Some web designers think that a site to be successful must always be technically sophisticated while some think that sites must be visually attractive to be worth visiting.

These assumptions are partially correct. For a website to be successful, its design should make as its target three things: visual appeal, technical sophistication and usability. Unfortunately, the third aspect is in many cases the most compromised among the three. Why? Perhaps the reason is that designers think that the site they develop is usable enough from their perspective. Another reason also is perhaps they feel that all users think about is beauty and that’s all.

But, the question is: What’s the point in creating a site that is visually appealing and technically savvy when users in the first place cannot use or access them? In this case I bet, a site that is NOT that visually appealing and technically great but is extremely usable would outperform a site that has all qualities except usability.

We have to realize the fact that websites exist because they are patronized by people. So, if they no longer generate sufficient number of users, then, their existence is almost always subject to “annihilation”.

Websites of companies are often compared by several factors or differentiators like accessibility and user-friendliness. The more accessible sites are usually perceived as better than their rival sites.

There are truly so many ways that we can adapt to improve our site’s usability. The author suggests that if we have the chance we can do some in-depth analysis of our projects. The results you will gain can be easily incorporated to your design. Then, you can do some usability tests to analyze if your design is good or not this time. In this regard, making notes and reviewing them once in while can help you stay on track.

Indeed, if any designer aims to be on top and to stay on top, he or she should consciously adapt a systematic and systemic way on how he/she can improve his/her craft. With the fast changes taking place everyday in the field of web design there is no other way of surviving but staying updated with changes. Keeping positive user experience at relatively high level can really help a lot to make your site successful. Because the number of users in a way justify your existence on the web, it is but wise indeed to focus on this aspect.

Tags: User Experience as a Major Differentiator of Your Site’