What can you do to make using the website easier?

The website is the place where a potential client learns about your offer and decides whether to engage in cooperation; therefore, it should be strongly focused on providing a positive user experience. What can you do to make the site easier to use?

How can you make a potential client stay longer on your website? We have several proven methods for that. Whether you're creating your first website or have years of experience, there is always something you can do to ensure the first interaction with your site is a positive experience.

Thorough Planning

Before you start opening, changing, or saving anything, take some time to plan. Look closely at your business and think about what sets it apart, who your clients are, what problems you help solve, and what goals your website should achieve. Also, consider what has changed in your industry in recent years and whether you are keeping up with new trends. Once you have reflected on these points, it's time to work on your website’s structure.

The first decision to make is the type and size of the website you need – whether it will be a simple, scrollable business card or a very extensive online store. Create the architecture of your website – start by planning the elements on the homepage. Then look at the navigation and menu. What tabs will you need, will moving between them be intuitive, and which elements can you omit? Include only those functionalities that you will actually be able to manage. A company blog is an excellent way to improve SEO, but only if it is regularly updated. A chat function works only if users receive immediate responses after sending a message.

Usability improvements apply not only to your customers but also to you and your employees. Consider the size of your team and their technical skills. Then decide whether a website based on WordPress with a simple and intuitive content management system will work better, or if you need a complex CMS equipped with many additional features.

Implementing Usability Enhancements

Once you know how your ideal website should look, it’s time to put into practice simple ideas that will make it easier to use. Place the most important contact details in the top footer so they are always clearly visible to clients. Try to equip the site with interesting, interactive elements that perform an action when hovered over, such as changing color. Pay special attention to the homepage – equip buttons with links directing visitors to pages you especially want to showcase, for example, a promotional offer. Show pride in your company and activities – include links to your portfolio or industry certificates you have received.

Make sure the content published on your site truly addresses the needs and questions of your customers. Offer them solutions, ensuring that articles or product information are easy to find. If a client has to search through several subpages on their own, they will likely get discouraged quickly and leave your site. Google algorithms prioritize content optimized for mobile devices (the mobile-first principle), so be sure your website is responsive and that loading of individual elements is fast and seamless. Also, remember that your site should be accessible across all browsers and operating systems.

Accessibility for People with Disabilities

Among your website users, there will also be people with special needs. With a few simple tools, you can make it easier for them to explore your offer. Using the ChromeVox screen reader, you can check how visually impaired users will interact with your site. One key aspect is the ability to enlarge text for those with low vision and the choice of a simple font.

An important aid is also the proper contrast between background and text. Usually, one of three options is used: black background with white text, black background with yellow text, or yellow background with black text. Contrast changes should take effect after clicking the appropriate icon. Also, ensure that the images you publish have alternative text that best describes what the image shows. If you plan to publish video content, use the YouTube Data API interface, which allows adding subtitles for deaf users. Navigation on the site should be simple enough for users with mobility impairments to manage, even using only one key.

A well-designed website will help you attract new clients and improve your company’s image. To be effective, it should consider user needs and guide them in a straightforward way to access the necessary information. What are your experiences with websites? Which features annoy you the most? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!