How a customer interfaces with your website can help your business on many levels. When designing user-friendly websites, there are many factors to keep in mind.

A key element to a website’s usability is content. When designing a page, make every word count. The average user has a short attention span when perusing a website. In fact, a study which investigated the changes in reading behaviors in the digital age, found that the reader spent more time skimming and browsing web pages versus reading each word. Research shows that only 16 percent read word-by-word. Here are few things that can help make your text more readable:

• Write short, concise content

• Make sure your typography is the right size and easy to read

• Use outbound hypertext links

• Captivate your reader by using one idea per paragraph

Another important factor to consider is making your website mobile-friendly. Mobile marketing is not a fad, and according to Pew, the average American spends about two hours a day on mobile devices. The mobile web viewer expects to access information quickly and easily. Navigation should be seamless. A few ways to create a quality mobile friendly experience are:

• Keep the website menu short and sweet

• Place calls to action in the main page where users can see them

• Allow users to get back to the homepage easily by using your logo as a homepage navigation button

Web performance goes hand in hand with the user experience. Fast load times create trust, which in turn will keep the customer coming back. A website should load within two to three seconds. If the load time is longer, research shows up to 40% of users will abandon your website. Optimizing your website can assist with customer engagement and help your organization’s bottom line.

How do you make your organization’s website more user-friendly?