Last Updated on September 6, 2024
Usability is very important for the success of any site. A website that is usable, enables visitors to find what they are looking for easily and quickly. Here are some tips which can help you enhance the usability of your site.
1. Use a search box
A search box is a vital element of any site. Visitors can use it to find what they’re looking for without having to click through multiple pages of the site. It would be advisable to position the search box on the top right section of your pages where it can easily be seen. Make sure it’s at least 25 characters wide to make provision for long search terms.
2. Text legibility
Make sure the fonts used on your site are simple and of an appropriate size. This will make the content easily legible across various platforms and browsers. If possible, give your visitors the option of resizing the text as they wish. In addition, you need to ensure that the text on your pages is darker than the background.
3. Link colors
You need to take into consideration the colors used for the links that appear on your site. It would be advisable to maintain the default color of blue for all your links, assuming that the rest of your text is black. A light shade of purple would be ideal for visited links. Having such colors will make your links stand out, and therefore easily recognizable to visitors.
4. Make your pages scannable
Making your pages scannable enables visitors to glean some information at a glance without having to read through the entire content. You can use relevant headings and sub-headings, as well as paragraphs to break down your content. Bullet points can also be useful for creating a clear list of points. To draw attention to specific texts, you could either bold or underline them.
5. Avoid CAPTCHAs
The CAPTCHA is a test which is used to distinguish humans from machines. The disadvantage of using this test is that some people might not understand the characters and symbols used. In addition, some users simply get frustrated when they have to go through a long process before accessing information on a site. Therefore, to ensure a pleasant user experience for all your visitors, it would be advisable to avoid using CAPTCHAs altogether.
6. Use a memorable tagline
Take time to think of a short, catchy statement which will summarize what your site or business is all about. This tagline should then be placed in the header of your site, right under the logo. Make sure you have a tagline that will grab the attention of visitors and entice them to look through the pages of your site.
7. Speed
Most web users are very impatient. If a web page takes too long to load, they will simply leave and go elsewhere. This is why loading speed is a very important aspect of website usability. Avoid adding unnecessary graphics or images which will only enlarge your file size, thus causing your pages to load slower. In addition, you need to protect your site from the activities of hackers which might affect your loading speeds.
