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Connie HancockUniversity of Nebraska - LincolnExtension [email protected]
The only reason
your Web site exists
is to solve
your customers’ problems!
Why people come to your site?
•They want/need information •They want/need to make a purchase/donate•They want/need to be entertained
http://webpagesthatsuck.com
High-quality content
Often updated
Minimal download time
Ease of Use
Relevant to users’ needsUnique to the online mediumNet-centric corporate culture
HOME RUN
Designing Web Usability – Jakob Nielsen
ASK YOURSELF What do you like and dislike about this web
page? What information does this page share? Does it appear to be easy to find important or
pertinent information? Is the information well presented?
Three Parts of a Web Site Information Interaction Presentation
Web Page Design – Stubbs, Barksdale, Crispen
PresentationColor schemeFont SelectionGraphics selectionMultimedia effectsArrangement
InformationMessageAudiencePurposeBackgroundStructure
InteractionOrganizationNavigationInteractivity
www.webguild.org
Information Design Message Audience Purpose Background Structure
ASK YOURSELF What is the primary message of the Web
page? Whom do you think message is directed to? Why do you think they want to share this
information? Did you already know about them before you
visited this Web site? Is the message easy to read and follow?
Hints for “Old Sites”
Content rich sites More likely to remain on site More likely to return
Content is the focus Reason why people go online First thing they look for Must provide fast answers
Web Site Content Beginning – grabs attention Middle – value added portion Ending – payoff or call to action
Do you have “Heroin” Content ?The best content is content people want to see over and over again!
http://websitesthatsuck.com
Does it solve problems? Does it match target market expectations? Do you know the purpose of your site? Do you know target customer? Would it cause people to re-visit? Is it technically correct? Is the content current and updated? Can people find what they are looking for?
Page Content Keep Text Short
Bullets Structure articles with headings Use highlighting Plain Language
One idea per paragraph Start each page with a conclusion - Most important first
Page Chunking Copy Editing
Message Think about what you want to tell Whom you’re going to tell it to What do they already know How will information be put together
Example – http://www.irs.gov
4 Seconds To download Home page To figure out your message
What about your Web site What is your Web site’s message? Who is your audience? What is the purpose and scope of your
Web site? How is the message structured?
Interaction Design Organization Navigation Interactivity
Activity 3 http://go.com/
ASK YOURSELF Which web site’s organization did you like
best? What navigation tools did they use? What do
they have in common? Which of these two sites has you participating
or making the most decisions? What kinds of decisions or interactions are expected?
Hints for “Old Sites”
Organization = Uniform Context Now where do you go? Where are you going? Knowing where you are
Organizing the message Random Linear Hierarchical Mixed
Navigation Home Page – Welcome Page
Site identity/mission Site hierarchy Search Teases Timely content Deals Short-cuts Registration
Don’t Make Me Think – Steve Krug
It also has to Show me what I’m looking for …..and what I’m not looking for Show me where to start Establish credibility and trust
Don’t Make Me Think – Steve Krug
All web navigation must answer: Where am I? Where have I been? Where can I go next? Where’s the Home Page? Where’s the Home Home Page?
Example: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/
“Mystery Meat” Navigation Mouse-over “buttons” to know where to go Graphics that are usually blank
Example - http://slashdot.org/
What about your site? How is your site organized? Does your home page do it’s job? Can people find their way around your site
easily? Are you asking them to take action?
Presentation Design Color scheme Font selection Graphics selection Multimedia effects Arrangement
Looks of the House are important People don’t care what “tools” were used
to build it Don’t want design elements that get in the
way
Activity 4 http://disney.go.com
ASK YOURSELF What colors, written text, hyperlinks were
chosen? Is the font easy to read? Describe the graphics. Are there any special effects? Are all the elements arranged on the page in
such a way that each element adds to the page?
Hints for “Old Sites”
Must inspire confidence Must appear you understand Must show your share their values Must show your product/service will
solve THEIR problem
Don’t confuse web design with a magic trick!
Which one is the real dentist?
http://websitesthatsuck.com
Human Factors Brain is built for recognition Brain likes 7 Brain thrives on contrast Brain likes to find patterns
Marketing on the Internet – Jan Zimmerman
Design Elements Background – colors/images Foreground – content/links Other – buttons, hyperlinks, search,
navigation bar, table of content, etc…..
Organizing space Unity Balance Proportion
Misusing Graphics and Flash Tools to explain your message
Example – Flash Example – Graphics
http://websitesthatsuck.com
What about your Web site? Are your colors inviting? Is the text/font easy to read? Do the graphics add to the message? Are the elements arranged to add to the
page?
Krug’s Laws of Usability Don’t make me think!! It doesn’t matter how many times I have to
click Get rid of half of the words on each page,
then get rid of half of what’s left
Don’t Make Me Think –Steve Krug
Accessibility Visually impaired use special readers for text. Blinking text can trigger seizures . Poor color choices may render text unreadable to
color blind visitors. Mouse-dependent site navigation can be difficult
for visitors with physical limitations. Information contained in sound clips is
inaccessible to hearing-impaired visitors.
Text only default
www.cast.org/bobby
http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsp
Check out a website
CERN Usability Guidelines – http://www.w3.org/WAI
Microsoft Usability Guidelines – http://msdn.microsoft.com
Philip Greenspun – http://www.arsdigita.com/books/panda
Everybody test Ask visitors what they think of the content
and imagery of your page. Let them express their opinions Then show them you value their opinions
and comments and make the positive changes they suggest
Web site is NOT your Marketing Strategy
IT IS PART OF IT
Resources Don’t Make Me Think – Steve Krug Designing Web Usability – Jacob Nielsen Web Page Design – Stubbs, Barksdale, Crispen Marketing on the Internet – Jan Zimmerman http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com http://www.useit.com http://www.cast.org/bobby
Additional Resources http://www.htmldog.com/ http://webopt.com http://webmonkey.com http://www.htmlhelp.com/ http://www.wikipedia.org/ http://www.webopedia.com http://www.fixingyourwebsite.com/drhtml.html http://www.browsercam.com/ http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/cheaptools.html
Connie HancockUniversity of Nebraska - LincolnExtension [email protected]
