When you visit a restaurant, you don’t ask for your food to be edible, do you? (Well, let’s hope that’s not what you need to ask!)
That’s a baseline expectation. Of course it needs to be edible.
Requesting your website to be user-friendly is much the same. Surely this is a baseline expectation.
When people visit your website, they’re there for a reason. Maybe they want to check out your services, make a purchase, or simply get in touch. Whatever the reason, they have a specific goal in mind. A truly user-friendly website is all about making it easy for them to get what they came for—without frustration.
So, what does “user-friendly” really mean?
1. Know What Your Visitors Want
First things first: why are people coming to your website? Understanding the main reasons visitors land on your site is key to giving them what they need. Are they shopping, booking a service, or just looking for some info? Once you’ve figured out their goals, you can design your site to make their experience smooth and simple.
For example:
- Online shop: Your visitors want to find products and any information about them that they need, add them to their cart, and check out quickly.
- Service-based business: They’re probably looking to learn more about your services and get in touch for a quote or consultation.
- Blog: They’re after content—so make it easy for them to find what they’re looking for.
2. Make It Easy to Get Things Done
Now that you know what your visitors are after, it’s time to help them get there. The easier it is to achieve their goals, the better their experience will be. This means:
- Simple navigation: Organize your menus so it’s easy to find things. Don’t make users click through endless pages to get what they need.
- Clear call-to-action (CTA) buttons: Whether it’s “Shop Now” or “Get a Quote,” make sure your buttons are easy to spot and lead directly to what users want.
- No clutter: Don’t throw pop-ups, ads, or distractions in their way. Keep it focused on their goal.
3. Keep Things Simple
Nobody likes a complicated process. A user-friendly website keeps things simple and to the point. Here’s how you can do that:
- Short forms: Only ask for the info you need—no one wants to fill out a long form just to get in touch.
- Quick checkouts: For e-commerce, the fewer steps between adding to cart and paying, the better.
- Clear directions: Always let visitors know the next step. If they’re reading about your services, give them a clear way to get in touch or book an appointment.
4. Think Mobile First
A lot of people will visit your website on their phones, so it needs to look great and work perfectly on small screens. For many of our clients, this number is well over 50% – some as high as 80 or 90%. Make sure buttons are easy to tap, text is easy to read, and forms are easy to fill out—whether they’re on a phone, tablet, or computer.
5. Keep Improving
You’re never done. People’s needs change, so your website should too. Keep an eye on how visitors are using your site. What pages are they visiting most? Where do they drop off? Use that info to tweak things and make the experience even smoother.
If we have spoken in person, you have probably heard me say this: Your website is never finished.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, a user-friendly website is all about understanding what your visitors want and making it as easy as possible for them to get it. Whether they’re buying something, booking a service, or just trying to find information, your site should make it easy as.
So, when you ask for your website to be user-friendly, my very next question will be, “Who is visiting and what do they want to do?”