobile users, you need to make sure that it’s responsive so that it looks good no matter what device it’s being viewed on. This means that the site will adjust its layout based on the size of the screen.
Responsive web design also makes content easier to read.
At the very least, you should focus on making a mobile-friendly website to appeal to mobile users. Once your site is fully mobile compatible, make everything responsive and accessible on every device.
2. Simple navigation.
The first thing visitors notice when they arrive at your site is how easy it is to navigate.
It should be simple for users to find information on your site, and the pages should load quickly so that people aren’t losing patience and taking their search elsewhere. Having a website that is easy to navigate and understand will make it easy for users to find what they’re looking for, leading to better engagement.
Keep page titles short and your site structure organized to ensure a better sitewide experience.
3. Readable content.
In addition to being easy to navigate, your content should be clear, concise, and well-formatted.
This means having clear links between pages, making sure each link takes users directly to the desired destination, and providing enough context for people to easily find what they need.
Utilize headings and subheadings to break down content, as well as short paragraphs and bulleted lists to keep your readers’ attention and avoid confusion.
4. Aesthetic appeal.
Websites with good aesthetics make visitors feel more comfortable and confident when using them.
Your site’s design and content should be aesthetically pleasing, with clean lines, bright colors, and simple layouts. This should be a given – your website should be visually appealing through the use of color, text, images, and, if necessary, animation.
Stay true to your brand and make your website visually striking and more memorable to dazzle your audience and outshine your competition.
5. Visual resources.
If you want to drive more traffic to your website, then you need to provide users with a memorable visual experience.
Make use of visual resources like images, videos, and interactive designs that work to organize your site and inspire engagement.
Visual resources also help to break up your content, so be creative with how you implement them in your site’s design.
6. Fast load times.
We expect a quick response from the web at all times. If we don’t receive it, we are likely to move on to the next thing.
In fact, studies show a site that loads in 1 second has a conversion rate 5x higher than a site that loads in 10 seconds.
Check your load times and optimize your site as needed.
7. Easy to use forms.
Forms are an essential part of any website, whether it’s a form to request more information, sign up for a newsletter, or submit feedback.
Make sure that your forms are user-friendly by using clear labels, short fields, and instructions.
Your forms should be accessible, easy to find, and a no-brainer to fill out and submit. This will help engage users and lead to more conversions.
Ready to make your website user-friendly? To learn more about user-friendly web design and development, check out our web design services page.
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