Usability
Usability usually refers to software or websites but it is relevant to any product. Some ways to improve usability include:
- Shortening the time to accomplish tasks.
- Reducing the number of mistakes made.
- Reducing learning time.
- Improving people's satisfaction with a system.
You need to consider the following things when discussing usability:
- Who is your intended audience?
- What do they want to do when they visit your site?
- What do you, from a business perspective, need your customers/users to do when they use your site?
- How will your users access your site?
There's a lot of firms that can build a technically advanced and correct solution. But that's really only half of the battle. If users can't understand or use an application, they won't. We place a strong emphasis on making sure applications are usable and helping you execute on this vision.
Usability Review
We can perform a Usability Review of your website, this includes:
- Navigation
- Navigation refers to the ability to find one's way around a website. An effective navigational scheme provides the user with a clear indication of the current location within the overall structure, as well as providing access to other parts of the site.
- Functionality
- Functionality is the extent to which those features and functions that a user is likely to require are provided.
- Control
- Control refers to the relationship between the user and the website. Where possible, the user should be in control of the interaction. For example, the user should be able to cancel an operation if it is taking too long. Control is removed if a website force users down a particular path without due regard to flexibility and natural workflow, or if it forces users to wait for events that may take a long time.
- Help and Support
- Users should be able to get ready access to assistance, both online and offline.
- Language
- A website should speak the user's language. Terminology should be clear and consistent. Jargon should be avoided. To support international users, items such as telephone numbers, date formats and currencies should be unambiguously expressed.
- Feedback
- The user should be kept informed of what is going on at any time. This applies not only to the actual use of the website, but to ongoing interactions.
- Consistency
- Websites should be internally consistent. Global elements (such as Search fields and navigation) should be in the same position throughout the site. Websites should also be consistent with general practice, so that the user does not have to learn a new interface or interaction style to use the site.
- Error Handling
- Where possible, websites should prevent errors from occurring by being clear, unambiguous and simple. When errors do occur, they should be explained in simple language. The user should be informed of what happened, why, and how to rectify the problem. An escalation process should be available if the user cannot resolve the problem.
- Workflow Support
- The system should enable users to carry out procedures in a way that suits their preferred work patterns and sequences.
- Visual Clarity
- The website should be clear and uncluttered. The purpose and function of each visual element should be apparent. Fonts should be of a suitable size and contrast.
Additionally
We'll also give you one hour of consulting time for you to ask questions. Your review will consist of an approximately 10-20 page report (depending on screenshots).
How much and how long?
Cost and time will vary depending on the depth and complexity of your website or web-based application, but engagements typically run in this range:
- Cost
- On application
- Time
- 1-3 weeks
After your audit
We will be happy to answer any questions you may have based on your report, what you then decide to do is entirely up to you. You might:
- make the changes yourself
- pass the report onto your own web team and ask them to make changes
- ask us for a quote to make some or all of the changes
At no point will we push our design or development services on you, we recognise that many of our clients maintain their own sites, are very happy with their own web developers or have their own in-house team and simply need to know what needs to be done in order to do it.
Let's Begin
Get in touch with us and we'll deliver a proposal in seven days or less. We look forward to working with you to improve your site's usability and customer experience.
User Interface Design
We can take your current website or application and help you see all the potential room for improvement. Whether it's saving users 5 or 6 clicks on this task, streamlining process, or providing additional context so that users understand better, we can put it together in the form of a nice recommendations document. We can even help you implement the recommendations if you would like.
Accessibility Audits
If you're a government site, or compete for government contracts, you should already be familiar with Section 508 because your website is required by law to be accessible. However, even if you're not, you should keep in mind that approximately 20% of users have disabilities, and if your site isn't accessible, you're telling every fifth customer that you aren't interested in their business. We can put together a recommendation on everything you need to do to become accessible.
FAQ
- What makes your Reviews different?
- We feel no usability analysis is complete without detailed recommendations you can use to improve your site right away. That's why we don't just point out your site's weaknesses - we deliver concrete solutions and then work with your team to implement them.
- Can't we just do this ourselves? What's the value of having an external review?
- It's often difficult for a team to objectively analyse its own website. In addition to our extensive expertise, Web Man Walking brings a fresh set of eyes and the kind of unbiased viewpoint you just can't get from your internal team.
- How are your reports delivered? Can you present the findings?
- All documents are delivered as a Microsoft Word document.
- Can I see a complete sample review?
- Sorry, client reviews are confidential. Get in touch and we'll answer any questions you might have.