Website branch locator usability 'improving'

Category: Usability

September 16th 08, 10:03

The usability of physical branch locators on company websites has improved dramatically in the last seven years, according to a new study.

Usability expert Jakob Nielsen's latest Alertbox column explained that when participants were asked to find the company location closest to them on selected websites belonging to major organisations, the success rate was 96 per cent compared with 63 per cent in 2001.

However, only 64 per cent of the tasks set could be easily accomplished by users in the most recent study, he noted.

Mr Nielsen advised webmasters to ensure that branch locators are easily accessible in the first instance and that users are able to quickly find the desired location and obtain directions.

"As soon as users already on your site decide to do business with you, they should be able to easily access a location finder," he explained.

"Because they might make this decision on any page of your site, all pages should link to the locator."

Mr Nielsen's previous column looked at the accessibility of sitemaps on major sites, with 67 per cent of users able to find the sitemap on particular websites when asked.

This news story was brought to you by Bluhalo, a leading UK digital agency.

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