Fine Tune Your Web site User Experience = Visits + Loyalty Online users and online consumers are very unlikely to purchase from, or even return to, a web site after encountering a bug-a-boo or major pet peeve. After all - a web site conveys something called a ‘user’s online experience’.
The Internet has developed to the point where consumers demand an easy online experience. ... Consumers are warning companies, 'You're going to lose my business if your web site experience is frustrating.
Consumers say pop-up ads are frustrating or extremely annoying Incorporate a prominent news, press, announcements link on your web site instead. If you have a news letter or email list your ad belongs there, not in a pop-up. See http://www.virginiacancer.com. The upper left hand corner has been reserved for company advertisements or announcements.
Users are annoyed at the need to install extra software People do not install software at the casual browser user level. Don’t require this of your web site visitors.
Dead links are annoying or extremely frustrating. Subscribe to a link checking service. Not only do people hate dead links, search engines absolutely hate them. Link Sleuth is a great freeware program that does extensive link checking. http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html or you may opt for an inexpensive service to do this for you http://www.seventwentyfour.comI use this service for my company web site http://www.visionefx.net. These tools are especially useful if you maintain multiple link trades with other web sites.
Confusing navigation is frustrating or extremely annoying Your web site should read like a book. Think about it. A book has a title, table of contents, chapters and content. Organize your web site. Do not buried your links or create artsy icons. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Some samples of well organized navigation and content include http://www.rourkpr.com/default.html ~ http://www.kappcommunications.com and http://www.magellan-ps.net/default.html
Annoyance with registration log-on pages that block access to online content. Unless you are offering the ‘cure for the common cold’ you should always give people the option to do this. A good example of this is an ecommerce site that allows you to shop, browse or buy without having to sign-up or login. http://www.topiaries.biz Give people options!
Slow-loading pages are frustrating or extremely annoying I stopped optimizing for dial-up a long time ago, BUT I always develop graphics and page coding for the lowest possible page weight.
Users say ineffective site-search tools are frustrating or extremely annoying. The common rule of thumb is to determine if a site search is a necessary function to locate data, images or products within the web site. When search logic is tied to a database can be extremely effective as demonstrated in these web sites. Check out these search examples. http://www.easymoneynow.com/locations.asp ~ http://www.sellingpower.com
About the Author - Rick Vidallon of Visionefx Visionefx President, Ricardo Vidallon has been in the creative business of advertising, cable broadcast, animation and the World Wide Web. His work has been featured on the Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., Fox News and NBC Entertainment. He brings over 20 years experience in creative digital graphics to Visionefx
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