How to Make a Web Site Usable

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Plan out the navigation structure of your website keeping in view a few essential factors: clarity

   If the navigation structure of your site is lucid, clear and uncomplicated, with all the sections neatly laid out, the user will find it a joy to browse the site.
   
   Remember, the web pages should be classified neatly according to their particular subject area and not haphazardly.
   
   The Home Page should seamlessly lead into the inside pages without confusing the user.
   
   Also, you can use breadcrumbs on your site to give users an easy way back to previous pages.
2. 2

   Step 2: simplicity and logic.

   , Also, provide links to other important pages from the about page in order to let users let more about your identity. , Too much of unnecessary Flash can irritate the visitors as they want to get the information they need instantly. , Remove unnecessary graphics or other elements that might take time long download time, thus making the site slow.
   
   Take help of free tools specially page speed tool from Google developers.
   
   You can also review your site with Pingdom.com page speed tool. ,,, The font size must not be too big or too small. , For the headline, use a font size and color that stands out from the rest of the content. ,, Intensive inter-linking helps the web site to get noticed by the search engines. ,, The call to action button may be a sign up link for a newsletter, or join now for a membership or buy now for purchasing some product/service. ,, Test each of the links to make sure that they work correctly. ,
3. 3

   Step 3: Make sure that the menu bars which carry the key links of the navigation structure are in a consistent location on every web page.

4. 4

   Step 4: Put in some key information about your company in the Home Page and in the About Us page that denotes the purpose of the web site and establishes the company’s corporate identity.

5. 5

   Step 5: Use flash and graphics but in a creative way so that it is able to convincingly present how your web site and the products/services it promotes can benefit the user.

6. 6

   Step 6: Check on the speed of your website.

7. 7

   Step 7: Develop a sitemap as visitors can easily refer to this page to get an overall idea of what your website contains.

8. 8

   Step 8: Write quality content for your website or get a professional web content writer to do it for you.

9. 9

   Step 9: Use a font style that is easy to read for the content of your website.

10. 10

    Step 10: Make sure that the color of the font blends well with the background color if your site is content oriented.

11. 11

    Step 11: Create icons and details for each different section in a webpage highlighting important information.

12. 12

    Step 12: Place links within the text of each page to link the page with other pages in the website.

13. 13

    Step 13: Place the links to mandatory pages such as terms & conditions

14. 14

    Step 14: about us

15. 15

    Step 15: contact us and site map in the bottom menu bar of all the web pages.

16. 16

    Step 16: Don’t forget to provide a "Call to Action" button or link.

17. 17

    Step 17: Encourage users to leave their comments

18. 18

    Step 18: with their email id

19. 19

    Step 19: participate in a poll or fill out a feedback form.

20. 20

    Step 20: Test your website in all browsers to make sure that it can be viewed properly before making your website live.

21. 21

    Step 21: Make regular updates in your website.

Detailed Guide

About the Author