Would you please don't let me use a magnifying glass to search your website...
If you want the user to return to your website, you have to make the website usable enough. Your content, as great as it might be, it’s not the decisive factor in terms of bouncing rates. It’s like life: it’s all about the small details that make everything easier. Now, I have two small but really important usability elements that designers and coders should have in mind:
- The website has a logo? Put a link on the image. A link to direct the user to the homepage. It’s easier for me, the user, to click the logo rather than search the whole website for the “Home” link. Yes, I know the “Home” link is right below the logo, but I can’t see it all the time. And I know it’s big enough, but I still want to click the logo to go to the homepage.
- Put the search bar in the top right part of the first screen. Don’t hide it in the middle of the sidebar and under no circumstance make it small, hidden somewhere at the end of some menu. Put up there, where I can see it and where I would usually look for it. And make it visible. I know, you might want to put an ad. Fine by me, but leave it in the top right corner of the page, somewhere, and let me see it. Eventually, I’ll just need it. And it’s better for me to know where it is than look for the search bar all over the website.
Respect those two details and you will have my eternal gratitude. Thank you.
