The importance of usability and SEO

January 24, 2008       (Updated from our previous Nov. 12, 2004 article)

Today, I will slightly steer away from the subject of search engine optimization and instead present what should be the most important considerations when designing or completely rebuilding an existing site.

While usability features are primarily intended for your end users, you should also think of the search engine robots (spiders) that will regularly come to visit your site, in an effort to index and refresh its pages.

To make a site that is both friendly to your users and to the search engines, you always have to think in terms of usability. In order of priority, the five most important usability features you should always implement in your website are:

         1. Ease of navigation
         2. Simplicity and intuitive
         3. Clearly indicated menus and links
         4. A well-designed site map
         5. Clean, uncluttered design

Ease of navigation
Your site should always be designed in a way that it’s always easy to navigate, no matter where you happen to be in the site. Always include a “Back to our Homepage” button or link, either at the top or at the bottom of the page. If your visitors get lost, as some of us do at times, clicking on the Home button or link will at least make them come back to the beginning of your site.

It’s also a good idea to place a “Back to the Top” button at the bottom of the page, to help them come back to the top. Also, when you are building or “renovating” a website, always include a contact button or link, either at the top or bottom of all your pages. The contact page is often the only way they can reach you.

Next: Make it simple and intuitive >>>

Article written by Serge Thibodeau,
President & CEO,
Rank for $ales
Copyright (c) Serge Thibodeau 2004

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