Owning a website is just the beginning. Everyone has a website filled with product information, brand messages, and more content to keep users happy these days. If you want to separate your brand from your competitors, you have to deliver something more.
Adding a web application that serves a specific function is a great idea to explore. If you are selling cushion covers, for example, you can create a custom cushion cover designer to your website, which then allows users to customize their orders with embroideries and other elements.
Web applications don’t have to be complicated. They just need to deliver value to the users, and the best way to do that is by making sure the application is user-friendly. Here are three tips you can use to make sure that your web app is friendly to the users.
At the top of our list of tips on building a user-friendly web application, we have the importance of consistent and easy-to-use navigation. Users must be able to navigate through the features you offer easily, so make sure the navigation is suitable for your target audience.
Speaking of your target audience, you’ll need to do an in-depth research of your users and incorporate elements that they are already familiar with. For example, some user groups may be more familiar with the hamburger menu. Others prefer dropdowns; you must know which to use to please your target users.
You have to make the web application unique and valuable, and the way to do that is by investing in custom web application development with your users and specific requirements in mind. Work with capable developers in delivering a unique journey that users actually love.
That brings us to our next tip, which is improving the flow of your users. Using the previous example of a cushion cover customizer, you want users to enjoy every step in the wizard, with clear instructions guiding them through the process, for the app to be valuable.
Another way to maintain consistency is by blending the web application with the rest of your website. Incorporate the same brand elements, use a consistent color scheme, and avoid adding disruptions to the brand messaging when users transition from your product page to the web application.
Some web elements work better on mobile devices than the others. Adding a date field that doesn’t have a mobile-friendly selector is a good example of things you want to avoid. If you do need to add a date selector or a dropdown, make sure all elements work just as well on mobile.
Last, but certainly not least, a good web application needs to deliver its features quickly, which means performance is a big factor here. After all, good user experience (UX) includes fast loading time, smooth animation, and good overall performance.
These are the top 7 tips that will help you craft an effective and user-friendly web application to support your business objectives. Before starting your development project, make sure you pay attention to these details to keep users happy with your app.