A comprehensive interpretation of website usability

Recently in 3Wcoffee to participate in a "website operation optimization Salon" activities, by some "site usability" small inspiration, so continue to carry forward the spirit of probing and sharing, in the blog to do a deep small summary.

Before reading the usability of the website, we first talk about the "user experience" of the website.

When a website is presented to the user, no matter what type it belongs to, it is a "self-service" product. There is no manual to read beforehand, no hands-on training from the manufacturers, there is no customer service representative to help users understand this site, users can rely on only their own wisdom and experience, to face this site independently. So, in the website, the "user experience" is even more important than any product!

With the popularity of website user experience increasing, website usability Construction (usability) is not a new topic.

As a site operator, generally very clear website usability in the user experience of importance, but the results of operations are often unsatisfactory, and even caused users to use the site is not smooth. The main reason is not that operators do not pay attention to, but more because operators tend to indulge in their own thinking habits caused by the neglect of the user feeling (experience).

Therefore, the site usability of this topic should not only be professional ui/ue personnel need to study, for the site operators should understand certain ways and means to test and enhance the usability of the site.

What is the usability of a website?

Citing the usability explanation on Wikipedia: Ease-of-use (usability) is a user-centric design concept, and usability design focuses on making the product design conform to the user's habits and needs. Take the design of Internet website as an example, want to let the user in the process of browsing without pressure or feel frustration, and can let the user use the website function, can use the least effort to exert maximum efficiency.

Briefly, you can make the following understanding of "website Usability":

1. Easy to understand: by observation alone, users can know in a few seconds what the site is doing, and know how to take action.

2. Easy to operate: When the user initial contact line station, whether can very easily complete the task, whether can use the website without Help document.

3. Easy to learn: Through simple Help files, users can successfully solve the problems encountered.

4. Efficiency: The user familiar with the site function or interface, can quickly complete the task.

5. Error rate: In the use of the Web site process, the user operation errors have how many, how serious these errors, the user from the error to recover is easy.

6. Satisfaction: Users use this site (function, design, etc.), whether there is a high degree of satisfaction.

7. Easy to share: whether the site has a key sharing function, easy to share information users.

After the concept is clear, let's look at ways to improve usability of the site.

In brief, improve the usability of the website can start from the following points:

Understand what the user wants and make the information clear and visible.

Know what questions the user may have and give an effective, sincere and comprehensive answer. For example, it can be realized through QA and online customer service.

Tell users what users want to know, such as freight, delivery cycle, packing list, purchase process, return and replacement process.

Do not ask the user for unnecessary information. For example, when the user registers, only requires the user to fill in the name, address, telephone and other necessary information, such as occupation, gender, etc. can not be required, otherwise easy to lose.

Minimize the steps and tell them clearly. For example, when the user place an order, try to simplify the steps (even the features that are not registered and can be purchased) and tell the user clearly how many steps are required to complete the order (the recommended way to use the flowchart).

Makes it easy for users to recover from errors. When the user has an error, provide a friendly, clear way to get the user to recover from the error.

For how to improve the ease of use of the site, of course, there is another way is essential, that is: testing. Next article, we focus on the "site usability test" approach, please pay attention to.

Source: Meki submission, original link.