Does Usability Matter?

When we got our new HD television a while back – we decided to go with the Comcast DVR instead of TiVo’s version.  We loved our TiVo, but their DVR for HD was more expensive than Comcast’s DVR.

Was that ever a big mistake! Manual reading, many phone calls, and a large dose of frustration later, I gave up.  I’d been spoiled by TiVo’s ease of use and even though the Comcast DVR worked just fine – it was not easy to use – in fact, it was downright frustrating.

When I compared the Comcast DVR experience to using our TiVo, well there was just no comparison.  So we gave ourselves an early anniversary present and bought the TiVo DVR.

The new TiVo is great. We figure that if Scuba (our dog) had opposable thumbs, that even he could record his programs on the new TiVo (he really likes the animal channel and Cesar Milan).

So how does this relate to websites?  For me the bottom line has always been, why frustrate and confuse people if you don’t have to.  An unusable site won’t be nearly as effective for your company as a site that is easy for visitors to use.  Follows these 3 easy website optimization tips to make your website more user friendly.

Tip 1: Keep it short

Doesn’t it drive you crazy when you ask a person a simple question and they just won’t stop talking? Well many websites do the same thing.

Think of the visitor as asking a question when they come to your website.  Does your website ramble on and on, or does it get to the point quickly and succinctly?

To paraphrase Steve Krug in “Don’t Make Me Think” a home page should combine the eye-catching simplicity of a billboard with the efficient details of a great sales brochure.

Tip 2: Keep it simple

Most of your customers won’t understand all of the highly technical jargon that is a part of many industries, so keep your website’s language as user-friendly as possible.

There are some exceptions exceptions to the “keep it simple” idea, for example: if your customers are exclusively industry-insiders or are highly technical, then technical jargon might be appropriate.

For the vast majority of websites, however, customers appreciate and respond well to the efficient simplicity of website optimization.

Tips 3: Keep it superb

You believe that your company is the best at what you do.  So do everything possible to ensure that your website is the best reflection of your company.

If you aren’t savvy at web design, carefully choose someone who is. Use your site to establish that you are an expert in your field, and that your company is a professional group of people who care about their customers as much as they care about their products and services.

Following these simple website optimization tips can greatly improve your website’s design right out of the box.

Interested in learning more?  If you enjoy reading and discussing business books with an focus running an online small business, join the conversation at our book club Conversations on Website Conversion on GoodReads. We’re currently reading and discussing Steve Krug’s bestseller “Don’t Make Me Think”.