Having a website that’s difficult to use is downright irresponsible.
The first time I ever gave it a thought, I did a Yahoo! search (Google didn’t exist) and happened upon UseIt.com by Jakob Nielsen.
It really opened my eyes to web usability, and since 1995, I’ve read just about everything Nielsen has published on the web and a number of his books as well.
You might think usability research would be about as fun as watching paint dry, and normally I’d agree with you. But even though Nielsen plays it straight, his writing style is easy to follow and his examples are usually fascinating.
Here are a few of his articles I’ve shared, some of them many times:
- Web copy must be objective, scannable and concise
- People read web pages in an “F” pattern
- Flash: 99% bad
- Web 2.0 can be dangerous
- Usability 101
I’ve referenced Nielsen often when I’ve instructed courses on the topic, and I make sure anyone working on Outsource Marketing web projects becomes familiar with his research.
Congratulations on 25 years of leadership, Mr. Nielsen. Thanks for making usability accessible for the rest of us.
Is your company website easy to navigate? Have you ever conducted a usability test? Why or why not?
Comment below to share your thoughts.
Got a nice note from Jakob Nielsen. He kept objective and concise:
“Thank you!”
🙂