Best Practices for the Web

A good website is one where users don’t have to think to get the information they want. Website users shouldn’t have to ask themselves question such as “Where do I begin?”, “Where can I find...?”, “Why is this here and not there?”, or “Why is it called that?”.
(*The heading is taken from a book with the same name written by Steve Krug, see box on the right).

People often underestimate the importance of having a user-friendly website. And it’s true that many website users are very patient when they’re looking for information – they will soldier on with trial and error until they find what they need. Website users won’t immediately give up on a website that is not user-friendly, but they will get annoyed about unclear navigation, long searches, and inefficiencies.

The converse is also true: The clearer and more user-friendly a website is structured, the more comfortable it is to visit it and search for information. This also increases the trust that website users place in those operating the website. Website users feel cleverer when they visit websites whose design and structure they understand. This makes them feel in control and they will look forward to coming back.

Best practices to create a good, user-friendly website: