Website usability is a complex process. The website must be made accessible to people with different disabilities in order for it to be successful in fulfilling its purpose. The disabled community is very knowledgeable about many technical issues. For this reason, website designers and developers need to understand and cater to their needs effectively. It is vital for website usability that the website is user-friendly. Web users do not like websites that are difficult to use and navigation or user-friendly but do not offer enough options.
Website usability is a holistic concept that takes into consideration both usability and visual design of the website. The website should be made accessible to all users especially those with impaired sensory and functional abilities. Website usability is also achieved by removing all broken links, flickering content, and other inconsistencies in the site. Web usability is a broad set of criteria that includes but is not limited to:
* Interoperability. This means that a website should be easily navigable for visitors who have difficulties in understanding the site. A site should always give visitors the option to proceed through the pages with ease. When users do not feel comfortable navigating the website, many people are likely to leave the site instead of exploring all the possibilities.
* Absorption. Website usability is also achieved by successfully allowing website visitors to consume content. Many people who visit a website become glued to it. This can be dangerous since the website owner is paying a lot of money to attract these visitors. To address the issue, usability designers use a variety of tactics such as navigation tricks to lure more visitors.
* Productivity. This is another important factor when developing a good website usability. The better the usability of the website, the more productive a site will be. It will encourage visitors to spend more time on it and will make it easier for search engines to pick up the site’s keywords. In effect, good usability will lead to better seo results.
* Tactics. Good website usability also involves effective tactics used on the website. These tactics should make it easy for visitors to navigate. However, effective tactics must be used in coordination with clear instructions from the designer or developer. Effective tactics should also create an intuitive user experience and should be consistent throughout the site.
* Texts. A good website usability involves the correct use of texts on a website. Avoid using texts that are too small or that are difficult to read. Users should also be able to understand the texts on a website clearly and quickly.
* User Experience: The usability of websites also depends on the user experience it generates for visitors. To help visitors have an enjoyable online experience, they should find the website easy to use and understand. A good web design usability makes sure that this happens. It helps users find what they need fast and without too much frustration.
* Interoperability. This is the core principle in website usability. Website usability can only be effective if it is easy to use and understand in different operating systems. This means that website designers and developers need to consider compatibility when designing and developing the website. They should make it easy for users to find and install the different programs that will be needed to access their website. Compatibility should be one of the most important factors considered in this chapter.
* Home page usability guidelines. This is the second most important principle in website usability. In this chapter, I ll basic home page usability guidelines will be discussed. First of all, website usability experts recommend that you avoid using flashy graphics and other modern graphic styles. Instead, choose images that are appropriate for your target audience. Use text as much as possible on the home page to help users find what they need faster.
* Navigation. Navigation is one of the key factors in good website usability. The website should have clear and logical navigation so that visitors can get to the important parts of the website quickly. If visitors do not know where to go, then they will just abandon the website. To help visitors navigate the website, you should always provide a consistent navigation system that makes sense to all users.
* Navigation Menu. Some website designers make their website too easy to navigate by using a navigation menu. When a user comes to the homepage, he/she may need to click on some links to see other areas of the website. If these links are not clickable, then many people will just abandon the website because they do not know where to click. To help users reach all parts of the website quickly and in a smooth manner, provide a consistent navigation menu that is clickable.