50 Tips To A User Friendly Website

Discussion in 'HTML & Website Design' started by CheapRDP, Mar 11, 2011.

  1. #1
    - Clicking on the logo should take you to the home page;
    - Your logo/site title should be positioned in the top left of the page;
    - Duplicate your main navigational links in the page footer with links to additional, but less prominent pages;
    - Keep your navigation positioning consistent from page to page;
    5.Don’t open links in a new tab/window, except PDF’s and embedded documents;
    Highlight your current location in your navigation bar;
    Use reasonable sized fonts (12px or larger);
    Make sure font sizes are flexible (Use em’s or %, not px);
    Sans-serif fonts are easier to read at small sizes;
    Serif fonts are easier to read at large sizes;
    Center your layout on the screen;
    Use a page width appropriate for your audience (Older people use lower resolutions, tech saavy people use higher resolutions);
    Use whitespace to logically group related items on the page;
    Use font sizes, colors and styles to prioritize content;
    Use 1.4 or 1.5em line height;
    Use line lengths of 45 – 60 characters, the same as a paperback book;
    Link to related content within the context of your page content;
    Make sure your links change color/style when visited;
    Always underline links, except some navigational cases;
    Do not make important parts of the website look like an advertisement;
    Use pull quotes to highlight important content in a lengthy article;
    Text should be concise and scannable;
    Use dark gray text instead of black text on a white background;
    Break long pages into multiple pages;
    Do not use all uppercase words, word shape helps word recognition;
    Divide text into sections and use sub headlines to make content more easily scanned;
    Keep a consistent layout, colors and typography throughout the whole site;
    Print friendly automatically with print stylesheets;
    Use buttons to submit forms (Some images which look like buttons are ok);
    Don’t disguise or over-style inputs;
    Don’t redesign standard UI elements, like scrollbars (this means you, flash people!);
    Use breadcrumb navigation for hierarchical content;
    Search results page should reiterate the phrase you searched for;
    Do call your homepage “home” – not “welcome,” “front page,” “your company name” or anything else;
    Use short and easy to read URL’s;
    Give links to other content on your site related to their current page;
    Optimize images for fast downloading;
    Publish new content regularly, don’t “set it and forget it;”
    Test in all browsers and OS’s, and different versions – IE, Firefox, Safari, Opera and Chrome;
    Listen to your users and let them dictate changes (user centered design);
    Avoid using jargon in page copy unless absolutely necessary;
    Keep forms short, only ask for what you absolutely need;
    Encourage conversation around your content. Comments, forums, etc…;
    Include a text only sitemap;
    Use the title attribute on links to add more context;
    Never use “click here” as the text on a link;
    Write in a inverted pyramid style;
    Create friendly 404 pages which help people find content;
    Create incentive to come back later;
    Connect information via hyperlinks, don’t force navigational channels;
     
    CheapRDP, Mar 11, 2011 IP
  2. rmurray321

    rmurray321 Peon

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    #2
    good info, I grabbed the list to check over my own site once it is finished. thanks!
     
    rmurray321, Mar 12, 2011 IP
  3. drewtoby

    drewtoby Well-Known Member

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    #3
    thanks!!!! I'll keep it in mind
     
    drewtoby, Mar 12, 2011 IP
  4. kemonrider

    kemonrider Peon

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    #4
    great !

    just want to add,
    browse another website regularly and use another website as a reference. If you want to make a eCommerce design, you should search in Google or another web-design community website and search reference from there.
     
    kemonrider, Mar 12, 2011 IP
  5. Beatriz Cruz

    Beatriz Cruz Guest

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    #5
    There are a lot of stuffs I read here first hand. Great thing that I am informed on how to make a user friendly website as Im about to establish one right now.
     
    Beatriz Cruz, Mar 12, 2011 IP