Do customers think your website is user friendly?

It?s not something you might know about unless someone actually tells you. By which time you could have lost a lot of custom. And faith in your ability to provide customer?s needs.

The only way you can ensure your website is fit for purpose is to look at it from a customer?s point of view. One who isn?t as technically aware as you. Or is unsure of the procedures. After all, hard as it might be to believe, not everyone who goes online are experts on the subject.

Starting at the beginning. Unless your title is clear about what you?re doing potential customers will pass it by. Remember they?re people not search engines. Key words are all very well in context, but they still have to make sense.

As does the first thing they?ll see once on your site. Flashing images or tinny jingles blaring at them will send them swiftly on their way out of there. It might seem entertaining to you, but you?re probably on your own there.

Clear simple copy should be all they need to tell them they?re in the right place. Or not as the case may be. Complicated language or too much insignificant detail will confuse the issue. They?re not going to waste time trying to work out what you?re trying to say.

Cramming too much into a small space gives the impression it?ll be hard work trying to figure it out. Even if it isn?t. First impressions really do count online where people?s patience is shorter than it normally is.

If your site looks too difficult to navigate most of them won?t try and use it as a learning curve. They?ll simply give up and go elsewhere. You?ll know how it all works of course, but you can?t assume anyone else will unless you tell them.

Not only should it be as easy a process as possible, but each stage should be fully signposted. Not only what they should do next but how to do it.
Which is of course what it all comes down to in the end. Trying to make your website not only a pleasant place to be, but a user friendly one.