Mouse Will Play
Skipton Web Design & Development
Usability & Accessibility
Website Usability Checklist
The ISO definition of usability is:
The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve a specified goal with effectiveness, efficients and satisfaction in a specified context of use.
In simple terms, web usability is about making web sites intuitive and easy-to-use for your visitors without requiring them to undergo any specialised training.
We've put together a basic checklist you can use to help evaluate the usability of your website.
- Does the site use a clear and simple navigation system? Where am I? Where have I been? Where can I go?
- Is page layout consistent? Place common elements, e.g. the logo & navigation in the same place on every page.
- Is page content easy to scan? Emphasise important points with a combination of bold type, colour, or lists. Break up text with sub-headings.
- Is the site load-time is reasonable?
- Is there enough contrast between the text and the background?
- Is the font size big enough text spaced enough to ensure it's easy to read?
- Can the user understand what you do after spending only five seconds on the home page?
- Is there a clear path to contact information? Better still, include it on every page.
- Are adverts unobtrusive?
- Does the back button always take visitors to the preceding page?
- Can visitors bookmark individual pages?
- Are links highlighted in some way?
- For larger sites, is there a search function?
- Has unnecessary been eliminated?
