Why Hints Are Important On Your Website

Lorenzo Hayes    – Phoenix, AZ
123Triad: Web Design & SEO Company

Why Hints Are Important On Your Website

There is no average internet user these days. Everyone from businessmen, to grandmothers, schoolchildren and blue collar workers uses the internet. This makes it particularly hard to make sure that everyone who visits your site can find what they are looking for.

Also, there may be processes or requirements on your site, in order to sign up, or access specific functions, or some other element of your site, that will not be familiar to new users. Struggling for hours is not likely to be their reaction if they just can’t figure it out. They will most likely look elsewhere.

The best ways to get around this is to use simple, jargon free language, and include hints wherever there’s likely to be confusion. Time consuming it may be, but it will almost certainly improve the usability of your site!

Use Icons

The question mark icon has become a familiar symbol on sites everywhere on the internet, along with the phrase “what’s this.” Most people know that if they need more information, they can click on these icons or phrases, and get a description or explanation.

Adding question mark icons, sometimes even linked to a descriptive graphic, can provide immense help to users struggling with forms or other interactive aspects of your site. For example, I recently signed up for a site using my credit card for the first time. I was asked for a specific code, and was not aware where to find it. Clicking the question mark showed a graphic of the back of the card with the last three digits circled. The security code.

I finished my signup, and proceeded to the site. Had that information not been available, I probably would have left, frustrated.

Java Can Help

Java can help make hints more user friendly, and not clutter up the whole site! Instead of creating permanent, static hints next to boxes on forms, for example, you can use Java to create an instruction that only appears when the box is edited by typing text into it.

Alt Text As Tooltips

Alt text is usually used with pictures or graphics, to display in browsers that don’t support images. It can however also be linked to action icons on your page. For example, if you use the universal email symbol, a small envelope on an article. If a user hovers over the graphic, and there’s alt text attached, saying, “email this article” it would show up, and provide additional information.

While most users are familiar with common task icons, your site may have a few custom icons, and this would help even experienced internet users.

Whatever you choose to do to address hints, whether it’s simple or high tech, make sure you include them! Your site’s usability will most certainly be improved!

123Triad webdesign offers affordable custom website design. Our full service website design company only hires certified website designers. Please contact us today on 1-800-720-0816 for your next web site design project.

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