Web Development Practices for Creating User-Friendly Websites

• By Muhammad Arslan
• 28-02-2024
• Web Development

A successful website goes above and beyond mere aesthetics. In this time and age where people’s attention spans are shorter than ever and it’s getting more difficult to build sustainable customer relationships, it’s worth investing in a well-made, user-friendly website. Aside from looking cohesive all throughout, your website should be interactive and usable.

The baseline definition of a user-friendly website is that it should make it easy for your site visitors to find and access the information they need.

This is important for many reasons. First, it helps establish authority and credibility. When you offer a good browsing experience, you are positioning your brand as a reliable entity that can serve your customers well. This good customer experience translates to better conversion rates down the line. In this article, we’ll cover the 11 key web development practices you should implement in order to create a user-friendly website.

Web Development Practices For Creating User-Friendly Websites

Implement these 11 essential web development practices to craft a user-friendly website.

Mobile Compatibility

A recent study revealed that over 55% of the total online traffic comes from mobile users. That means that 92.3% go online through their mobile devices! As such, it is important to ensure that your site is fully compatible and accessible to mobile devices, especially considering that users will most likely interact with your site through their phones.

To ensure this, the Google mobile site tester helps you assess if your site is mobile-friendly or not. It pinpoints specific areas such as your mobile website speed that may need extra attention to ensure compatibility. You can also easily build a mobile version of your site and regularly check it for issues when it is accessed through a phone. Check if the text is readable, if the elements load correctly, and if the navigation works. Another handy tip is to make sure that all of the important website elements can be easily reached by the thumb.

Comply With WCAG Standards

Website content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) are a set of global standards that state that digital assets should be readily accessible to individuals with disabilities. These include sensory, physical, learning, and/or intellectual disabilities.

There are some web design changes that you can incorporate in order to cater to people with disabilities. For example, consider adding live captions to videos so that people with hearing disabilities can read the content. Additionally, enable text resizing by up to 200% without compromising function or content so that people with visual disabilities can zoom in to read. You can also make your website compatible with keyboard-only navigation as well as screen readers. Use a WCAG compliance website checker to confirm if your changes are up to code.

Brand Messaging

Most site owners would focus on the design elements, but what matters more is the consistency of the brand messaging across all pages. This also boils down to the copy you employ and the tone of voice in every sentence. Everything - from your color choices to the logo - that represents your brand should be in line with your core message and values. This translates to the establishment of trust and helps you foster customer loyalty by making their decision-making process simpler and more straightforward.

Visual Hierarchy

It only takes about 2 seconds for an online visitor to form an impression of what your website is all about. This means that you can leverage visual hierarchy to make them comprehend instantly just what they are looking at. Just imagine if your landing page is filled to the brim with random images and text. How will users know which one they should look at first? Their attention will be pulled in different directions which is undoubtedly frustrating and may cause them to click away.

The best way to implement visual hierarchy is to place the most essential website elements in the natural focus points of your website. Pay attention to the size of the elements, the colour and contrast of your text, and the strategic use of alignment and negative space to redirect the attention of your online visitors toward the key elements that matter the most.

Good Navigation

Navigation refers to your website menu and its primary function is to help your online visitors go from one page to another so they may access the information they need or perform a specific activity. It is highly recommended to have a clean and intuitive navigation system to offer the most seamless journey throughout your site. As a result of good navigation, you can expect happier online visitors which translates to higher conversion.

Some basic navigation recommendations is to include simple navigation toolbars at the header and the footer of your site. Include a search bar so visitors can easily type in keywords. You can also incorporate links into your content and be clear about where those links go. You also do not have to overcomplicate the navigation process and using a simple wireframe map can help you arrange your site pages without making your visitors dig too deeply just for them to get to their desired pages.

Color Scheme And Consistency

The general rule is to follow the right contrast between your website’s background and the content so that the text is easy to read and perfectly legible. Additionally, keep the color palette to a minimum as too many color choices may overwhelm your readers.

You may also leverage the power of color association and maintain a consistent design across all of your pages. The look and feel should be the same as they go from one page to another. Employ the same background colors, typefaces, and design elements to keep your site uniform.

Efficient Error Handling

Error handling is very valuable for full-stack web development because it helps you detect, resolve, and report any errors as they arise to keep your site functional and in top working condition. When the actions of users lead to errors, the way you present the error will impact their perception of your brand.

You might have experienced performing an action that resulted in the generic "Error 404" mesage. This often leaves users feeling frustrated and confused which causes them to leave your site. For comprehensive web development solutions, consider partnering with a reputable web development company like Creativ, where expertise meets innovation. However, if you have an error handling message that says something like, “Oops! Something went wrong. Refresh your page and try again,” you’re offering more helpful information to your visitors which lessens the likelihood of them getting frustrated and leaving.

You can improve your error-handling message by adapting something that gives more information to your users. Instead of the previous example, try using an error-handling message that says, "Oops! Something went wrong. Please refresh your page and try again." Additionally, include more helpful information related to specific action steps that users can take to resolve the problem. For example, you can include a link that redirects them to the homepage or invite them to contact your customer service department for more assistance.

Call-To-Actions (CTAs)

A call-to-action (CTA) is an explicit message that invites your online visitor to perform your desired action. You can see CTAs practically everywhere, usually in bright buttons that say "Shop Now!" or "Sign Up." Essentially, the CTA you use reflects the specific action that you want your users to perform. This button redirects them to a different page, and their engagement with your CTA allows you to take them a step further along the customer conversion funnel.

The main purpose of a CTA is to increase the likelihood of people doing your desired action if you offer a direct invitation to do so. It's an invitation to stay and interact more with your site by purchasing an item or subscribing to your mailing list.

It is not enough to simply insert a random CTA. Design likewise plays a key role which is why it is recommended to make the CTA button or link more visible through sizing or by utilizing color contrast. That’s why you may notice some “Buy Now” buttons look huge and are often in the color red - they’re designed to catch your attention and remind you to take action.

Fast Loading Speed

Creating a website that loads quickly is proving to be more challenging because it is incredibly tempting to insert a lot of media and design elements within your page which inadvertently affects how quickly it loads. But the consequence of a slow website loading speed is a compromised user experience; it will cause them to feel frustrated which will make them click away which then affects your bounce rate, overall search performance, and potential for revenue.

Keep in mind that a fast loading speed should also apply to your website’s mobile version, especially considering that the majority of users surf the internet through their portable devices. As a general rule, your site should load within the first two seconds.

Here are some general and actionable tips to help your website load faster:

• Since graphics take the longest to load due to their file size, you may reduce their load time by reducing their dimensions and resolutions and compressing the files. This practice is known as image optimization.
• Webpages need multiple HTTP requests to make the various elements load on the page and this includes CSS files, scripts, and graphics. However, each HTTP request needs to travel to the hosting server and back which means that multiple requests will undoubtedly slow your site down. As such, the elements should be kept at a minimum so you may limit how many HTTP requests are needed to load your page.
• Some webpages may be infused with unnecessary code and this is particularly common among independent owners who add content and code on their own. It is worth considering reviewing the code using web performance tools and eliminating render-blocking JavaScript.
• Consider minifying the code by removing any unnecessary elements such as unnecessary semicolons, whitespace, and even code comments. As a result, the size of your JavaScript and CSS files will be marginally smaller which should help your site load faster.

Protect User Data

Customer data privacy is an essential element of a well-functioning website. There are three main goals for this: to protect user information, build trust with your customers, and comply with laws regarding data privacy. Failing to do so could result in grave consequences both on your customers and on your business. Data breaches are dangerous and should be prevented because the consequences include exposing your customers to identity theft or other types of fraud. You can protect valuable customer data through the following steps:

• First, take the time to learn about the types of customer data you are collecting. This may include public, internal, confidential, and restricted data.
• Implement changes that will limit your data collection to exclusively include essential customer information, specifically about their experiences and retention rates.
• Next, make sure to encrypt the user data, and this includes in in-transit and stored data. The most commonly used encryption is a 256-key bit length which safeguards your systems and servers. Don’t forget to regularly back up the data and place them in secure locations.
• You may also implement MFA or multi-factor authentication which essentially gives the user sole control over their account and data, making it extra challenging for hackers to get in.

Browser Compatibility And Consistency

Check how your website performs across different browsers by accessing it through popular platforms such as Chrome, Safari, Opera, and Internet Explorer. Assess its performance through metrics such as website loading speed and navigability, and ensure that it remains consistent all throughout. This is important because there’s no way of knowing which browser your audience prefers, and it never hurts to perform well on all of them.

Conclusion

A successful website is built through the implementation of good web development practices that put the users at its core. This means designing and optimizing your site to cater to your visitors and provide them with a seamless user experience. This includes improving your website interface and boosting its usability to set your business apart from the competition and guarantee a satisfactory experience for your audience.