Improve Your Site's User Interface

Build111 allows you to create unlimited pages while enforcing certain standards for excellence in web design. We believe that a user-friendly web site user interface makes navigation intuitive and logical. For that reason, we have limited the main navigation to two levels; there is the main primary navigation and one level of sub-navigation. If you want a web site to be easy to use for your visitors, then simplicity is the name of the game. Here are some tips to get the most from your user interface.

Main Navigation

Avoid Jargon: When deciding what buttons your web site should have as the main navigation, you should consider that your audience may not know much about your business or your industry and may not know all the jargon that comes easily to you. As a result, try to use generic terms for your buttons rather than jargon or brand names. For example, if you have a product that increases the size widgets, don't make the button name "Widginflate" because that's your trade name. Rather you should use "Enlarge Widgets" or similar. Once the visitor clicks on the button and gets to the page, the page title can be the product name, but the navigation to get there should be intuitive.

Fewer is Better: You should also keep in mind that if a site is too busy with too many buttons, your visitors' eyes will glaze over and they might even leave your site rather than try to hunt down the exact button to click on. Keep the number of main buttons to as few as possible while still offering the range of products and services and other information your visitors will need without forcing them to hunt for the information.

Sub Navigation

Link Often: Make sure that you talk about your sub pages on the main page of each section. Then, you should consider having links to your sub pages within that content in the main section pages. That way search engines and visitors can both find an easy way to get to the specific content they need.

Hide Details: The secret to an intuitive, easy to navigate site is simplicity. If you have a lot of detailed information that needs to be somewhere on the site for those who really have to have it, be sure that it's not right up front in the visitors' faces. Use bulleted lists with the items linked to the detail pages for that topic. That way the information subject is instantly visible, but the details are only there if you need them.

Graphical Complexity

Be wary of creating too many "look here!" graphical elements that steal the visitor's eye. Don't be afraid of white space and use contrast judiciously to highlight your important topics. While the temptation exists for you to draw attention to the important features you want to showcase, if you have more than one or two of them, they all will be lost in the visual buzz. It's best to take the advice of a professional graphic artist if you have any questions about this issue. We have experts on staff to assist if you ever need help.