Creating a website that users enjoy visiting and can easily navigate around is incredibly important to turning website users into happy customers. If you see that your website is receiving a lot of traffic, but you’re not getting any phone calls or new purchases, it is probably a good indication that your website is not appealing to your users.
So, how do you create a user friendly website? Here are six simple steps you can take to please your visitors.
1. Clean Layout
Make sure your website is not cluttered with too much information, it does not use colors that may strain the eyes, and your font size is not too small or large. These seemingly small details can actually push visitors and potential customers into leaving your site.
Instead, stick to a more basic, clean layout and design. This typically means a light colored background, usually white, with dark black or gray text. While it may seem a bit boring, it is expected and easiest way to ensure a visitor will read the content on your page.
2. Create a Clear Path
Make sure there is a flow to your content. This doesn’t mean that each page needs to link to the next, but the individual visiting your page should be able to clearly see where the information is going. Have call to actions at the ends of your posts, include ways to contact you for more information, and make sure your content is on brand.
3. Organization
Another important part of creating a user friendly webpage is ensuring all your content is in the correct place. Create clear pages for your contact information, your blog, product descriptions, or whatever other components your website will need and keep the relevant information on those pages.
Having a well organized site will also make you appear more professional and that you offer a serious, quality product.
4. Remove Broken Links
A broken link is a link that no longer leads to an active webpage. Not only is this incredibly frustrating for the individual trying to check out this information, but it makes your website look unprofessional and like you are not active with your business. Consistently check the links on your page to ensure they are all working properly and leading to the correct places.
5. Appeal to the Masses
While you want to remain in your niche, you don’t want to focus your scope too narrowly and remove too many people. This often means accommodating individuals you may not think are in your market but really are. This can be done through a variety of different strategies, including subtitling services.
6. Increase Loading Times
We know that people don’t like to wait. They want things done when they are ready for them, and it is the same with websites. Visitors will be quick to exit your website if it isn’t loading fast enough, and with all the other websites that are out there, they may not return. Keep loading times short.
Many themes or hosting services offer faster loading times. Do your research before making a purchase.
Creating a user friendly website is not difficult, you just need to approach the page as if you were a visitor. Think about the things you would want to see and how you approach other websites. If you are having a difficult time considering what should be on your website, how the flow should be designed, and what design elements you should include, you can always ask friends and family or send a questionnaire to your clients and customers.
Making these six changes are simple and easy enough to do and may make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful company. You’ll be surprised at the increase in amount of time each visitor spends on your webpage.