How to Know if a Website is User Friendly

This quick article shares insights on how to know if a website is user friendly, its importance, common signs to look out for and 3 key metrics to monitor whether your website is as user-friendly as it could be.

User friendly refers to features and functions that make a website easy-to-use. The ultimate goal of user-friendliness is to make sure your visitors find the information they need in a way that intuitively connects them to the actions they wish to complete quickly and efficiently. (1)

Did you know

88% of online users are unlikely to return to a website after a bad experience. (2)

No business sets out to intentionally make things difficult on their customers. many businesses struggle to turn underperforming websites into websites that actually boost credibility and client acquisition. One reason may be due to neglecting website usability or unawareness that a site is not as user-friendly as it could be. Generally, users tend to not put up with browsing a confusing website — even if it had some valuable content. Therefore, usability can have critical impact on your website’s success and is a vital aspect not to be left unchecked. (3)

• Users leaving websites that are difficult to use
• Users unable to quickly find the page they were looking for
• Navigation menu didn’t include what the user needed
• Too many pop ups and advertisements

If best practices for user-friendliness are not followed it can have several consequences on important tracking metrics such as:

1. Bounce Rate (percentage of visitors that leave a webpage without taking an action).

   A high bounce rate may indicate that users are not drawn in.

   As a general guideline, a bounce rate of 40% or lower is considered good, while a bounce rate of 55% or higher is considered high.

   It can indicate improvements need to be made to engage visitors. Many factors influence bounce rate including site content, design and/or user-experience.
   

2. Time on page is a critical factor in SEO – a high bounce rate with less time spent on pages have knock on effects on website ranking.
   
   

   52 seconds is the average time spent on a webpage across all industries. (MetricHQ).

   Comparing your metric to this standard will help you get a benchmark of your website’s performance.

3. Clickthrough Rate (CTR: the proportion of visitors who follow a link to a particular site after viewing in search results.). 


   Generally A good click-through rate should be between 2-5%, depending on the industry you’re in.

   SEO: CTR is a valuable metric that indicates how well a website is performing and how effective its listings are at generating clicks.

   All the above can have overarching effects on a Company’s net income. (4)

A user-friendly website is essential for keeping visitors engaged, improving search rankings, and driving conversions.

By ensuring intuitive navigation, minimising distractions, and addressing usability issues, you create a seamless experience that meets user needs.

Tracking metrics like bounce rate, click-through rate, and time on page provides valuable insights for continuous improvement.

Prioritising usability not only enhances user satisfaction but also strengthens your brand and boosts profitability. A well-designed, user-friendly site benefits both your audience and your business.

Take the first step with our custom website design packages or SEO packages, crafted to not only elevate user-friendliness but also to boost your site’s overall visibility and performance. Let’s work together to create a website that’s welcoming and efficient for all.

1. Characteristics of a user-friendly website, nibusinessinfo.co.uk
2. 27 Eye-Opening Website Statistics: Is Your Website Costing You Clients?, Sweor
3. Web Design: 11 Characteristics of a User-Friendly Website, Industry Dive
4. How to…make sure your website is user friendly, Arts Marketing Association