Function - Website usability and Tourism
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Usability - Why it Matters
Mechanics of Web Site Use
When a visitor visits your web site how easy does he find it to carry out the following tasks:
- Find Information
- Navigate through your pages
- Read the content
- Download each web page
- Complete a task
If it isn't easy or the task takes too long then your site isn't mechanically sound. Faults that occur during the design process can hinder your site's ability to communicate your message or sell your product. It can also have a detrimental effect on your search engine listing.
A good method of judging this is to ask a friend or colleague to complete a task on your site. Ensure the person isn't familiar with your web site and don't give them any pointers - ask them to get back to you with their experiences. If they stumbled at any point then your site is in trouble. Don't forget they are very likely to be more patient and forgiving than a normal visitor - after all they know you.
Many of the problems that are found are design related and addressing those issues will help make your site a success.
We can carry out further usability testing including testing to see if your site is accessible to those with disabilities. We can also advise on what steps need to be taken if your design is restricting your potential.
