Founder, digital day.
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Web development is a skill honed over time through experience, problem solving, and constant observation. There is no denying that. Based on my experience in web and digital brand design (what we help clients with), this article will focus on some basics of UX and its impact in the world of web design and development.
Simply put, UX describes everything a user sees, hears, and feels when interacting with software-driven technology. From a user’s perspective, UX can be measured by:
• Amount of useful information: The interface should contain all the information the user needs. It can also include alerts, pop-up prompts, tooltips, button text, and even audible cues.
• Aesthetic appeal: While more users lean towards performance and speed when evaluating an experience, the overall look of the interface still matters. It has a direct impact on user satisfaction and repeat visits.
• ease of use: Interfaces should be designed to maximize user productivity while reducing required input. More importantly, layout the core functionality to make it easy to find.
• Page Speed: Anything longer than 3 seconds for a page to load is too long, especially for mobile users. And research shows that improving page speed increases engagement and conversions, and improves the overall user experience.
• Brand authenticity: At first, brand authority and UX may seem irrelevant. But when you think about it, credibility-establishing factors like user statistics and customer reviews also increase users’ confidence in completing transactions.
• Overall Value Provided: Finally, remember that user experience and user journey go hand in hand. An interface is essentially useless if it doesn’t help users solve their problems.
Now it’s time to dig into how UX relates to web development projects. Below, in no particular order, are five keys that you should never forget for effective UX design.
1. Invest in UX research.
By conducting UX research, you can make better design decisions that meet the needs of your target users. This can be divided into quantitative research and qualitative research.
Quantitative research deals with measurable and calculable factors such as web traffic, conversions, and bounce rates. This requires tools like Google Analytics and built-in analytics from platforms like Shopify, Wix and WooCommerce.
Qualitative research focuses on user sentiment. It aims to give you a deeper understanding of your feelings when using an interface. Methods that can be used to obtain data for qualitative research include surveys, interviews, and usability testing.
2. Remove user journey barriers.
Ask yourself how many turns and decisions the user has to make to get from point A to point B. The less interaction required to achieve a user’s goal, the better.
See how online services can auto-fill forms through your social media accounts instead of requiring you to fill out an intimidating sign-up page. With such an approach, they managed to reduce the number of interactions.
You can also add other on-page features such as navigation menus and search bars to help find meaningful content and smooth the user experience.
3. Reduce visual clutter.
You should limit the number of visual elements displayed on the screen. This helps convey your core message and highlights your website’s primary functionality. This also reduces the bandwidth required to load the entire page. This is especially useful for users on low-end networks.
A common way to do this is to embrace the use of minimal or “flat” design themes. This means abandoning plans to integrate elements such as animations and Java applets.
4. Present the correct information.
Avoid jargon when creating content. This can be a lot trickier than it sounds, especially if you want to convince users to do something tedious or complicated.
Let’s say your content caters to new users who are completely clueless about your brand or niche. If so, you should provide awareness-raising content, such as an informative blog post or a landing page that highlights your mission.
But if they’re already considering opportunities with your brand, you can start offering conversion elements like CTAs, opt-in forms, and ebook downloads.
Note the following about certain UI elements such as buttons and icons:
• Make sure they have a clear meaning. For example, buttons with home and burger menu icons already imply their purpose. But a plus sign or an arrow sign can be confusing unless there is a tooltip that appears almost immediately.
• Make sure the user knows the “preferred action”. The layout of the interface should be based on the main goals of the site. For example, if your core functionality is to search content, don’t put the search field in the sidebar or footer.
• Make sure your actions have feedback. Include feedback and acknowledgment every time the user does something to give the user clear direction and satisfaction. For example, if a user purchases an item, consider displaying a “Congratulations!” message. appear.
5. Establish credibility and authority.
Finally, it is important to include trust-based elements such as certifications, business certifications, cybersecurity badges, and other details that establish brand legitimacy.
Whether you ask users to sign up for a mailing list, make a purchase, or download an app, users want some form of reassurance before converting. However, when asking users for personal information, it should be kept to a minimum. For example, if a user wants to subscribe to your newsletter, you should not ask for their phone number or address. A personal email address and name will suffice.
Conclusion
Taken together, UX design may look simple on paper, but it can be a dangerous landscape full of pitfalls. , if you live according to them, you will definitely not fail.
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