Have you ever been browsing a website and thought, "What in the world were these people thinking? I can't find anything on here!" When building your website, you do NOT want your website to be known as the map that leads to nowhere. What that being said, what can you do to create a user-friendly website or landing page?

When you go through the process of building a website, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. Better yet, let's go over a checklist of questions to ask yourself.

1. Does my website have a site map? Site maps are a must have on your website. Not only does it make information easy to find, but you also can have this located on every page of your website. Even if you have a simple, 3 page website, you need to have a site map. Make sure that the words you use to guide your customers make sense. Contact should say Contact, About Us should say About Us, etc...

2. Do you have a clear navigation structure? Reminding your customers where they are is always a good thing. For example, sometimes when you’re on a shopping website, you will see this type of guide: Home>Women's Clothing>Shoes>Sandals. This definitely helps give your customers a quick reference, especially if you're loading them up with information. Also, you should include links that will enable them to make a decision on every page (i.e. Order Now, Purchase Today, Bookmark Page, Check Out Products).

3. Did you check for errors? Checking for errors is a continuous process. DO NOT wait until the very end to proof read and verify your links. You want to stay on top of the game. If you add a link, double check it right then and there. Did you write a quick paragraph? Give it a quick proof read. Also, ask your friends to help you with the error check. By doing this, you have more than 1 set of eyes AND they may have some great suggestions for you.

4. Do you have consistency in your layout and design? Websites should be clean, crisp, and legible. "Chiller" may be your favorite font, but it really isn't a good choice for your paragraphs. You may absolutely LOVE neon green, but that color is beyond obnoxious on the computer screen. Do you get the picture? Choose layouts and designs that will capture attention. Make sure that every page looks the same.

5. Did you include your contact information? If you don't want people to contact you, then you shouldn't start your own business. You need to make sure that you have legitimate contact information available for all your customers. That page should also be easy to find on your website.

These 5, simple steps are a good start to making sure your website is user-friendly. This list could definitely continue, but I wanted to point out some of the important ones to keep in mind. Taking the time to go over these steps will definitely keep you a step ahead in your business.

Since I have been in online business for a long time, I definitely have learned the importance of a user-friendly website. If you would like to chat about different ideas, I'd be happy to help. My contact information is below. I look forward to hearing from you.