Summary

The Web Usability team, Lucy Collins, Ken Groom and Sophie Knight, are gathered around the microphone to ask the question 'is your website actually any good?'.

We explore what makes a great website and how to avoid entering the website hall of shame. In particular, we discuss the importance of usability, findability, and meeting user needs.

We share examples of websites that have done a good job and discuss the challenges of balancing user needs with organisational priorities and the importance of understanding who the users are.

Some useful resources:

https://www.webusability.co.uk/blog/7-steps-for-developing-an-effective-website/

https://www.webusability.co.uk/blog/what-is-ux/

Keywords

website, usability, findability, user needs, desirable, credible, valuable, design, function, balance, good website, user-focused, user goals, organisational messaging, testing with users, website development process, organisational strategy, information architecture, content gaps, continuous improvement

Takeaways

• A great website is usable, findable, and meets user needs.
• Desirability, credibility, and value are also important factors.
• Usability and findability can be improved through user research and testing.
• Balancing user needs with organisational priorities is crucial.
• Design should not compromise usability and user experience. A good website prioritises user needs and goals over organisational messaging
• Testing with users is essential throughout the website development process