Website usability is a trendy term that actually just says something about how user-friendly your website is. It seems banal but it is not. The greater the ease of use that surfers experience, the greater the chance that they will not look elsewhere. Check how user-friendly your website is with our website usability checklist.
Why a website usability checklist?
Consumers today are spoiled with more online alternatives than ever. This makes them critical and impatient. Your website has to give them the answer they are looking for as well and as quickly as possible. If not, there is a big chance that a (potential) customer will leave again. Website usability was summarised by usability guru Steve Krug in the slogan ‘Don’t make me think’. A must-read for people involved in web usability (for sale on bol.com). His vision, in short: make sure your visitors don’t have to think about how to use your website and make the message clear at a glance.
With that motto in mind, Dazzle put together a website usability checklist. Ask yourself this list of questions to find out how user-friendly your website really is. The answers will show you the way to quick improvements for a greater ease of use for your visitors.
1. What is your identity?
It is not so obvious to satisfy the wishes and the needs of the modern consumer and therefore of your potential customer. Everything starts with the essentials: your identity. Who are you, what do you do and what problem do you solve? Every visitor must find the answer to these three concrete questions within three seconds on your homepage. If not, you risk him leaving your website and continuing his search via Google. What a shame! Your website needs to radiate what your brand stands for.
- Who are you?
- What are you doing?
- What problem do you solve?
- Is the contact information always clearly visible?
- Is the layout and font consistent throughout the website?
- Do the logo, layout and font reflect the brand identity?
2. Are you using the right content in the right language?
A website is not just a piece of window dressing but an extension of your business. By offering the right information, it will become an instrument to make (potential) customers enthusiastic about your offer. Structure is the key word here. This also requires the right tone, aimed at web communication, so shorter and stronger. And make sure everything works as it should and will continue to do so.
- Does each page have a unique, short and clear title?
- Is every link on your website clearly visible and clickable, including on mobile?
- Do all links work and is there a nice 404 page for deleted pages?
- Is the content relevant each time, short, quick to read, and does it cover a maximum of one topic at a time?
- Have you added clear call-to-actions on all pages of your website?
3. How easy is the navigation?
Your homepage will not contain all the information. Make sure your visitors can navigate through your website without thinking, looking for the rest. A logical layout means they can intuitively find their way to the answers they are looking for.
- Is the menu bar clear and logically arranged?
- Is the home button always visible?
- Does the menu bar also contain a link to your contact page?
- Is there a search function?
4. How accessible is your website?
Technically too, the picture must be right. No matter which device (laptop, tablet, smartphone…) your customer uses, or which browser (Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox…), it shouldn’t make a difference. Your website must always be fast and visually clear .
- How long does it take to open your website?
- Does your website work on all web browsers?
- Is your website responsive (mobile-friendly)?
5. How easy are you to contact?
And last but not least on our website usability checklist: your website should bridge the gap between the virtual and the analogue world. The user should be able to contact you as easily as possible the way he prefers. Telephone, e-mail, online applications, visits… give them all the options there are, preferably with one click at their fingertips.
- Is it easy for the customer to contact you?
- Does the customer have different options for contacting you?
- Are the e-mail address and telephone number clickable?
- Does your website contain a link to Google Maps that the visitor can use directly for directions?
- Are all online forms, such as a request for quotation, logically structured and short?
Conclusion
It is extremely difficult to put down your own glasses and visit your website from the perspective of a customer. Do you find this too difficult? Let someone else go through your website with this checklist! As long as you have answers afterwards about which usability improvements you can do in the short run. Still need help with improving the usability of your website? We are happy to help you set up a high-profile UX design.
