Strategies to Have a User-Friendly Website

Nowadays with millions of sites competing for attention, the ones that provide a seamless, enjoyable experience stand out and succeed. But what exactly makes a website user-friendly? Let's dive into the principles and strategies that can transform your site from good to great.

Understanding User-Friendly Design

Importance of Responsiveness

A user-friendly website adjusts smoothly to different screen sizes and devices. This adaptability ensures that your content is accessible and legible, whether viewed on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.

Visual Hierarchy and Readability

 A well-thought-out visual hierarchy guides visitors through your content effortlessly. Readability isn't just about font choice; it's about how text interacts with other elements on the page to create a cohesive and engaging experience.

Why does it matter?

We talked about how custom software can change your company before. the key to your success is the satisfaction of your users. any web-based application you are creating has it's own category of users. and the first and last thing that a user is interacting with is user interface! so by improving your UI you take a huge step toward your user's satisfaction. 

Strategies are fun but...

I'd like to talk about one of the most important prerequisites of these strategies, having a user persona!

When we are talking about making a website user-friendly, it is very important to know who that user is! So keep in mind that is very important.

Let me give you an example: When you are designing a website for a public food delivery system, well, you should use general best practices and the strategies that we will talk about. But imagine designing a software that needs to replace a very old system that your users in a private company have been using for 20 years. Then, it is a different story, and you should analyze the previous system. Of course, I'm not saying that you need to implement a UI that is similar to the old software, because that software may not be implemented in a standard way, but keeping it similar in logic, as long as it does not defy the strategies, would be a good idea.

Now, I think we are set to see what these strategies are! Let's go:

Strategy 1: Simplified Navigation

Implementing a Logical Structure: Your website should be as intuitive as a well-organized book. Categories, subcategories, and pages should flow logically, making it easy for visitors to find what they're looking for without getting lost.

Utilizing Breadcrumbs and Search Bars: Breadcrumbs provide a trail for users to follow back to their starting point, while search bars allow for quick navigation to specific content. Both are essential tools in creating a user-friendly experience.

Strategy 2: Responsive Design

Adapting to Various Devices: A responsive design ensures that your website looks and functions perfectly on all devices. This strategy is about more than just aesthetics; it's about providing a consistent experience no matter how your site is accessed.

Testing Across Platforms: Regular testing on different devices and browsers is crucial. What works on one platform might not work on another, so consistent testing helps identify and fix issues before they affect the user experience.

Strategy 3: Fast Loading Times

Optimizing Images and Videos: Large files slow down your site. Optimizing media ensures that your pages load quickly, keeping visitors engaged and reducing bounce rates.

Leveraging Browser Caching: Caching stores parts of your site on the user's device after the first visit, leading to faster load times on subsequent visits. It's a simple but effective way to improve performance.

Strategy 4: Interactive Elements

Enhancing User Engagement: Interactive elements like polls, quizzes, and animations can keep users engaged and encourage them to spend more time on your site. However, they must be used judiciously to avoid overwhelming or annoying visitors.

Feedback and Contact Forms: Open lines of communication make your website more user-friendly. Feedback forms, contact pages, and live chat options allow visitors to easily get in touch, report issues, or provide valuable insights.

Strategy 5: Accessibility and Inclusivity

Aiming for Universal Design: Your website should be accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. This means considering color contrasts, text sizes, and navigation methods to accommodate a wide range of users.

Tools and Techniques for Accessibility: Various tools and techniques can help you achieve an accessible website. From screen reader compatibility to keyboard navigation, every element should be designed with inclusivity in mind.

Strategy 6: Personalization options

A good user interface enables some personalization features. Give the user the choice between themes. Two of the most demanded ones are light themes and dark themes. So you can enable this option and, most importantly, remember the user's choice.

Another popular and useful personalization option that you can implement is changing the font size. Of course, you should be careful because it may cause some responsive problems, and you should not do that all across your design, just in the places where the user is reading long texts.

Strategy 7: Use of Clear and Concise Language

The language on your website should be straightforward and to the point. Avoid jargon or overly technical terms unless it's necessary for your audience. The goal is to make your website easy to understand, enhancing the user's experience. Clarity helps users quickly grasp the message or instructions, reducing frustration.

This part is related to UX  (user experience), but many times, knowing these things as a manager or front-end developer helps to upgrade the website's quality to a whole new level.

Strategy 8: Simplified Conversion Process

Suppose your website involves transactions (e.g., e-commerce) or requires user action. In that case, the process should be as simple and streamlined as possible.

Reduce the steps required for users to complete a purchase or conversion, and avoid asking for unnecessary information. Offering features like guest checkout or autofill options improves the user experience by making the process quick and easy. A smooth and efficient conversion process minimizes friction and increases conversions.

Strategy 9: Accessible and Easy-to-Find Contact Information

Your user must be able to contact you without frustration. A user-friendly website makes it easy for visitors to contact the company. Whether it's a phone number, email address, or contact form, this information should be prominently displayed and easy to find on every page.

 A common practice is to have contact information in the header, footer, or a dedicated "Contact Us" page. This ensures that users can reach out when they need help. Ensure you are using the correct HTML tags so that if a user clicks on your phone number, it can be redirected to its app without any problem. Test these features across all browsers and make sure your test includes testing from different devices, like mobile phones.

Strategy 10: Having Intuitive Error Handling and Messaging

Users will inevitably encounter errors while interacting with a website, whether due to incorrect form submissions or a broken link. A user-friendly site provides clear and helpful error messages that guide users on what to do next. Instead of showing a generic error message like "404 page not found," offering suggestions or redirecting users to relevant content helps keep them engaged.

I like using this kind of message in case of a server-side error (500): "Our developers are already notified of this error and are working on it."

This gives the vibe that the user is not alone and that the technical team is working on it. This should be the mindset behind managing errors. We should not indicate that users did anything wrong when they didn't, and if they did, we should give them directions on how to avoid receiving these kinds of errors again.

Conclusion and Further Thoughts

Crafting a user-friendly website is an ongoing process. It requires attention to detail, a deep understanding of your audience, and a willingness to adapt and change. By implementing these five strategies, you'll be well on your way to creating a site that not only meets but exceeds user expectations. if you need further help about that just let us know frrom the contact option!