Website Usability

Overview

Usability, in terms of web design, is the ease of use of the website for a user. If a website has poor usability, people will leave your website. In order to have a successful website with good usability you must follow a few simple rules.

• Appease the user: A user shouldn't have to think to use the website. Everything about the site should be straight forward, from the content to the user interface.
• Keep it simple: Don't over-complicate the user interface or design of your website. If the user interface isn't simple the users will be confused and leave. If the design of your website is messy/cluttered people will leave.
• Be straight forward: Don't beat around the bush when trying to convey a message on your site. Be straight forward and say what you trying to say as simply as possible.
• Follow conventions: It is important to follow conventions when designing your website (e.g. putting the "sign in" link on the upper right side of a webpage) as it will greatly decrease the learning curve for your website. If you do everything against the normal conventions of making a webpage, users will have a hard time learning how to navigating/use your website.
• Test your website: It is important that you make your website adjust to the user and not the user adjust to your website. A user shouldn't have to download a specific browser to view your website, you website should work with multiple browsers. It is also important that before you release your site, you test the usability of it by observing a few people actually using your website.

Examples of Good Usability

1. Imgur: A simple image sharer


This is an example of good usability because it gets right to the point. Everything a user needs the site for is on the front page. The purpose of the site is to host images, so the site gives the option to simply upload an image from your computer or from another site all on the front page. This is a user interface in the simplest form, if one requires more options they can optionally create an account to gain access to those features.

2. Dropbox: Online file storage


Dropbox is a also another example of a site with a really simplistic user interface on the main page. When you first come to the site you are presented with a video that explains what Dropbox is, then right below is a link to download it. Those two things are what users come to the site looking for: what the tool does and where to get it. As a result of the video and download link being very large and hard to miss, the users don't have to think twice about how to use the site. It also uses standard conventions of putting the login information in the top right corner of the website.

Examples of Bad Usability

1. Havenworks: A political news site


This website obviously has bad usability in the sense that it is completely cluttered. The navigations isn't straight forward or standard at all; there are many sub-links in content of site, for example. Also there are walls of text with no bold keywords which makes it very difficult to skim over the content. If the design doesn't turn users away, the usability definitely will.

2. Jones Chijoff: Designer


This is a fine example of a site that has an appealing design but a poor user interface. The user interface that this person uses is completely nonstandard and will most likely be confusing to the average visitor; the user will have to learn how to use it. The way that the website presents itself leaves visitors wondering what services this person offers, or even what the point of the website is.