by Rosario Buenaflor

Created on: April 06, 2011   Last Updated: September 25, 2011

Building a website can cost from a few hundred dollars to well over a few hundred thousand dollars.  The cost is proportional to the extent and complexity of work needed to build it.  The bigger the team of people working on it, the more it costs.  As in most things, the length of time it takes to build it, accordingly increases the expense to complete the project.  An essential part of building the website is planning.  In the planning stage, a complete usability guideline should be established, making it clearly the focus.  Usability is the ease of use or learnability of a website.  It is the study and application of elegance and clarity of how the users interact with the website.

The key to recognizing website usability is the focus on the diversity of user population and their needs.  The aim is to accommodate all types of perceived users and to give them a satisfying experience while on the website.   As more functionality and levels are added to the website, the design and logical architecture of the website becomes more complex and multi-layered.

Some tips on how web designers can focus on usability

* Write for real people
Write for the broadest spectrum of users.  The website should be flexible and accommodating, keeping in mind novice users as well.  Test the website with actual users.

* Generate a clear visual hierarchy
Categories must be organized and easy to follow.  Implement with simplicity and clarity.  

* Create clear distinctions with your pages.
Give users an easy way to put each step or each page in the context of what he or she is doing.  Add memorability to your site giving users a way to mentally connect with the pages they invoke.

* Avoid distracting animation
Too much movement on the screen can cause the users to be sidetracked.  Place high value on good quality written content that users will appreciate.

* Conduct usability tests from time to time.  
Use website feedback for improving website design.  Always document ideas learned as website is constantly evolving.  Test your site with actual users.

* Utilize first level or first page
- to maintain user’s interest and to make them want to explore the whole website, with all that it has to offer.  Some of them will arrive to the website by accident, and so your first level should be inviting and make them look forward to what else is in stored in your website.  However, only offer realistic promises that the website can deliver and provide.  

* Strategically display your design structure
A sitemap will serve as a guide through what may seem like a maze that is your website.  Utilize breadcrumbs.  

Prominently place links so the user do not feel closed in or have no way out of the website or even no way out of a page that resulted out of user error.  Write error messages to keep the user always in the loop.

* Give users a way to contact you by having a contact us menu.  This is one way of gaining credibility and giving users a means to become familiar with the site by engaging with the company behind the website.

Before the building starts, the purpose of the website must be thoroughly understood, with all possible oppositions or negatives taken into account.  A sound and robust infrastructure will emerge in your website if you focus on usability every step of the way.

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