When thinking about what makes a good small business website, we need to ask ourselves: What do our users want? In most cases, your users will want something that isn't complicated and is user-friendly. A user-friendly website is one that offers the content and functionality that people are looking for. So, this article will discuss 5 essential components of a user-friendly website, which include: high-quality content, mobile responsiveness, searchability, navigation, and accessibility.
1. High-quality content
The first component is to offer high-quality relevant content that will be useful for users who are visiting the website. Users want a site where they can find what they’re looking for easily without having to dig too deep through irrelevant information. This means creating pages that are well-organized and relevant. It also means writing great content that is relevant, accurate, and compelling to readers. When users visit your website, they most likely have questions or are looking for something specific. You want to make sure that your website is offering what they’re looking for.
2. Mobile responsiveness
The second component of a user-friendly website is making it mobile responsive. This means that your site properly responds to the screen size or device that someone may be using when they visit your page. According to Oberlo, as of July 2021, 56.75 percent of all web traffic came through mobile phones.
Since most users are using the internet on their phones these days, you need to make sure that your website is mobile responsive and to navigate on any device. In the past, this was optional, but now it is a necessity.
3. Searchability
The third component is searchability. This means that your website should have a good structure. Your site should make it easier for users to find what they’re looking for when using different keywords or phrases related to your content. Using search engine optimization (SEO) will help users find your site. But, this is a big topic on its own. Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo will be able to find your website if it has a clear structure that isn't difficult to follow.
4. Navigation
The fourth component is navigation. Your website should have a site map and menu that helps your users get around without getting lost or confused. Also, pages shouldn't be so deep in your structure that it's impossible to find and there shouldn't be broken links on your website.
If each page of your website is clearly labeled and the links between them all work, users will have no problem navigating it. Your goal should be for navigation to be easy and effortless. This makes for a better user experience.
5. Website accessibility
The fifth and final component is accessibility. Accessibility, as defined by Mozilla, is the practice of making your website usable by as many people as possible. Many tend to think that this means making your site available to individuals with disabilities. You wouldn't be wrong to think this but, it actually means so much more.
Accessibility means making your website accessible for those with disabilities, as well as those who are using assistive technologies like screen readers. It also includes users who may have a slower internet connection. It can also mean making your website accessible to users on phones, tablets, and smart TVs.
As you can see, accessibility on its own is a large topic. It can also be a pretty tall order to tackle when you consider the different circumstances individuals may have. A great goal would be shooting for an ADA-compliant site. But, the point is that you should want your site to be accessible and provide a good user experience to as many people as possible.
A good website is useful for the people that visit it. A user-friendly website is one that offers content and functionality that is in line with what the people who are using it want. When you decide what makes a website useful, ask yourself these questions: Does it offer high-quality relevant content? Is this site easy to find on search engines like Google? Can users navigate through your site easily? If I visit this site, will I find what I'm looking for without finding too much irrelevant information? Your goal should be to be able to answer yes to each of these questions.
