Usability in web design is defined as the ease of use of a website and how a user experiences the website as easy to understand, effectual, helpful, and even fun. Unfortunately, usability mistakes remain a top issue with most web designers and developers.  In a world where online competition is becoming everything, high bounce rates on your website due to poor usability are a costly mistake.  Here are six usability mistakes to avoid on your next web design project.

Poor Navigation Support

Don’t create web pages that are not connected to the home page or any other page on the site, otherwise known as “orphan pages”. These are common, especially on larger websites. Also, don’t omit the site map, or the search box. Many users, especially those new to the site, like to go straight to the search box to get a feel for what the website offers in a minimum of time.  These are called ‘search-dominant users’ and they are all about efficiency.  So cater to their needs and let them take the wheel as they navigate through your website by making it an easy, transparent process, complete with a site map as their guide. 

New Windows Everywhere

Often, web designers make their web links open up in a new window. However, remember that visitors want to be in control of their web interface experience, and ending up with a million new windows on their browser isn’t something most people ask for when exploring a website. Users assume that when they click on a link, it opens in the same window. Stay aligned with user expectations and minimize irritations that might lead to a shortened visit to your website.

Clutter, Clutter, and More Clutter

Remember to have breathing space on your page. Clean white space to let the eyes rest is important to a satisfactory user experience.  Too many pictures, videos, buttons, and other elements distract the user and make for a cluttered presentation of your material. Having plenty of white space also forces a sharper, clearer, and more focused presentation of your content, thereby reducing confusion among your visitors. You want your users to have a relaxed, easy experience on your website, so keep the content overload to a minimum.

Limit Infinite Scrolling

While infinite scrolling puts all your content on one page, it’s not the best practice.  Most first-time visitors don’t bother scrolling; they simply view the area visible on the screen for what they’re looking for.  If they don’t find it, they’ll bounce out.  And while it’s imperative to place your key content in a prominent position, you don’t want it cluttered or overwhelming.  The happy balance is smart marketing coupled with pagination for key areas of your site.  Also, keep in mind that with slow internet speeds, scrolling makes exploring a website more painful than a root canal, so again, keep your website usability in mind.

Non-existent Help Support

Make sure you include a FAQ, a help desk, live chat, or customer or tech support, and that it’s easy to find on your website.  A common usability mistake is assuming that your website is so straight-forward, that no one will need help or that they will answer their questions by reading your content.   Don’t assume this to be true.  Always let your visitor know there is a live person on the other end to answer any questions or concerns. 

No More Clicks

A new trend cropping up in web design is a mouse-pointing feature instead of clicking to open a link.  When the mouse cursor hovers over a menu or link, it opens automatically. While some consider this intuitive, it deviates from the known user experience and produces frustration and confusion.  It takes away the users’ control of the web interface and becomes a distraction from the content your visitor wants to read.  Usability should be intuitive, not something the user has to work his way around.

Remember that web usability is about ensuring your visitor enjoys browsing your site. Find the balance between beautiful design aesthetics and customer satisfaction.  Let our experienced web designers at Studio 420 guide you to find that balance. Contact our design team for a no-obligation, project cost analysis.

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Studio 420 is a cannabis and psychedelics creative agency specializing in branding, UX/UI design, web development, ecommerce, and digital marketing solutions. We offer a variety of services to ELEVATE your online web presence.

Contact our Denver, Colorado office for a no-obligation, project cost analysis at 303-653-9855.