Diagnosis: Is Your Website Easy to Use?
When viewers cannot find what they are looking for within two or three
pages, they click away to your competitors. We use the following benchmarks
in evaluating your website’s navigability.
Navigation buttons and menus
Multiple navigation schemes are confusing. Put
all your navigation buttons in one place, either across the top or down one side. Use
drop-downs or expanding accordions for sub-menus. Keep lists as short
as you can. (Want to learn more? Website
Navigation Best Practices.)
Organization of content
If your website has more than “just a few” pages, organize
them into clusters that viewers will understand. Services and About
us are typical groups on many websites. Include a site map that
shows the structure of your site. Show where a page is located in
the overall website structure. (Want to learn more? Organize
content based on audience needs. Also: Website
usability: Organizing content.)
“See also”
Viewers become annoyed if they must always click backwards to see something
else they are interested in. Provide links to other
relevant pages within your text. Make
all your pages as accessible as possible through
the navigation sub-menus. Provide a search feature.
Visual layout
A clean, simple layout makes it easier for viewers to hear your message
and follow your content. Avoid the temptation to put “everything
but the kitchen sink” on the home page or other pages. Too many
things to look at generates confusion. (Want to learn more? Articles
and tutorials about graphic design.)
Discover how our website
evaluation process can help you reach your business goals.
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