The popularity of a site largely depends on how user-friendly it is. Every day new resources appear on the Internet, which may eventually close due to low traffic. Even if your marketing strategy is perfect, it doesn't guarantee that users will stay on your site. It is for this reason that usability (ease of use) plays a key role. Most of the target audience comes for information, and if there are problems finding the right content, users may turn to competitors. In this article, we will take a closer look at what usability analysis is and how to correct common mistakes.
Usability is an indicator that reflects the ease of use of a website. It determines whether the user will stay on the site and complete a targeted action, such as making a purchase or filling out a form. Usability analysis involves testing all website functions to identify and correct errors. An example would be an online store where customers encounter problems when placing an order, such as the submit button not working.
On the Internet you can find sites where styles are written incorrectly, which is why some elements may be hidden behind other blocks. For example, the submit button may be grayed out, which can irritate the user. There are often other design problems when the functionality works, but the appearance of the resource repels users. Bright colors, too small a font - all this can lead to a high bounce rate. To improve user behavior, it is important to conduct usability analysis. Next, we will tell you what parameters you should pay attention to in order to improve the usability of the site.
The first step is to check the page loading speed. The optimal time is 1-2 seconds. If it takes longer to load, about 50% of users will leave the page before it opens.
To speed up the site, you need to optimize the code, get rid of extra spaces, combine styles and scripts. You should also make changes to the htaccess file settings and add page caching. This will store the page in the browser cache, speeding up its loading when you visit it again.
Here are a few more steps to help improve your site:
1. Fix bugs in . Make sure all tags are properly closed and attributes are correct. For example, multiple identical class values in a document can cause failures.
2. Cross-browser and cross-platform – your site should be displayed equally well in different browsers and on different devices. For example, when it comes to mobile devices, blocks should be displayed correctly without horizontal scrolling. To do this, you need to add a viewport meta tag and specify styles for mobile versions of the site.
3. Make sure all clickable elements work as expected. Sometimes elements that look like buttons aren't, which can confuse users. It's better to use a separate style for non-clickable elements.
4. Design consistency. It is important that the design of all pages is the same. If the pages look different, the user may think they are on a different site. Think in advance about a single color scheme and design style for all pages.
5. Avoid overlapping elements and awkward pop-ups. For example, buttons or other important elements may be hidden behind other blocks. Pop-ups can also be a nuisance if they appear at the wrong time or without an option to close them.
6. Availability of information. All information must be readable and visible on the screens of various devices.
7. Logic and structure of the site. Your site should have a logical structure so that users can quickly find the information they need.
The color palette is of great importance for the perception of the site. Bright and flashy colors can turn off the user, so you should carefully choose colors. For example, it is better to use black or dark gray text on a light background, and white on a dark background. The site title (header) should be in the same style as the rest of the page elements so as not to disturb the visual harmony.
The height of the header should not be too large (optimally 200-350 pixels). A header that is too tall will force the user to scroll down the page to see the main content.
Footer (page footer) is often used to place service information, such as contact information, links to pages, etc.
When developing forms for submitting data, it is important to use dynamic validation via AJAX. This will help the user complete the form faster, reducing errors and increasing the likelihood of completing the action.
Correct formatting of text on a website is also important for user convenience:
1. The font should be clear and not blend into the background. Also, do not use a font that is too small—the optimal size is 14px.
2. The use of lists and colored blocks helps to better perceive information. Important points can be highlighted using color, such as red or green.
3. Use tags for headings and subheadings x1 And x2. It is also important that the font size for subheadings is larger than for the main text. Names in tags title And x1 must be unique.
4. Links are usually highlighted in blue, so you should stick to this standard for better viewing.
Use a simple and clear menu with text links instead of images so that users can easily navigate the site.
For additional help and advice on issues of usability or design of your website, you can contact the SEO studio "SEO COMPUTER" for any question by email info@seo.computer.
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