Intellisites, the smart choice for web design

You probably have a lot of tough stuff to learn and think about at work on a daily basis. Petty cash, cash flow, flow charts, annual reports, TPS reports, imports, exports, inventory, outventory… it’s chaos out there in the business world. So today I’m going to talk about something deliciously unambiguous. No curve balls here. What I’m going to talk about is exactly what it sounds like it is.

And our topic is…usability.

Which deals with…you guessed it…how usable a website is. In other words, is it easy to use? Or is it hard to use?

Who Cares About Usability?

Well, for starters, your website visitors (a.k.a. your potential customers). They actually care about it A LOT. When web surfers visit your website, their expectations are probably all similar – they all want the website to be easy to navigate. As they click around, they are going to find out that either A) it is easy to use or B) it is not easy to use. If it’s choice “B,” the wussy visitors will click the “X” immediately and travel to one of your competitors’ websites. Meanwhile, the brighter, more adventurous, and more determined visitors may stick around for awhile, but as their frustration levels increase, they too may opt to leave the site.

The middle of a shopping spree on your website is no time for natural selection to take its course. You want ALL the customers, including the lazy, tired, and easily confused, to make it to the checkout without quitting.

Okay, So Apparently It’s Important…But How Do I Increase Usability?

Since this post is just an Intro to Usability, I’ll just say this – the simplest websites to use are simple. Too many choices and unnecessary bells and whistles can distract and confuse visitors to a site. Now, that’s not to say a website with lots of functionality can’t be usable, too, if it’s been designed correctly. But I’ll save that for another entry.

For now, the takeaway is this – Usable websites are easy to use and navigate, customers prefer usable websites, usable websites are simple and straightforward, and IntelliSites loves to design websites that are simple and straightforward.

It’s that simple.

Have you heard that statistic that says humans only use 10 percent of their brains? Well, use of the internet is no different. There’s so much possibility built into modern internet browsers that people (even us nerds at IntelliSites) sometimes can’t keep up. But here’s the inside info on five basic features everyone should know how to use.

1. Refreshing your browser. Websites are constantly changing. New content is uploaded, graphics are changed out, and news is posted. But sometimes your browser doesn’t notice these changes right away. You’ll often need to refresh your browser to get the updated version. You do that by clicking on the swirly little arrow up on your toolbar. They look a little different from browser to browser, but if you want to make sure you’ve got the right button, rest your cursor on it for a second and “Reload this page” or “Refresh” should pop up. If it does, that’s the button to click to see the most up-to-date version of the web page you’re viewing.

2. Smart addresses. In many modern browsers, if you know the website you want to visit, you can usually skip the “http://” and the “www” when you’re typing it in. In most cases, it’s enough to start with the name of the site (e.g. just type intellisites.com, not www.intellisites.com). Over time, all those extra seconds you’ll save will add up. (Incidentally, you should be typing those addresses into the address line of your browser, not into Google…)

3. Tabbed browsing. Instead of having multiple windows on top of each other, all modern browsers offer tabs, a way to see every window you have open as if you had a pile of clearly labeled folders in front of you. It’s multi-tasking made easier.

4. Code view. Looking at code view can be a confusing and disorienting experience for the non-programmer, but it can help you find some of the hidden things behind the scenes of a website. This isn’t something you’d do on an everyday web surf, but you might want to do it when you visit your competitors’ websites so you can take a peek at the keywords and title tags they’re using.  To get there, usually you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+u or Shift+Ctrl+u, or just right click anywhere on the page and choose “View Source” or “View Page Source.”

5. Find on page. Ever clicked on a Google result and been confronted with an extremely long page page of text? Don’t waste your time and your eyes trying to scan the whole thing for the part you need. Use the find feature to locate exactly what you need. Press Ctrl+f (or Command+f on a mac) and type in the word or phrase you’re looking for. Voila! Your browser will find it and highlight it for you!

I hope these tips help to make your web experience just a little more super.

Mozilla’s Firefox is among the most popular web browsers in the States. This is a pretty incredible feat since Firefox is entirely open source. That means it’s not a business product, but a product that’s been built by a team of volunteers all over the world.

So, if it’s so popular, should you make the switch to Firefox?  Maybe.  But more importantly, what’s the deal with choosing a browser?

Web Browsers 101

Let’s begin at the beginning. In order to surf the web, you need a web browser, which is the software application that makes it possible for you to do all the things you do on the internet. Now, when you first bought your computer, chances are, the folks who set up your computer included Internet Explorer for you and set it as your default.

While it was nice of them to get you started, now that you’re going, you do have the option to shop around. Since browsers are generally free, what you’re shopping for is the browser with the right features. Different browsers have different takes on security and options for customization. Browsers also vary on how fast they run and how they display certain web pages.

Be More European

Thanks to antitrust laws in Europe, European internet users have recently been given a new way to select the best browser for them. Europeans who use Internet Explorer now actually have a screen that pops up and prompts them to learn more about other browser options. (Yes, that’s right, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is now required to help internet users learn more about and even download other browsers.)

While IE doesn’t offer this browser choice screen for Americans, it doesn’t mean you can’t do a little good old-fashioned Googling on your own to find out more information about the browsers that are out there and which one’s right for you.

And Firefox Can Help

And to get you started, the makers of Firefox have put together a website explaining the importance of choosing a browser (and here’s another site with the same goal). Check out these sites, talk to your friends, and see what’s out there in terms of browsers. Maybe you should join the crowd and make the switch to Firefox. Maybe IE 8 is the one for you. Maybe you’re destined to be an Opera guy. 

I have just one request. Please. Don’t. Use. IE 6.

But I’m cool with the other browsers.  Pick the best one for you, and enjoy the ride.

At IntelliSites, we don’t generally go around saying that anything “should die.”

Today will be an exception.

Internet Explorer 6 should die.

This early version of the Internet Explorer web browser has a lot of bugs that can cause websites to display incorrectly. For us web design types, that means a lot of extra work to get the websites we create to look good on IE6 users’ computers. It’s not that we would mind doing the extra work, of course, if IE6 was doing a bang up job browsing the web for its users.

But it’s not. In fact, it’s a very limited browser, with fewer features and capabilities than other browsers or even newer versions of IE.

Banding Together to Say Goodbye

Luckily, we aren’t the only ones battling against this old beast. We have some comrades on social networking sites that have banded together to express their desire for people to stop using the browser. And in Denver, a mock funeral was held in March in an attempt to get web users to get over IE6. Even Microsoft itself acknowledges the advantages of upgrading to a newer version of Internet Explorer.

To our delight, as each month goes by, fewer and fewer web surfers use IE6. But this slow changeover is taking too long. The time has come to put the poor old browser out of its misery once and for all.

If you are one of the holdouts who is still using IE6, just go for it and upgrade. Why use an old browser when there is a snappy new one just waiting for you?

Is your computer slowing down? Do you click on your internet icon, run to the kitchen to get some macaroni and cheese, and come back to find that your computer is still not connected to the internet?

You can thank spyware for that.

Spyware, malware, viruses…you hear a lot about these sneaky predators these days. They get into your computer to reconfigure things, steal information, track your activity, or at the very least, slow things down.

If you’re in the market for a better browsing experience, here are some tips you can use to avoid these pests and keep your computer moving along.

Don’t Just Click It. Links are fun to click – but they can be dangerous. Whether they are links from webpage to webpage, links on social networking sites, or links in an e-mail, be very careful about which ones you click on. Evaluate the situation and use caution. Is the link in a strange-sounding e-mail from a long-lost acquaintance? Did the link randomly pop up in a little box on your screen? Was the link found on a website that seems a bit shady? If so, hold back.

Don’t Trust Every Website. When you Google a topic, there is no guarantee that every site that comes up is 100% trustworthy. Search engines look for relevant sites, but they don’t always screen out sites that were set up with malicious intentions. Before you click, check out the web address – is it extremely long and complicated? Does it end with an unusual domain name? Also, read the description and see if it makes sense. If it’s just a jumble of nonsense phrases, chances are it’s a site that’s out to poison people with spyware or other malware. Choose another site from the list that seems more legit.

Sometimes the Best Defense is Offense. Avoiding suspicious links and websites will decrease the amount of spyware your computer is exposed to, but it’s really difficult to be vigilant enough to avoid it all. In addition to being careful as you surf, be sure to install antivirus software on your computer and keep your subscription up to date. Freeware programs like Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware can also be downloaded to help attack the spyware programs that have already made their way into your computer.

With these tips and a little luck, you’ll end up with less mac and cheese in your belly before your computer connects to the internet.

We recommend social media to many of our clients. It’s a great way to discover what your customers want, to interact with them in a place where they are comfortable, to generate search engine rankings, and so much more. But it’s not right for everyone. If you’re not prepared to do it right, it might not be the right strategy for you. Ask yourself these four questions to see if you’re ready for it:

1. Could my business benefit from hearing what people are saying about us? If you already know exactly how people talk about your business, you might not need social media. On the other hand, if you’re not tracking your word of mouth reputation, you may not be able to afford not to participate in social media.
2. Could we benefit from learning more about our target customers? If you think you know exactly what it is that makes your customer tick, maybe you don’t need social media. Maybe your sales are great, and finding more effective or efficient ways to serve your customer just isn’t a priority. ‘Nuff said. Social media might not be in the cards for you.
3. Would it be useful to meet and talk to industry influencers? If you’re the kind of business who leads the pack (y’know, like google), then maybe you don’t need to worry about social media. You influence the influencers, and your business leadership is regarded as the gold standard. That’s great! The connections you can make on social media probably won’t turn into any valuable insight or influence.
4. Are we willing to commit to using social media?  Having a half-hearted social media presence is like having a lousy TV commercial – it can annoy people and do more harm than good. If you set up Facebook and Twitter accounts but don’t have the time to follow up when people ask you questions, you’re going to have some disappointed customers. Should you decide to enter the social media scene, make sure you are prepared to update your pages regularly and interact with customers punctually so your followers and fans feel the love.

Some people actually spend a lot of time scoping the internet for free stuff.  And there’s plenty of it out there. With its coupons and free samples and freeware, the internet can provide hours of entertainment for people looking for complimentary goodies.

Everybody Else is Doing It…

One way to increase traffic to your site and make your email list grow is to join the crowd and offer something for free. If it’s something super cool, the freebie alone might be enough to lure people to your site. A really cool screensaver or some wallpaper, for instance, can attract a party if it’s unique enough.

If you can’t come up with something earth-shattering, there’s nothing wrong with something tried and true. Good content packaged in a list or an e-book might not cause a mad rush to your website, but it may help you to collect the email addresses of people who do visit. If you have information and visitors to your site need it, volunteering their email addresses is usually no big deal. (Just make sure not to collect that email address as part of a complicated 28-question form…you want them to get what they want without feeling hassled.)

Look at it this way…people go to the trouble of taking cars and cabs and buses to go places that offer free stuff or even discounts…and they can visit websites that do the same without even leaving the comfort of their homes.  If you were doing some online browsing, wouldn’t you appreciate getting something for free?

I’m hungry. Let’s talk about restaurants.

Everyone likes going out to eat. And when we go to restaurants, we tend to have certain expectations about how the experience will play out. We assume, for instance, that there will be a menu. And that there will be an opportunity to place an order. And that after we’ve ordered, someone will cook the food for us and serve us. It’s not lack of creativity that makes most restaurants follow these norms; they are rules that work, and restaurant patrons are most comfortable when this pattern is followed.

If you entered an unfamiliar restaurant and discovered that it did not have a menu, for instance, chances are good that you’d feel a little uneasy. All legitimate restaurants you’ve been to before have had menus, so you’d be likely to question what type of establishment you had entered. And even if you got to order whatever you wanted and the food was delicious and you enjoyed your experience, you’d probably leave there thinking, Well, that was kind of weird.

Following the Unwritten Rules

This idea applies just as well to web design.  When we enter a new website, there are certain patterns we expect it to follow. For example, we expect that the elements that will help us navigate from page to page will be located on the top or side of the screen. There’s no reason why a web designer couldn’t make a diagonal row of navigation buttons that extends from one corner of the page to the other. But instead, web designers stick to the unwritten rules of web design because they want to follow their audience’s expectations and help them stay comfortable as they browse.

So while IntelliSites is on the cutting edge of creativity when it comes to web design, don’t worry, we do believe in keeping some things conventional. We realize that meeting your audience’s expectations helps you to earn their trust, and we want people to leave your website thinking happy thoughts about your company rather than thinking, Huh?

All right. It’s really time to eat.  I’m off to a regular, restaurantly restaurant with a menu, a cook, plenty of food, and no surprises.

I overheard some people talking about “Hick’s Law” at a party the other day. (I really must stop attending such WILD social functions.) Anyway, sounds like the gist of Hick’s Law is the idea that it takes people more time to make a decision when there are many options to pick from. In other words, it takes much longer to decide between three options than it does to decide between two, and it takes significantly longer to decide between four options than it does to decide between three. And so on and so forth, until apparently it levels off. (At that point in the conversation, people started talking about logarithms, so I made a beeline for the buffet.)

Using This Idea for Web Design

Although they may not know that this idea is called Hick’s Law, good web designers take this concept into consideration every time they design a website. As a business owner, you don’t want people to come to your page and stare at it blankly while they try to decide where to click.  You want those visitors to explore, interact with your page, and stay interested. In order to make this happen, good web designers don’t crowd your page with a boat load of options; they keep it simple and easy to navigate.

Even complex websites that do involve lots of options tend to make the decision process easier by organizing the choices. It’s rare to visit a website and see fifty links right on the front page.  Instead, a website that has fifty pages to offer tends to organize these choices into categories and present them in drop-down menus. This breaks the decision making into smaller chunks and avoids wasting the website visitors’ time.

So Keep It Simple, Got It?

So there you go. I’ve been a fan of dynamic yet straightforward websites for years, and now I’ve got a law backing me up.  Get rid of clutter and unnecessary choices, and your customers will find your website easy to use and fun to visit. (Much more fun than, say, that party.)

It has been said that “the proper limit of trust is prudence, not fear.”  And we agree.  You see, we’re experts in web design, and we rely on our clients’ trust to deliver great products.  But sometimes, clients get a little bit nervous because they feel that their end product will be out of their control.

We know where they’re coming from.  It’s their business after all, and websites are important.

If you are one of those people who gets anxious about letting your web design team work its magic, take a deep breath.  We know what you’re going through, and we know how to help you get through.

It’s Just Like Getting a Haircut

Whether you are having your website designed or getting your hair done, an element of trust is absolutely necessary.

When you first sit down in the chair at the hairdresser or the barbershop, you get to talk to your hair stylist about your vision for the haircut.  But once the stylist gets started, you just sit back and trust that it will all come out right in the end.

And, if you’ve picked the right hairdresser, it will.

Now, during the process, there may be a few times when you get a little antsy in that hairdresser’s chair.  The haircut might start looking a little different than you initially anticipated, and you might be tempted to grab those scissors and try to finish up the hairdo yourself.  But, truthfully, as long as a competent hair stylist is in charge, you are probably better off to let him or her complete the job.  And chances are, you’ll be satisfied with the results — and much more so than you would have been if you had grabbed the razor yourself in the middle of the haircutting session.

In the same way, once we have a feel for what a client wants and needs from his or her website, sometimes it’s best to let us take it from there.  We don’t mind a little feedback here and there, just like your barber probably doesn’t mind a request like, “How about a little more off the top?”  But just like you wouldn’t grab your hairdresser’s hands and guide them to each strand of hair that needs to be cut, sometimes it’s a good idea to just let us do our thing.

After all, we have built over 600 websites for clients from all industries, and we haven’t built a dud yet!

Trusting a web design team, or a hairdresser, can be a little tough, but in both cases, it’s in your best interest to do so.  You want your website and your hair to be gorgeous, and both web designers and hairdressers have been trained to make their respective projects look great in the end.