Web Design Tricks: Is Your Site User Friendly?
Of course, you don’t want to be a designer. You can have a successful site with no design experience at all. So why ever bother? Because to maximize your websites potential you need to do everything in your power to make sure it’s visually appealing and accessible to all visitors. So why not spend a little time making sure your is up to par and user friendly?
An ideal website design focuses on letting the visitors attain a higher level of accessibility into the website. Here are some tips that can help you create a website design that allows visitors to come through with minimal troubles:
Functionality
Be sure to code your pages so they load quickly – ten seconds or less is a good rule of thumb. Use familiar terms in your menu: Home, Contact Us, About Us, Help, and so on. Do not use “hip” or “cool” alternatives. On long pages, use text navigation links so that users will not have to scroll back up the page.
Layout
Use distinct contrast such as black text on a white background, or vice versa for your page’s body. Font sizes of less than 10pt should not be used for the main section of your page. Choose sans-serif fonts rather than serif fonts, since sans-serif fonts are easier to read on the screen. Break up blocks of text that are very long. Make sure to test your site so that you know if it looks good in various browsers and resolutions.
Main Navigation
All users want to be able to move through the website to find what they want. A huge factor in being user-friendly is providing simple and intuitive navigation. Major areas of navigation should be located consistently on all pages.
Brand Your Website
You should make sure that every page includes your logo. Tell people what your business is about quickly and simply by adding a slogan to (or under) your logo. Your color scheme and layout should be consistent throughout the entire site. Maintain an “About Us” section which includes pertinent information about your business. At the bottom of each page, make sure to include a statement of copyright. One each page, except for the homepage itself, your logo should be prominent and it should link you directly back to the homepage. On each of your internal pages, put a link that goes to your homepage.
Content
Compose text in everyday language that is universally comprehensible, except if you are operating a tech website for tech savvy users. Make sure to utilize spell check. Errors in spelling are an embarrassment and damage your credibility.
Hyperlinks
Be explicit in terms of making your links explanatory. They ought to point out what the visitor will be linked to, instead of merely stating, ‘click here’. Make your links underlined and utilize the same hue for all the links throughout your website. Refrain from underlining anywhere except for links. When you delineate the links in your design sheet, choose a separate hue for links that are visited. Be certain that all your links are functioning correctly and make sure none are non-operative.
Contrasting Colors for Text
Dark text on a light or white background is the tried and tested best for most people as it increases readability. Even if you are using other colors make sure to keep the text color in dark contrast to the background.
Colors and CSS
Adjust the colors of your website using web design solutions such as CSS. Thus, if by chance visitors find your default stylesheet hard to use, they can turn it off and use their own stylesheet.
Sensible Links
Make sure that all the links on your website make sense even out of context. Visually impaired people often skip through the links on a page. Links like ‘Click here’ does not make any sense to them. rather try framing ‘Click here for more information about website design.’ This would tell them what exactly are they for.
Readable Text
Make your text resizable so that people with poor eyesight are able to resize the content matter to suit them.
ALT Text
Do make sure to include meaningful ALT text in your website design. Visually impaired users are able to browse through the site when their screen readers read aloud the ALT text. With the ALT text missing from your website design, your website will potentially be unusable for your blind visitors and you could end up losing out on potential customers.
