As someone who absolutely loves UX, I believe it’s something everyone can benefit from, whether you're a seasoned designer or just getting started. But first, what is UX? UX (User Experience) is all about designing your website in a way that makes it easy, enjoyable, and intuitive for visitors to use. It's about guiding them effortlessly through your site so they find what they need - and have a great time doing it. No matter your skill level, great UX can take your website from “meh” to amazing! So, here are 5 UX basics that everyone should know and that will make your website irresistible to visitors!
It Easy to Scan, Not Read
The Principle: Here’s the truth: people are busy, and no one has time to read every word on your site. In fact, most visitors will only scan your content (Notice that you're doing the exact same thing!). What does it mean? Your content should be easy to read at a glance.
How to Implement:
- Break text into short paragraphs or bullet points.
- Use headings and subheadings to guide the reader’s eye.
- Highlight important information in bold or color.
Why It Works: When your content is easy to scan, visitors can grab the info they need without their brains going into overload mode. This way they they will be able to find whatever they need faster and increase their engagement.
Give Users Feedback (Hint: They Like Knowing What’s Happening)
The Principle: People like to know their clicks count! Ever clicked a button, and nothing happened? It’s like telling a joke and hearing crickets. Let’s avoid that.
How to Implement:
- Make buttons change color or bounce when hovered or clicked (visual high-fives!).
- After form submissions, use fun messages like “We got your info!” instead of a boring “Success.”
- If something’s loading, give them a spinner or progress bar so they don’t think your website is taking a nap.
Why It Works: Nobody likes being left in the dark. By giving users feedback, you’re basically saying, “Hey, we heard you!”—and that makes everyone feel good. Feedback reassures users that they’re in control and that the site is responding to their actions. It builds trust and confidence that things are working as they should.
Use Visual Hierarchy to Guide the Eye
The Principle: People’s eyes need a guide, like a tour guide but for websites. If everything’s the same size or color, it’s like letting them loose in a city with no street signs. Chaos!
How to Implement:
- Make the most important elements larger (like a call-to-action button).
- Use contrast to shout, “This is important!” with bright buttons and clear headlines.
- Place your key info where eyes naturally go, like the top-left (or right, depending on the language) . No one should have to hunt for it!
Why It Works: Visual hierarchy helps users focus on what matters most. It directs their attention, making it easier for them to understand what to do next, so they don’t wander around aimlessly like they’re lost in an IKEA store (Sorry IKEA, but I love you anyway!).
Don’t Overwhelm with Too Many Choices
The Principle: Ever stood in front of an ice cream counter with 50 flavors and suddenly forgot how to make decisions? That’s what happens when your website bombards visitors with too many options!
How to Implement:
- Keep your choices focused—no one needs to see 15 different services at once.
- Use clear, focused categories to organize content.
- Stick to one main CTA per page. It’s like a traffic light: people need clear directions, not 12 different turn signals!
Why It Works: When you simplify choices, it helps users make decisions faster and with more confidence. This can lead to higher engagement, more sign-ups, or more sales.
Build Trust with Consistency and Familiarity
The Principle: Humans are creatures of habit, and we love familiarity. If your site looks different on every page, users get nervous. It's like showing up to your favorite coffee shop, but suddenly the menu is in a new language!
How to Implement:
- Use the same fonts, colors, and button styles on every page. Think of it as your website’s uniform.
- Keep navigation menus consistent—don’t change the position or structure between pages.
- Stick with familiar icons (because everyone knows what a shopping cart is, but a random spaceship icon might throw them off!).
Why It Works: Consistency reduces confusion and makes your website feel professional. When your website is predictable and familiar, visitors feel more confident—and a confident visitor is one who’s going to stick around (and maybe even buy something!).
These might seem like small tweaks, but trust me - they can make a world of difference in how visitors interact with your site. Whether it’s helping users scan your content faster, building trust through consistency, or just giving them fewer things to stress about, these tips will make your website a more enjoyable place to be. And here’s a little secret: good UX is like telling a joke—if you have to explain it, it’s probably not that good! So keep things simple, clear, and user-friendly, and you’ll see how quickly your site turns into a crowd-pleaser. After all, a happy user is just a click away from becoming a happy customer!
Yours truly,
danielka
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