Visitors rarely have much time on their hands and will quickly lose interest if they encounter a website that doesn’t work as intended. Creating a user-friendly website will improve visitor satisfaction and make it easier for them to take the desired action, whether scheduling an appointment or filling out a contact form.
Choose a Website Design That Puts the User First
People visit websites with the goal of connecting with your business and finding what they need. If they have to work hard to navigate your website or connect with you, chances are they won’t stick around to see how you can meet their needs.
Taking time to choose a website design that puts your users first is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure your website is user-friendly. This includes avoiding cluttered or visually busy pages, keeping your content fresh, reducing disruptive pop-ups and using white space to break up large blocks of text for better readability.
It also means making sure the language and tone you use are accessible to everyone, including visitors with cognitive disabilities like Alzheimer’s and dementia. It’s a good idea to avoid acronyms and abbreviations, and to include captions on all video content. Finally, your online forms should be efficient, and you should have a way for visitors to get in touch with a person if they need a follow-up response.
Use Accessible Language and Tone
A website is a key tool for connecting with your audience, so user-friendly web design is crucial.
The content on your website should be written in plain language that is comprehensible and accessible to all users. It’s best to write at a grade 8 or 9 reading level and consider using a free online writing tool like Hemingway Editor (link is external) to help you simplify your text.
Your site should be accessible to people with physical disabilities as well. Many disabilities affect a person’s ability to move their hands and legs, or control their voice. For example, some people have a speech disability or experience stuttering. Ensure your website is navigable for these individuals by using aria labels for images that provide essential information to sighted visitors. You should also use person-first language to avoid stigmatizing disabilities and respect individual preferences.
Choose Color Carefully
Keeping users engaged isn’t easy. Their attention spans are limited, and if they can’t figure out how to navigate your site, they’ll look elsewhere for answers.
Websites with a high usability factor are able to keep visitors happy, which helps improve conversion rates and overall site performance. A user-friendly website is non-negotiable for any business or organization in 2024.
Developing a user-friendly site doesn’t need magic, but it does demand a thorough understanding of UX and UI. A successful site hinges on the right color scheme and navigation. Color should be chosen strategically, contrast should be considered, and color blindness should be taken into account. By following these expert tips, you can help your website be more user-friendly and captivate its audience. The more user-friendly your website, the more likely your visitors are to engage with you and take action on your calls to action.
Keep It Simple
A user-friendly website doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, keeping things simple can be one of the most effective ways to create a user-friendly site.
Internet users tend to skim content rather than read it in full, so it’s important to keep this in mind when designing your website. Keep paragraphs short and use conventional newspaper column formatting to make it easier for people to scan your pages. Information chunking is another useful way to visually break up sections of your website. Use headings, lists, paragraphs and contrasting colors to help readers find what they need.
Users also want their websites to load quickly. A slow-loading website can be frustrating for visitors and will likely drive them away. Keeping this in mind, it’s important to test your website’s load times on a regular basis. A web developer can offer advice and tips for speeding up your website if it is lagging.
Use Information Chunking
Keeping in mind the principles of information chunking can help you build a website that is easy for users to navigate. The concept of information chunking involves breaking down content into smaller pieces that are easier to comprehend and remember. It’s similar to how sports teams might break down their plays into smaller “chunks.” Athletes and speakers often use this strategy to organize their thoughts and deliver their message more effectively.
Chunking can be used with all types of content, from text to videos. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the number of information units a person can process at once is limited.
It’s, therefore, important to use clear and concise language and only include the minimum amount of content needed to accomplish the user’s goals. For example, a phone book typically lists names and phone numbers in chunks of four digits.
Make Online Forms Efficient
Have you ever left a website after finding it difficult to navigate? It is important to keep usability in mind when designing a website, particularly if you want it to work toward your marketing and fundraising goals.
Forms are a vital part of any website, but they need to be efficient to ensure that people actually fill them out and submit them. Avoid asking for more information than is necessary or requiring fields that aren’t crucial, as this will deter people from completing the form.
You should also streamline your form’s questions and make them easy to read. Labels should be above fields rather than within them, and it is advisable to stack fields vertically when you have more than two, as this is easier for people to scan.
Final Words
Venice Web Design Company is renowned as the best web development agency in the United States. We excel in designing user-friendly, functional sites that emphasize speed, navigation, and usability. By implementing cutting-edge strategies and keeping an eye on client desires, we ensure that our projects exceed goals.
