Designed by Krista
Web Design

Today, I had a “what not to do on your website” moment. I’ll note the lessons I learned, and then you can read on for the whole sordid tale.

Usability Lessons:

1. Don’t make your newsletter subscribers login to unsubscribe – they just want to be free!
2. Place login tips very close to login error message. This gives the user the information they need (how to troubleshoot login issues) when they need it (they have a failed login attempt).
3. Make your login prominent. Ideally, it should be in a standard location, typically a “Login” link or a userid/password box in the upper right corner.

Sordid Tale:

I was trying to unsubscribe from the email newsletter of a reputable company. I clicked the unsubscribe link and was taken to a login screen. I’m already a little bummed out, because I want unsubcribing to be just one or two clicks, without having to remember my  userid and password. It asked for my email address and password. I typed my email address and password and I got an error. I tried a couple other password variations, and I still got an error.

I tried clicked the “forgot password” link, thinking, “This is really becoming a hassle!” I typed my email address in the forgot password form. I got the following error: That email address is not on file.

Um… what? I mean, the only reason I came to the site is to unsubscribe from an email newsletter – I know that they have my email address. I was mystified.

I thought maybe I could login through the home page and went to the home page. I could not find the login on the home page. Really -  you can look for yourself, to the right. Note: It is not the “Account Access” link in the upper right – that’s only for event organizers, and I am not one.

Giving up on that, I went back to the email and clicked the unsubscribe link. I finally noticed a link “I can’t login” at the bottom of that form. I clicked on it to find out that they have converted their login system and I needed to update my account. “Whew!” I thought, “At least I know what’s going on.”

I converted my account, at the end of which process it asked me to login. I clicked continue and was taken back to the home page… and I still couldn’t find the login link! I finally went back to the email newsletter, clicked the unsubscribe link and was taken back to the login form. I logged in and saw the “manage your subscriptions” page. I think I heard angels singing in the background….

Although, I still don’t know where login is.

Conferences are great for networking and keeping up to speed on technology. Don’t you find, though, that it’s hard to actually take a step back from the designing and coding to go learn about designing and coding? I made it my goal this year to break away and get to a conference, and I reviewed several great options online. See the dates and cities below, along with my impressions of each from their websites. Did I miss any good ones? Let me know!
UPDATE, 2/18/2010: I found some more to add, courtesy of SitePoint, listed below…

Adobe Max, Los Angeles, October 24 -27

Impressions… Focus on Adobe products (understandably). Personally can’t afford to spend this much time on all Adobe. To repeat a quote I heard recently: “Real developers use notepad!”

An Event Apart, Seattle, April 5 – 7 (other cities offered)

Impressions… Corporate, perhaps even stuffy, though I would love to be a fly on the wall to hear Microsoft Product Manager’s topic: Microsoft: Help Us Kill IE6. I’ll do my part, Pete!

A Day Apart, Seattle, April 7

Impressions… Spend a day getting the latest on HTML5 and CSS3. Can I say goodbye to Verdana and Tahoma? I may attend just for that!

Future of Web Apps, Miami, February 22-24

Impressions… Cutting edge, beach parties and so forth; focus on application development.

In Control, Orlando, February 22-23

Impressions… Good coverage on a wide range of topics; perfect for a freelance generalist such as myself. *my choice*

Internet Week, New York, June 7 – 14

Impressions… Can’t tell, because the schedule is not online, but I don’t think I could do any conference for a whole week: overload!

MinneWebCon St. Paul, April 12

Impressions… Focus on education, though the topics seem to be a great overview in one day.

Microsoft MIX10, Las Vegas, March 15-17

Impressions… Not as product-centric as I expected, but probably still not for someone (like me) who is determined to remain product-agnostic…

SXSWeek, Austin, March 12-21

Impressions… Focus on music & film.

Usability Week, Various cities/dates

Impressions… Focus on usability.

Web Directions, Atlanta, Date TBA

Impressions… Based on a brief look at past events, seemed high on theoretical, low on practical.

WebVisions, Portland, May 19-21

Impressions… Only 1 of 3 days are currently scheduled, but what is there looks intriguing: HTML5, CSS3, iPhone Apps, and Photography tips.

International

I can’t justify heading off to New Zealand or London, as much as I would love to, but here are some International web conferences if these countries are closer to home for you.

• @media: London, June 8 – 11
• Design It, Build It: United Kingdom, April 28
• Form,Function & Class: Philippines, July
• UX London: London, May 19 – 21
• Webdesign International Festival: France, June 4 – 5
• WebhostingDay: Germany, March 17 – 19
• Webstock: New Zealand, February 15 – 19

Part 3 of 4: In truth, if you have been reading this article series in order, you have already learned some ways to make your website user-friendly. This article will hit the highlights of website usability. “Website Usability” refers to how easy your site is for people to learn and use.

Key Point: Make your site as easy as possible to use – no one will complain that your site is “too easy” to use, even if they are an expert user.

1. How to create a free website
2. Adding content to your website
3. Making your website user-friendly
4. What is a search engine?

(more…)

More and more people are making their own webpages via blogs, site wizards, and even editing their own pages in HTML. One habit people get into when making hyperlinks or “anchors” – i.e. the stuff underlined in blue – is using “click here” for a hyperlink text. A quick way to improve your website usability is to remove these words from your vocabulary!

Why? First, it’s too generic – it doesn’t tell people what they will get it if they click. When users scan your page, the hyperlinked text stands out, and they don’t have time to click every link to see if it will be useful to them. So, tell them what clicking that link will do for them.

Second, it’s redundant – the fact that the text is underlined or looks like a button tells people that is where to click.

Finally, you lose an opportunity to highlight keywords for search engines. Search engines will automatically assume that the words contained in the link are pertinent to your site, so make sure you have keywords or phrases in there.

Examples:
BAD: Click here to review our services
GOOD: Website Design Services

BAD: Click here to register
GOOD: Register for Website Design Seminar