Monday, December 7, 2009

Should You Redesign? Part 3: You're Not Paranoid, They Are Talking About You

Original Article from IntelliSites, the smart choice for web design (and SEO!)
It's sad but true...humans are lazy buggers.  Most of us look for the path of least resistance in any given situation.  When given the choice between two options, we usually go with the choice that is easier.

I mean, really, when's the last time you took the stairs to the 83rd floor, used an abacus, or churned your own butter?

Exactly.

Even though using the web never takes as much energy as, say, a transatlantic swim, we're still inclined to seek out the websites that are easiest to use, and we tend to complain about sites that slow us down or make things difficult for us.

If your clients are people like you, they are probably going to have the same types of complaints about your website that you have about sites that annoy you.  C'mon, you know that there are websites that push your buttons.  Maybe it's your cell phone company's site and it takes (gasp!) thirty seconds to load.  Or maybe it's the site for a retailer whose online ordering process is drawn out and confusing.  Or it's possible you went on a company's website just looking for some information about its services, but the info you sought just wasn't easily accessible.

Chances are, if you found yourself on a website with one of those symptoms or another exasperating issue, you gave up and found a competitor's site that is easier to use.  And, in another living room across town, some other fellow who is surfing the web in his boxers might be giving up on your site because of the arduous challenges it presents.  Even if your issues are subtle, chances are, someone is going to turn away from your website in favor of one that saves him twelve seconds or an ounce of frustration.

The good news about criticism is that it can be constructive.  If your clients are moaning and groaning about aspects of your website, listen to what they have to say.  They can give you an outsider's perspective on your site and help you understand the challenges a visitor will face.  This information will help you out big time when you start your redesign.

Remember, the customer is always right, even if he happens to be a complainer who likes to search the internet in his underwear.

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