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Quick wins for website usability
Having usability and accessibility in mind before you start your website build could mean saving yourself a great deal of work later. However, there are certain things you can do to enhance usability of your website if it has already launched.
Based on industry and focus group research, here are a few key points that can improve your web presence immeasurably:
- Having in-site search. For websites that are informational and contain many pages, a search system is essential as this is the first port of call for most web visitors
- Sitemap feature. Again, for larger webites it is very helpful for users to be able to view your information architecture at-a-glance, and link directly to any page on your webite from one place
- Intuitive navigation. The menu options of your website need to be carefully considered - the language you use is very important, and 'utility' navigation such as help pages should be separated out from general site-specific content. Your navigation will dictate how successful and easy-to-use your website will be
- Pop-ups - use them appropriately. Many web visitors feel that pop-ups should be avoided completely but they can be used responsibly and are relevant for certain content. Be sure to folloow guidelines when using pop-ups and avoid over-use
- Allow visitors to change font size/colour contrast of your website. If good web standards are employed when your website is designed, users will be able to change its visual appearance in order to make it easier for them to view. This is particularly relevant for colour-blind and partially-sighted users
Some simple steps for you to take to test whether your site is web standards compliant
- testing the site on a text-only browser to see if it makes sense and can be navigated
- checking images for alternative text: users with browsers that do not support images will only see or hear this text in place of the image
- checking if you can access the site without a mouse –i.e., with only the tab, shift-tab and return keys (if not, neither can a keyboard-only or voice-only user); and testing the site with an automated testing software tool. Although not a comprehensive checking mechanism, it will at least highlight some areas of your website which may not comply
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