Web Design Tips Centered on Usability

Websites should always be easy to use. Studies show that the reason a viewer abandons a website is either because the page will not download or they are confused by the website. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating the power of usability. Here are a few tips on making your website as user oriented as possible.

We Hold These Website Design Elements to Be Self Evident:

Everything on your website should be visually clear to the user. Create a visual hierarchy using font size and prominence. The headlines should always be larger than the content and they should stick out to the user. Always place a headline or a main idea higher on the page so that the user knows it is important. If you want certain content to receive visual priority, place it higher on the page. Also, make sure you group your pages according to similar content. Each page should have a clear theme, idea, and purpose. Each page should also have similar style, but at the same time be definitive so that the user knows the difference between an FAQ page and the shopping cart checkout page. Links should be clearly defined and clickable items should be obvious.

Break it Up:

When users are searching for something in particular, they will seek the page link that corresponds most to their needs and ignore the rest. Separate content by page and make sure there is little or no overlap. Also, avoid hiding advertisements in your content; keep ads separate as they can distract from the content and force the user to ignore the page altogether.

Follow Conventions:

Breaking from convention is good in many instances, but web design isn’t one of them. There are certain things users expect when they go to a website. For instance, navigation links are usually on the left side of the page, log in and username input is located at the top right of the page, and navigation links are usually at the bottom of the page. Hyperlinks are underlined in blue (or some other color that stands out) and, if you are selling online, always use a small shopping cart logo in the upper right hand corner. Following these conventions will prevent users from having to search for elements of your web pages that should be obvious to them.

Don’t Underestimate Simplicity:

It’s tempting to create a web design that is a work of art with lots of colors, font styles, and words. But to make your website more user friendly, tone down the number of words, font styles, link styles, colors, and images. Keeping it simple will allow the content to stand out while the design serves as a compliment. Minimize the use of background images and background colors. Don’t be afraid to use white space and allow the text to speak for itself without the help of too many additives.

User friendliness should be the number one priority when you design your company’s website. Creativity and captivation are important, too, but the user wants to feel welcome and confident when they visit your website. Follow these tips on maximizing usability on your company’s website and ensure that your website gets traffic and viewer satisfaction. For more website design tips and solutions, contact Codank Web Design. We are dedicated to crafting custom websites that consider both your company's business model and the importance of usability. 

The Importance of Learning Web Standards

Most anyone can learn to create a basic web page using HTML. However, a lot of people who learn how to create webpages only know the basics or the old ways of doing things; they don't know about the latest web standards. Although writing code using old techniques does still work, there are many good reasons why web standards should be followed, and that goes beyond being prepared for old techniques to stop working in newer browsers. In addition to being future proof, you are doing yourself a lot of favors by learning and keeping up with the latest developments in web standards. For example:


It allows you to write more efficient code. Not only are you able to reuse code you've already written, but you are also doing your visitors a favor. By separating structure from style by placing all stylistic CSS elements in an external style sheet, you are able to make your pages load more quickly. Putting the same style elements on every single HTML file means that the browser has to read it every time it loads a new page. On the other hand, using an external style sheet allows browsers to cache the file and save users' bandwidth. The less time it takes to load a page, the more likely your visitors will want to stick around and browse.


Changes and updates are easy when you keep your pages written in plain XHTML and use an external style sheet. Instead of taking hours trying to find all the style elements in every single page - even with copying and pasting - you can make a change in one place and have it rendered throughout the entire site. Structural changes are easier to make too without all those style elements cluttering the document.


Universal usability is ensured. This means that alternate content is provided for people without sight or hearing, as well as people with different input devices. For example, the blind can access information on a web site using a screen reader, but cannot see any images accompanying the text. In this case, alternate text is provided that describes the image. Elements on the page should be properly marked up too. For instance, by placing more than two items, such as navigation links, into a list, then it will make it easier for people with disabilities to navigate.


Crossplatform and device compatibility should also be kept in mind. When following web standards, you make sure that all your bases are covered; your web site can be accessed from any browser and any device. This is where using an external style sheet also comes into play. When accessing sites from mobile browsers, the critical information (the structure and content) is rendered while the stylistic information can be adjusted to fit the screen size and browser. Being compatible with many platforms and devices will also get you higher rankings and visibility on search engines like Google; this is called search engine optimization (SEO).


With all these benefits, it's hard to see why anyone wouldn't want to learn and follow the latest web standards. It may take some time to get in the habit of using them, but it'll be well worth it in the future.

About CODANK Web Design

CODANK is a top rated Web Design and Internet Marketing firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services.

For more information, visit us at www.codank.com

Tips for Better Web Usability

A well-designed web site should be intuitive and easy to use. Some people may think that having a flashy looking site is best; however, it's what you do with your content and how you structure it that makes a difference. Designing a site for web usability may take a little more work, but it's worth your time to look into following the rules for good design; the subtle mistakes throw visitors off more than most people are aware.


Usually, people using the Internet are in a hurry to find the information they're looking for; therefore, one of the most important things to do is to make your pages easy to scan. People don't tend to read online; they tend to skim over the material. What's more, they don't usually skim through the entire page before deciding whether it's worthy of a more thorough read. Studies have shown that people scan pages in an F shape, so the most important information should be placed at the top of the page - particularly in the first two paragraphs. You should also chunk your material into logical sections, using lists, headings and subheadings, and strong or emphasized text for important keywords. Making your content easy to follow will benefit both you and your visitors.


Many of us know the frustration of looking for a specific topic or page and being unable to find it from the main menu. Sometimes it takes a lot of digging to get to the right page. Because of this, designers have started to include sitemaps. Sitemaps are hierarchical representations of the site structure; they help visitors see what pages are available and where they can go. They are especially helpful for large websites with many pages and subpages. Not only do they make the site more friendly to users who are browsing, but they also improve your site's search engine optimization. Web crawlers can use the sitemap instead of the main navigation to index pages of your site, thus giving you more links in search results and more exposure.


Another thing that will make your site easier to use is to keep your design and structure consistent. This can be achieved by using CSS and external style sheets, so that the whole site's design is derived from the same file. Navigation should be in the same place throughout your site - and it should be simple as well. Though more complex or representative designs can be aesthetically appealing, it's best to stick to a simple, straightforward design, something that people are expecting and used to.


Finally, you should do your best to structure your forms so users will know what sort of information to enter. Similar terms should be properly labeled and chunked into groups. People need to know what's expected of them to enter, so it's good to have an example of the information you want. If not all the information is correctly entered, the site should offer feedback telling the user what section was wrong and what needs to be done to correct it. You should do everything you can to make it easy for the user.


These tips just scratch the surface of web usability. For the best results, you should consult with an experienced web design company, like Codank Web Design, and find out what you can do to give your site the extra boost it needs.

About CODANK Web Design

CODANK is a top rated Web Design and Internet Marketing firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services.

For more information, visit us at www.codank.com