A great website is more than arranging design elements in a pleasing manner. A beautiful website will not do you any good if your customers don’t know how to use it. Focusing on its potential users from the very beginning is essential. Intended users must not only like the website’s design but also feel comfortable using it. Being aware of this need in each stage of development, enriches the user experience. User-centered design tips enable this to happen.
User-Centered Design Tips
Know your visitor
One common mistake website owners make is to design a site they like. As a result, the user experience isn’t tailored to the actual user of the site. The focus should remain on the potential customer. Your goal should be a site your new visitor likes.
First of all, a successful website begins with understanding:
- Who will be using the site
- What they will be using it for
- How they will be using it
Make Every Aspect of Your Web Site Self-Evident
Notable is user-centered design is user-friendly. Keeping the elements self-evident enables visitors to use their time on your site efficiently. Consequently, they don’t waste time hunting around for what they’re looking for. They understand the purpose and functionality without much effort.
Your website should answer the following questions simply and quickly:
- Where do I start?
- Is that a link?
- Is that a button?
- Is that the navigation?
- Where am I on the site?
- How do I get where I want to go?
- Where/How do I purchase the product or service?
- How do I locate/contact the business?
It’s especially relevant that these questions are answered in a few seconds. Otherwise, you’re going to lose a new visitor.
Keep it simple
If your pages require a lot of information processing, visitors won’t stick around. A quick scan should be enough to take in basic information.
Create a website experience that is effortless by:
- Minimizing the number of words (300 words is a good standard)
- Limiting different font typefaces, sizes and colors
- Using clear text link styles
- Downplaying use of background colors
- Avoiding background wallpaper images.
In conclusion, by implementing these user-centered design tips, you’re improving the user experience. Happy, engaged visitors are vital to the success of your site. Therefore, always design your site with your customer in mind. Read Google’s tips about improving the users experience.