Does Your Web Site Flow?

A web site should flow in way that guides your visitors from Point A to Point B. In fact, it should almost be a subconscious effort on the part of your visitor. They should be able to land on your homepage, immediately see where they need to go, and continue clicking links until they find their destination. We may have been taught as kids that patience is a virtue. But when it comes to web surfing, even critical analysis of a web site, people have no patience. And this goes beyond the download speed of the graphics on your site. It includes the navigability of your site and how many attempts it takes a user to get to where they want to go. So take a look at your site and pretend as if you’re just visiting it for the first time. Establish a goal for yourself such as, “I want to read about this company’s service and then request a quote.” How would you react once you get to your homepage? What would you click first? How many clicks would it take you, using your fresh perspective, to find the request for quote page? Obviously, this isn’t the best test since you should know your web site inside out. However, it should at least provide you with the mindset to start thinking as if you were seeing your web site for the first time. If you want to take it further, get somebody who has never seen your web site and have them try to achieve a goal you establish. Watch their actions and take note of what they do. It can teach you much about your own web site.