How to Make a User-Friendly Website
The Rise of UX Design: Why It Matters
In today’s digital world, a website isn’t just a digital storefront—it’s an experience. UX (user experience) design has become a crucial factor in determining how well a website serves its audience. A website that looks great but isn’t optimized for usability can hinder conversions, confuse visitors, and fail to communicate what an organization actually does.
Research shows that 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience (Sweor, 2023). A visually stunning site is meaningless if users struggle to navigate it, find information, or complete key actions. That’s where user-friendly design comes in.
UX means thinking fresh about how visitors will navigate your site.
What Makes a Website User-Friendly?
Creating a website that truly serves its users involves four key phases: Research, Analysis, Design, and Iteration. These stages are not linear but rather a continuous cycle that ensures the website evolves based on user feedback and data.
1. Research: Understanding Your Users
User-friendly websites start with research. Without understanding who will be using the site and what they need, it’s impossible to design an experience that works.
Key research methods include:
Competitor Analysis: Understanding how similar organizations structure their websites to identify industry best practices.
Usability Testing: Observing how real users interact with a site to uncover pain points.
Market Research: Identifying user demographics, behaviors, and preferences to inform design decisions.
2. Analysis: Prioritizing the User
Organizations often design websites based on internal preferences rather than user needs. A public health department, for example, might want to highlight internal initiatives, but if users are primarily looking for health resources, those must take priority.
Effective analysis activities can include:
Interpreting Data: Reviewing past website data to identify where users drop off or struggle.
Creating Personas: Defining key user personas and their motivations.
User Stories: Empathizing with users to ensure the site serves their needs first.
3. Design & Iteration: A Continuous Process
Once we understand users and their needs, we move into design. However, design is not a one-time task—it must continuously evolve based on testing and feedback.
Design stages can include:
Wire-framing & Prototyping: Creating blueprints and interactive drafts of the site.
User Testing & Validation: Gathering feedback from real users to refine the design.
Iteration & Implementation: Using insights from testing to improve usability, redesign elements, and refine functionality.
Repeat: The cycle continues as new insights emerge, ensuring the website remains optimized over time.
Lo-fi wire-framing clarifies layout and planning before graphic design.
Why It Matters for Your Organization
A well-optimized website can significantly enhance engagement and efficiency. In a recent website revamp we led, we streamlined content by removing over 7 redundant pages, making it 50% faster for users to grasp the mission.
For businesses and organizations, a user-friendly website means:
Clearer communication with your target audience.
Better engagement with key stakeholders.
Less time spent troubleshooting website issues and more time focusing on your mission.
Let’s Optimize Your Website
At Boman Communications, we specialize in making websites work for your users. Whether you need a complete overhaul or minor adjustments, we can help ensure your site is clear, engaging, and effective.
Ready to improve your website’s user experience? Contact us today.