Website Ergonomics.

30 March 2007

You don't have to look far on the internet to find poorly designed websites. The outcome of a visit to these websites is often 'been there, closed that'.

A prospective customer's opinion about a website — and consequently the customer's opinion of the organisation — can be formed within a split-second of their first visit.

While a variety of aspects, such as quality of information or level of customer support, may affect the user's impression, the leading factor in determining a website's credibility is visual design.

While the user's opinion of an in-depth website can change with use, it is crucial to begin the relationship positively. The relationship can be improved by quality of content, ease of navigation to information, customer support and the presence of a privacy policy. If these aspects of the site are poor, then the relationship will deteriorate.

To ensure that a website will be a proud ambassador for an organisation, it must be created like a comfortable sofa; the product must be reverse engineered with the end user in mind. This means considering the overall goals of the website right from the very start and asking yourself, "Why do I want a website? What will it help me achieve?"

The answer to these questions will guide the entire process of building a website that is suitable for your target audience and creates a successful relationship from the word .