subject: Web Design: Tips For Creating A User-friendly Website [print this page] Creating a user-friendly web design will have different goals depending on the purpose of the site. There are, however, some basic elements that must be considered no matter what type of site you create.
Layout
Layout of the site should be user friendly so that they dont have to search what they are looking for. There are so many ways to surf the web today. It is really difficult to find a lay out to cope with all of them. A great looking website for a PC might render horribly on an iPad or mobile phone. So, the best way to use a code that make a site fits all screens as close as possible.
Easy Searching
If a user has to search too hard and scroll a long way in any direction for the information he is looking for he get annoyed and leave the page. Place the most important content at the top of the page, above the fold so that users can get them without any scrolling.
Well Organization
Organize your website in a logical way and it should be easy and intuitive. Without the logical connection between the sites content, a site cannot be user friendly. Well organized content of a website makes it easy for the viewer to find more information. Apply the same logic with an e-commerce website. Products need to be found out easily.
Easy Navigation
Navigation should be easy and intuitive so that viewers can get back to the key pages on your site, like the home page or the checkout page in an e-commerce site, with a click. If it requires more clicks, the viewers will be bored and leave the site.
Simplicity
To be simple means to be a user-friendly design. Jazzed website will take more time to load. It will lower the place of the site in the search engine rankings and will turn off todays impatient web surfer. To keep it simple and fast, use flash animation or big graphics if they are badly needed. Whenever, you are using a graphic design elements, keep them as simple as possible.
Color and Fonts
Color your site with the color/colors that is/are easy at the eyes and use readable fonts. You may be greatly creative with these departments but dont do anything that make your viewers have difficulty deciphering the text or get a headache from the bright color. They will leave and wont come back.
Know Your User
Know your user and give them what they want. Before creating a website, know the market of the website. Learn more about your targeted users and give in your website what that target market is looking for. A good and user-friendly website provides its uses what they are looking for at the first glance.
