Why Does Usability matter? February 10, 2010 No Comments
If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you’ll understand that content is highly important, however, so is how it’s presented. By making your site more usable, you can increase conversion. Even small changes can make a big difference.
For example by having a less deep header, you can gain more screen real-estate for important content above “the fold”. By having a consistent style for links, you save the user any confusion as to what is a link and what is not.
When I design a site, there are so many things I have to think about. By diverting away from the norm, you can immediately complicate the user’s experience on the page. If you’re interested in making your own site more usable, there are plenty of great books out at the moment.
I recently read two great articles about the subject, one was from a UX (user experience) designer who was annoyed by the complexity of the American Airlines website. Have a read here. The other is a brilliant deconstruction of “Smashing Magazine” by another designer. Read this one here.
By taking the time at the design stage, you will reap the benefits massively down the line. By offering an easy to use site, visitors will return again and again.
