Things to Remember

There are several basic guidelines and usability issues to be aware of when building a well-designed web site. These guidelines are derived from our research at the Virginia Information Providers Network and that of many industry experts in the fields of e-government and online usability. They are designed to help make the end user's experience as quick and easy and trouble free as possible.

1. KEEP IT SIMPLE!
2. SIX TO EIGHT LINKS
   Try to keep the number of links for your primary home page navigation between six and eight. This may very depending on the complexity of your site however the function of the home page and primary navigation is only to get the user started. Most users are looking for specific information and are not interested in sifting through links and pages that are unrelated to their search. They would rather move quickly to a more specific area of your site where they will most likely find the information they are searching for.
3. SHORT LINKS
   Keep your links as small as possible to convey the type of page or information to which the link will lead. For example: Contact or Contact Info vs. Contact the Virginia Information Providers Network
4. DIVIDE & SUBDIVIDE
   When developing content for a page, divide it into sections for easy scanning. Research has shown that most people read slower from computer screens and therefore resort to scanning. Dividing and subdividing your content into simple categories allows the user to quickly find specific information on a page without reading though lengthy sections of unwanted content.
5. CUT THE FAT
   It is a common mistake to write for the web as you would for print. Experts suggest writing 30% to as much as 50% less when disseminating information on the web. This is not to say that you should reduce the amount of information. Just be succinct and get to the point. Remember most users have slow connections, are tired of waiting for pages to download, read slower from computer screens, and are reluctant to scroll. The quicker they can get what they want the better.
6. LIMIT THE FANCY STUFF
   It is easy to get carried away with pictures, movies, sound bites, animations, menus, useless links, and so on. These extra items require much more load time. If you need or want to include them, it is a good idea to separate them from your primary content. If the user is interested, for example, they can view another page for photos or movies.
7. PRIORITIZE
   Prioritize your content and organize it accordingly. Most users prefer not to scroll and not to move deeper or drill into a website for their information. Your primary information should be placed in the upper levels of your site. Information such as supporting documents, reference material and related information should be located either lower on the page or on deeper pages.

 

Although these are no more than suggested guidelines, keep in mind that the Internet has become standardized to a certain degree. Users typically view many more web sites than just yours. Therefore users will expect your site to look and act similarly to those with which they have become accustomed. Following these simple suggestions as much as possible will help you develop a very friendly and functional web site.

For more information regarding web site development, practices, usability issues, and tools, visit the Virginia Government Webmaster Utilities site.