User Experience Tips to Keep Your Site Trending

User experience (UX) is quite possibly the single most important attribute to consider, when implementing website design. Due to the rapid development of new hardware and software technologies it can be difficult for organizations to supply a satisfying web experience that meets the expectations of all it's demanding users. With so many options for the users to browse, the goal is to make them hooked on your site. Maintaining a users attention can be caught in a number of ways. An extreme example would be to go over the top and impress the user by providing tools or services that others may not. A good example of this is Ford's vehicle comparison tool. A more realistic example however, is to follow the latest recommended UX trends in web design. These trends help to create a holistic website experience for the user. By keeping your website in touch with the most current user trends, users find it more difficult to navigate elsewhere.

In preparation for a new project that my team and I are about to participate in at work, I have been researching world class UX designs and features. In the process, I have reviewed some of the highest customer satisfaction websites as determined by third party sources, as well as many UX magazine articles that provide information related to creating a good web atmosphere and experience. Through my research, I have found a number of similarities that are consistent among all the world class websites designs. I will list an overview for you on the key attributes I have found to be required to ensure a good UX in any website. My list consists of:

1. Minimal front-end loading: An increasing number of web users are using tablets and smart phones to access the Internet. These devices are great, as they allow users access to website content from remote or wireless locations. A limitation however, is that their signal strength may not be as strong as desired in a wired community, so if they have to load a video or massive amounts of images just to view the homepage they may become agitated with the delay and leave. It is imperative to ensure that at a minimum, a user can navigate to a website homepage and view their options without an uncomfortable waiting period.
2. Easy navigation: Technology advances have created impatient users. Time is non-refundable, so if a user wants certain information, then the website should be able to give it to them quickly. If a user cannot navigate to the desired webpage in three steps or less then they are likely to become frustrated and give up. The difficulty in creating a good UX design is finding the proper trade-off between efficient navigation and a simple, clutter free website.
3. Interface simplicity: Simplicity is the game-changer. It is the difference between the household website names and its inferior competitors. Take Google for example. Why does it dominate the search engine regime? Because it has one text field that every web user knows exactly how to use. The problem with older versions of Bing and the other players is that they clutter their search pages with news, images and other complexities that confuse the user of its exact use. How many times have you opened a browser and been at the MSN homepage only to navigate over to Google to search? More then once I'm sure. Remember, keep it simple to make confusion minimal.
4. Layout consistency: The layout of the website ties to the simplicity of the interface, but it plays a large role in website UX so I thought it needed to be explicitly stated. The color scheme and theme of a website are important to give the user a good feel for the website, but more important is consistency of the template used throughout the entire website. The human brain is better at recognition then memorization. Using this principle, by placing elements in referable locations consistently throughout the website, users can both recognize and memorize the elements and their functions effortlessly. There are recommended positions for each element (or group of elements) of a website based off of extensive research. The results help designers understand where a user is likely going to look to find a desired action. Keeping navigation, settings, and website specific options in the same location throughout the user's website experience is needed and expected to avoid irritation.
5. Resolution and browser compatibility: With the numerous number of devices used to access the Internet these days it is critical to support all screen resolutions and browsers to keep the growing audience happy. Using cutting-edge style sheet technologies likeresponsive design, CSS grid systems, and boilerplate's, all help keep a consistent UX throughout the varying browsers and display sizes. One of the biggest changes in recent UX trends is that websites now need larger text and buttons to accommodate for smaller touch screen devices. A single modular website design that takes these issues into consideration can satisfy users on all screen resolutions and browsers without the hassle of scrolling, zooming and non-compatible features.

The list contains the bare necessities needed to satisfy the current UX trends. However, the purpose of the website may change how these necessities are obtained and which ones require more focus and detail then others. A good website user experience is always preferred by both the stakeholder(s) and the user, so it is hard to imagine why any new website designers would not take these principles into consideration.