English|Português|Español
UserPasswordLogin

HOME
SESSIONS
INFO
Imagen6478E

Usability Tips: Browsing Consistency

In this issue, we start offering the first piece of advice -proposed by María José Serres, DeKlarit Marketing Manager- that will have to be kept in mind in order to improve web site usability.

Usability is defined as the extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use. [ISO 9241-11].

Why does usability matter?
Usability represents an essential focus on the pages of any company or entity by making them attractive enough for users not only to stay and visit them, but also to come back in the future. That is why page design, functions, messages, and contents must be designed and implemented by keeping usability criteria in mind.

Site browsing consistency is one of the aspects to be considered with regards to usability. In most web sites, browsing is expected to meet the following three objectives:

1- Locate the site on the Web
This is possible by placing the product or company logo, preferably, in the upper left corner of the page. The logo must be present in all of the company's web pages so that users can know what site they are on, regardless of the kind of browsing they did or how they got to the site.

2- Show what can be done in the site
This is possible by using browsing bars usually located in the upper (horizontal) and left (vertical) part of the page. The location and content of these browsing bars must be consistent throughout the site.

 

3- Find one's location within the site
For this purpose it is important to highlight the selected menu option - for instance by changing colors, fonts (from normal to bold) or images - and to choose a page title that matches the menu title (preferably use the same title).

 

Consistent browsing is achieved by strictly following these three points.

Related
Browsing: Visibility and Proportions
Contents of the Menu Options
Typography
Text Alignment
Usability: Contact us