| Vol. 7, issue 3 - issued monthly | March 2008 |
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In this issue:
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From the Editor: I don't know about you, but I am SO ready for SPRING! We've had a couple of tastes of it and I'm ready for green and flowers! This months article is on Web site usability - the most important feature of a site! If it's not easy for visitors to find what they're looking for you've lost them. There's a great book (it's a quick read) called "Don't Make Me Think". Check it out. As always, remember to Surf Safely - use your anti-virus and firewall's! - Michelle
"If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up." |
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" Is Your Web site Usable? "Usability plays a very important role on the web. A we site with poor usability will more often than not encounter a high bounce rate. A bounce rate is a common term for the amount of people who reach a site, but leave shortly after their arrival. A high bounce rate is just one of the many problems associated with poor usability. Remember that a web site doesn't include an instruction manual, so the user interface must be intuitive and highly usable in order to be successful. What is Usability? There are various definitions for usability from a plethora of experts, but most definitions generally state that a usable web site will feature the following characteristics:
Benefits of a Highly Usable Web site There are numerous benefits of a highly usable web site for both the prospective visitors and you as the web site owner. With an increase in usability, users will achieve their goals more quickly and efficiently, which improves the likelihood of them utilizing your service or product. A highly usable web site will also develop user confidence in a particular product, web site, and/or company. The most obvious benefit for the user is simply an overall increase in your visitors satisfaction. With an increase in user satisfaction, patrons will become more brand loyal and possibly recommend your web site to their friends and colleagues. There are also advantages for the web site operator/provider when it comes to increased usability. A highly usable site will reduce that amount of technical support needed, because of an overall reduction in user errors. Common Usability Issues: What to Improve On There are several places were users typically encounter usability issues on the web. Some key areas to look out for in regards to usability issues are page headings, primary navigation, and page structure. Page Headings All pages on your web site should include a brief yet descriptive heading. Adequate page headings orientate users and inform them on what they can expect to find on each page. Primary Navigation Proper implementation of a primary navigation scheme is also important, because this is the principal means of navigation for your users. A poorly designed or over complicated navigation scheme may deter even the most savvy computer users. Page Structure Effective page structure may be one of the most important elements of usability in regards to web design. Remember, it's important to avoid cluttered or disorderly page content. Your content should always be presented in a clear, concise, and hierarchical manner. It's also of the utmost importance to maintain proper page consistency through-out the entire web site. |
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Quick TipIf you haven't started useing Internet Explorer 7 yet, you're missing out. Here is a great link to get you familiar with it. http://www.easycomputertips.com/article-startusinginternetexplorer7.html |
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Just for Fun or Useful Links!Got Milk? Bored? Have a few minutes to play? Then check this site out! This is really cool and I love the graphics! It's fun. Take a break and play! Everything you want to know about started a BLOG Have you thought about starting a blog but don't know how? Here's a link to teach you everything you need to know. |
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