ShermanAndGreg Technology and Business

Ever wonder why Google is the preferred search tool on the Web? Could it be because Google is simple? One search box; one search button… just type in a keyword or two, and go.

Usability refers to the level of ease with which a user can interact with the graphic user interface of an application, website or web development solution. Conducting a usability study on your recent website project is especially important in the competitive environment of web development in London The study of usability promotes methods of improving efficiency and ease of use during the design process.

What does a person, who enters a house and finds all the doors of the rooms locked supposedly do? He, in all will walk out of the same door he came in through! In the exact same way, by compromising on the navigation system of your site, you are just pushing the visitors out.

The most basic component of a Web site is its navigational structure. This is the oldest and most common factor in Web design, but also the most underestimated. Simply stated, if the visitor cannot navigate or negotiate a Web site with ease, and if the information is difficult to access, then they will leave. It takes only a few months of reviewing select Web sites for the Webby Awards to discover that even in this age of advanced Web design, most designers fail to achieve navigational organization beyond the very basics on their sites. Instead, it seems that the art of creating effective navigation has been superseded by the desire to host the latest technologies and communication addons. Yet, visiting a site that has videos, Flash and all the bells and whistles is a fruitless experience if sufficient attention has not been paid to the navigational structure of the site. Encountering this hurdle is particularly frustrating when the site is extensive, which makes searching for specific information hidden in a mysterious maze of links and directions time consuming.

Importance of a navigation scheme

One of the most important tasks when developing your website is creating a navigation system that is effective and easy to use. People have a tendency to try to include everything in the navigation tree all at once. Instead they should follow the same process as setting up the structure for the site and break it down in levels. This would be information relevant to the homepage that directs visitors to the main sections of the site. From the main sections of the site, the user gains access to the sub sections containing content pertinent to that section only. Remember to always include links back to the main sections and your homepage on every page in your site. While you are creating your navigation setup, try to look through your user’s eyes. Remember, you are the one creating the structure, so you are biased in your opinions. If you think about what someone else might say or do, then you are one step ahead of the game.