| Whether you have a website or are looking to | | | | products and you retain them as a repeat customer. |
| establish a web presence in Calgary, you will need to | | | | So keep content fresh, updated and consider adding |
| consider these top ten web design usability issues: | | | | a blog or Content Management System to you |
| 1. First Impressions | | | | Calgary Web site. |
| Studies have shown that the human eye generally | | | | 7. Clear Content Layout |
| reads a web page in an "F" pattern, from top left to | | | | Organize your site so the visitor can easily flow from |
| right. Therefore, the hottest real estate on your | | | | one page to the next, that information is prioritized in |
| business website is the top left area. Post your | | | | a hierarchy of need (both for them and you) and |
| essential information there, especially your corporate | | | | provide the information or product to them as |
| logo. Overall, your website needs to create a great | | | | efficiently as possible. Consider the home page as the |
| first impression and establish confidence and trust in | | | | gateway to the site and lead the visitor to what you |
| your visitor. A Web design should not hinder or | | | | can offer them (e.g. latest deals, latest information |
| overwhelm content or branding on any page, including | | | | package, latest blog entry, etc.) and then give it to |
| the home page. | | | | them. Ensure that each page follows a consistent |
| 2. Menus & Navigation | | | | layout for navigation and branding and that the |
| It is ideal to have consistent and universal navigation | | | | content area is organized in a clean manner so the |
| on your Calgary business website. This means having | | | | design of the site does not interfere with content |
| a menu that can access all pages at any time. This | | | | delivery. |
| makes it easy for visitors to find the information | | | | 8. Appearance Matters |
| they need and also maintains confidence in their | | | | A website's impression is made not only by what is |
| experience with your company. Having supporting | | | | included in the site, but what is left out. Bypass |
| navigation such as breadcrumbs or contextual | | | | banner ads, third party advertising, non-interactive |
| "previous" and "next" buttons or links to related items | | | | flash animation and overwhelming colour schemes |
| will reinforce the site's overall usability. Consistency is | | | | that blatantly fight for the visitor's attention. Visitors |
| key, and remember that navigation, such as text links | | | | are generally looking for one thing on your site, so |
| and a site map, is also used by search engine robots | | | | make it easy to find by keeping the structure and |
| when indexing your web site pages for their search | | | | layout of the site simple, clean and direct. While |
| results. | | | | someone may gain attention by wearing a speedo |
| 3. Contact Information | | | | with flashing lights on it, most people will end up |
| Make it easy for visitors to contact you by displaying | | | | buying a product from the salesman who is a tad |
| your Calgary office address or phone number clearly | | | | more conservative. J |
| on all pages of your website, or at least on your key | | | | 9. Trust & Security |
| pages. You can also have a contact us page that has | | | | With billions of Web pages online these days, visitors |
| more detailed information, such as different branches, | | | | need to know, more than ever, that they can trust |
| key contacts or a contact us form. These days it is | | | | their valuable time and money to what your site has |
| also not uncommon to see live chat options so a | | | | to offer. Security seals and trusted third party |
| visitor can connect with your staff as they surf! | | | | endorsements, 256-bit SSL Certificates speak directly |
| 4. Call to Action | | | | to the visitor about what you have done to secure |
| Even if it is just to get a visitor to call your office, a | | | | your Calgary web site. However, there are subtle, |
| website needs a "Call to Action" - this is something | | | | yet effective, ways to show your visitor that they |
| that is defined by a combination of site navigation, | | | | can trust your site: include properly written privacy |
| content generation and site functionality, including | | | | policy, terms of use, shipping and returns policy, |
| e-commerce processing. What do you want visitors | | | | unique logins for their registration, acknowledge you |
| to do on your site? Where do you want them to | | | | will never sell or share your information with a third |
| go? What is the next step once they have found | | | | party unless they agree and only email them to the |
| your site? Is it to call you? Buy a product online or | | | | degree to which they have agreed. A basic way to |
| learn something? Or perhaps share information with a | | | | ensure trust is to have your site professionally |
| co-worker in the form of an e-book or pre-recorded | | | | developed as this shows you have invested your |
| video. | | | | own time and money in something you feel is |
| 5. Keeping Above the "Fold Focus" | | | | worthwhile to others. |
| Keep the critical information in the top area of your | | | | 10. Polish to a Shine |
| website, above the fold where someone has to scroll | | | | Errors happen, it is technology after all, and while we |
| down to read more. This is why logos, menus and | | | | all want to believe that technology can deliver 100%, |
| the main calls to action appear in the top part of the | | | | 24/7 - is that reality? The reality is knowing that |
| site design - they need to be easy to find and use, | | | | accidents happen, glitches happen and once in a while |
| without the person having to scroll down the page to | | | | things need to be fixed. The reality of the Web is |
| find the information. Of course, when detailed | | | | knowing that technology is expanding and those tools |
| information is needed pages can be long, however, | | | | made to make your life easier still take time to learn |
| consider using a PDF document for more passive | | | | and use. As technology expands we must be |
| content, as it keeps the actual Web page shorter | | | | prepared to update, upgrade and expand along with |
| and more manageable. | | | | it. By working out all of the errors such as broken |
| 6. Web Content that Invites and Offers a Return | | | | links (this requires ongoing maintenance), spelling |
| A relationship is an ongoing commitment from both | | | | errors, broken images, browser inconsistencies, etc. |
| sides, it is not a one way street. While the visitor is | | | | you can present a well-polished gem to your website |
| looking for a product or information, your business is | | | | visitor, which will inherently carry its worth in its visual |
| looking for that new customer and the sale they | | | | appeal, optimum functionality and delivery of relevant, |
| bring - and as it has been said before, it is so much | | | | needed content. |
| easier to sell to someone who has already bought | | | | Consider the above 10 key points to improve your |
| from you before. So, when I say "offers a return" I | | | | current web site or if you are looking to start a new |
| mean it's a return for both sides, the returning | | | | Calgary Web design project. |
| customer finds continual value in your services or | | | | |