Designing for the
‘average user’ online is challenging. Simpler websites with a good online
presence, navigation and content tend to take a lead.
Lots
of us that have been using the internet and computers since long are surely
among the average users. Many website designers use their skills and put the
usability factors so high that only the advanced users can match with them. This
doesn’t suggest that simple and usable websites are no more in practice today but
web developers at times seem to overlook the proficiency and needs of this
large portion of web users. As a result, some of these average users seem to
deal with nuisances of few websites in terms of navigation, usability, etc. A
successful website design focuses on the special needs of these ‘average users’
too. Is your website one of them? Let’s find out.
Who is the
‘average user’?
‘Average
user’ is not to be confused with the ‘novice user’. With average user, we mean
users that may not use computer as experts, are not categorized into computer
professionals, but use internet more often than not and still surf internet for
their little to decent requirements. These are the large majority of users that
use computers as appliances just like we use our television sets.
Having a strong
search engine presence
Usually,
we type a URL and visit the website but there are still a huge number of people
who type into Google (without being exactly sure about the URL) and locate your
website. For such users, your business must be found on prominent search
engines.
If
you are a business operating locally, this becomes even more important. No
matter how and where you advertise, make sure you are listed in the top search
engines.
Having appropriate
TITLE tag is still important
Average
users do read the title of the page that the search engines return to them. When
the search engine returns a list of suitable pages with page titles hyperlinked
and description provided, these users read and review them carefully and only
click on those hyperlinks that match with their query and seem relevant to
them. Even, few experienced searchers do the same thing.
So,
the lesson here is simple – have suitable TITLE tags with appropriate targeted
keywords making sense together rather than looking like a bunch of targeted words
(keywords) put together.
KISS principle
for the actual web page readers
Average
readers usually read that ‘informational’ content on your website and then
decide what you are into. ‘Keep it simple, stupid’ will actually help them find
what they have been looking for, rather than getting entangled into a cluttered
page.
Have
suitable colors and images on your page to make it look convincing and
beautiful. No one likes an ugly face – right?
Helping them deal
with pop-ups easily
Average
users don’t really know how to handle those regular and spontaneous pop-ups.
Result - annoyance. They feel it’s better to quit than deal with those
horrifying pop-ups one after another. Without figuring out where they would
find the BACK button, they can’t entertain all new hyperlink windows they
actually never asked for.
An
average user’s website should be as friendly as a new enthusiastic neighbor
next door. An easy to load website with easy to read contents and persuasive
but simpler call to actions can help them zero in to their requirements and
assist you in accomplishing goals. If you haven’t created it for the ‘average
user’, you are not gaining much sales and revenue from this internet marketing
campaign.
For More details visit my website http://www.triveniinfosoft.com
