When you surf the web a lot you definitely have come across websites that are so easy to use that you immediately knew how to work it. And you definitely came across websites that you spend 5 minutes and left, because you couldn’t even figure out how to do a simple task as search.
So you see. Not only how many features or how your applications looks, but also how the user experiences it is important. I dare to say even more. The usablility is what makes or breakes your application.
A few things a usable website should be:
- Quick and easy to learn/navigate: people don’t want to spend hours and hours learning yet another tool.
- Easy to use: users want to achieve their goals in a minimum amount of time.
- Good error handling: the application should be very forgiving to user errors and it should be easy to recover from them. Also provide enough explaination and/or even solutions to solve the problem.
- The user interface should be consistent with the operating principles: letting the user see what the function that particular option has, aid in the learning process.
- Make it simple and open: to find something in a crowded interface is timeconsuming and is stressing. Clear pictograms also help with memorizing.
- Enjoyable to use: this one speaks for itself, I think.
- Aestetically pleasing: this is especially important for the first impression. When a sites looks good, it invites the user to explore.
So why should you care, from a business point of view?
- Reduse development costs: simplyfying the user interface also entails simplyfying the product itself (this doesn’t mean less or bad functionality). Simplification means less time spening. Also when usability is on your mind from the start, it prevents you from redoing some of the work later.
- Reduse testing costs: not only your users find it easier to use, you too. This will make testing easier since the user interface is already intuitive.
- Reduse sales costs: when a product is appealing, a potential custom is paying more attention. Plus, since you simplified your product, it is easier to explain and understand what the product does.
- Better ROI: With the lowered development-, test- and sales-cost, the overall cost is lowered considerably. Since more users will be attracted, they are also more likely to spend, your income from the product will increase. Result: more profit!
So next time you design a web-app, take some time for the Usablility issues.