Successful Sites Usability Articles

Tale of the Broken Light Fixture: A Target Audience Analogy

September 09, 2005

It's easy to overlook usability issues that frustrate your audience because you already know how to use your site. We often blame visitors for being wrong when they can't use the site! Scottie Claiborne compares the functionality issues of a light fixture in her house and how users interact with it to the broken spots in a website

The Seven Deadly Sins of Web Design

September 09, 2005

Are you aware of the seven deadly sins of web design? These are the things that drive users away instead of inviting them in. Diane Aull gives us an overview of the sins and some practical strategies to avoid or minimize them.

That Don't Impress Me Much: Even Pretty Web Sites Have Abandonment Issues

August 25, 2005

Is your website shallow? Have you put too much emphasis on looks and not enough emphasis on substance? Kim Krause Berg touches on the reasons why users abandon sites without getting to know them.

Caring for Site Visitors- When Mistakes Happen

August 25, 2005

"Customer Care" is often a term used for the department that doesn't seem to care at all- the complaint department! Are you prepared to care for your customers when things don't work as they should? This article by Scottie Claiborne stresses the importance of error handling.

Keyword Stuffing = Parking in Handicapped Spaces

March 18, 2005

While most people would never consider parking in a handicapped space when they weren't handicapped, few webmasters think about the online equivalent; keyword stuffing that clogs up screen readers and braille converters. Matt Bailey offers some thoughts on why accessibility should be considered for all sites.

Why Search Engine Marketing Has A Passion for Web Site Usability

March 5, 2005

Kim Krause Berg brings us this look at why usability and search engine marketing go hand in hand.

Search Engine Results and the PDF User Trap

June 10, 2004

PDF files can trap searchers who want more information. Craig Geis details this problem and how to solve it.

You Had Me at the Search Engine

May 13, 2004

Many sites achieve great rankings, only to drive visitors away with a number of annoyances. Kim Krause details the top 10 usability errors in web pages and offers practical advice for improving both usability and conversions.

Website Readability

January 22, 2004

Is your web copy readable? Read this article from Christine Churchill to find common mistakes made when formatting text for the web along with suggestions to improve readability.