In light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic - OPTASY would like to offer DRUPAL website support for any Healthcare, Government, Education and Non-Profit Organization(s) with critical crisis communication websites or organizations directly providing relief. Stay Safe and Stay Well.

5 WordPress Best Practices for Improved UX
Tips

5 WordPress Best Practices for Improved UX

by Raluca Olariu on Jun 16 2021

 

Think of the last website you visited. Maybe it was an online store, a blog, or an entertainment website. 

The way you interacted with the site's interface is most likely what you remember most about the whole experience - was the website loading fast?, was it easy to navigate? - was it optimized for mobile? These factors contribute to the quality of the user experience (UX) that a website provides and often determine whether or not people come back for another experience. 

Building, optimizing, and maintaining a website while having the UX at the center of the web development process is imperative. At the end of the day, the health and prosperity of your site and business heavily depend on your audience and customers. 

With this in mind, let's have a closer look at five best practices that you can implement right away to improve the UX on your WordPress site. 

 

1. Accelerate Your Site's Loading Speed. 

 

Today, people are living fast-paced lifestyles. They require speed and easy-to-access experiences. As the average human attention span has dropped to eight seconds, the success or failure of a website to provide high-quality UX depends on how fast page load times are. 

According to a study by Google, 53% of users abandon sites that have more than three seconds delay on mobile devices. So, if you haven't yet optimized your website's loading speed, the time to start is now. Have a look at some critical tips for approaching page speed optimization:

  • Host your site on a high-performance server.
  • Streamline your HTML code.
  • Use image optimization plugins for WordPress.
  • Identify and delete unused content from your database.
  • Reduce HTTP requests.

 

2. Keep Your WordPress, UX Design Simple. 

 

As Leonardo da Vinci put it: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

Website builders often go to great lengths to create designs that sweep visitors off their feet and end up compromising on ease of use and accessibility. That's not something you want to do if you have a UX-centered mindset. 

Instead of overloading your pages with content and information that confuses and frustrates your visitors, focus on simplifying the design, making it functional and easy to understand. 

A few elements that help you keep your user experience design simple are:

  • Uniform layout
  • Short, concise content
  • Straightforward formatting
  • Bullet points and brief paragraphs

 

3. Get Rid of Broken Links.

 

Nothing scares website visitors away more than broken links. Also, Google's Search Quality Rating Guidelines use broken links to analyze the quality of a site. If there are too many broken links on a single page, the website is considered to be neglected or abandoned. This can highly impact your Google Search results and lower your overall website traffic. 

Investing some resources in fixing broken links is totally advisable. Below are some best practices for resolving broken links:

  • Check Google crawl errors.
  • Reach out to the linking website when using external links and request a fix.
  • Avoid deep links.
  • Replace the content at the broken URL.
  • Redirect the broken page to a similar page on your website.

 

4. Optimize Your Site's Navigation.

 

As we already pointed out, simplicity is often key when it comes to web development. Although the easiest-to-use websites are also the ones that drive the highest organic traffic, many companies still fail to deliver easy-to-navigate websites for their audience. 

How can you optimize your site's navigation?

  • Customize your navigation menu in a simplistic way and avoid complex, confusing menu items.
  • Put mobile site navigation first and streamline the experience for mobile devices.
  • Create a search bar and improve your site search capabilities.
  • Avoid dropdown menus in your website navigation.
  • Add a mega footer.

 

5. Use Specific Headings.

 

A good UX means that visitors can easily understand your site and feel confident for the entire period they spend on it. One way you can guide your audience through your content is with clear, specific headings. 

Headings can act as a roadmap for your visitors and make it easier for them to see what your content is about. With the help of specific headings, you can build a logical hierarchy and organize your content to provide a top-notch user experience. 

Proper heading is also beneficial for SEO as it allows search engines to better understand the purpose of your site and the content displayed on it. 

 

There's no secret that the customer is king and, now more than ever, businesses adopt customer-centric mindsets to keep up with the ever-changing trends. The same goes for websites of any kind. High-quality user experiences render more website traffic, raised business awareness, improved online presence, and lastly, improved conversion rates.

To learn more about what it takes to deliver outstanding UX, contact Optasy and have a chat with our professional website builders. 

 

Photo credit: XPS on Unsplash.

Development

We do Web development

Go to our Web development page!

Visit page!

Recommended Stories

Tips
Staff Augmentation or Managed Services? How to Choose Wisely

Staff Augmentation or Managed Services? How to Choose Wisely

  As digital transformation has forever changed the world of business, more and more companies are interested in IT outsourcing. In fact, the global staffing industry, one of the primary suppliers of staff augmentation talent, is estimated to support $490 billion in annual spending. While this trend is growing fast, there is still some uncertainty regarding the healthiest and most convenient way for a business to use outside personnel. This article discusses two of the most popular contingent working models—staff augmentation and managed services—and how to choose the best option for your business needs.   What Is Staff Augmentation?   Staff augmentation allows companies to expand their in-house team with additional skilled resources to join a particular project. This type of outsourcing model chases once the project is over, and it's suitable for companies that don't need to hire someone permanently.  Staff augmentation is best used for short-term projects and can also be used as a "trial run" for potential full-time employees.  With this type of outsourcing, organizations can leverage specific skills on a per-project basis without going through costly and time-consuming hiring processes.    What Is Managed Services?   Unlike the staff augmentation model, which enables companies to expand their team with additional skilled professionals, managed services outsourcing practices imply hiring a fully-equipped team of professionals to take care of your specific project.  With the managed services model, you save many resources—time, costs, and effort—as you hire an entire team of skilled professionals who have the right tools and tech to complete your project.  While a service provider will handle your project on its entire length, from beginning to end, your job is to ensure that you select a reliable company that you can trust will deliver positive business outcomes.  The managed services model is the best fit for companies looking for stable and reliable long-term business cooperation.    Staff Augmentation or Managed Services?   To help you figure out which one of these outsourcing models is the one you should choose for your organization, let's have a look at the pros and cons of staff augmentation and managed services.    Pros of staff augmentation Specialized expertise. Staff augmentation allows access to a wide range of professionals with specialized skills and knowledge that may not be available in-house. This can be particularly beneficial for projects that require niche expertise or cutting-edge technologies. Flexibility and scalability. With staff augmentation, businesses can quickly adapt to changing demands and scale their workforce up or down as needed. This flexibility helps optimize resource allocation and reduces costs during slower periods. Cost efficiency. Compared to hiring full-time employees, staff augmentation can be a cost-effective solution as it eliminates recruitment and onboarding expenses. Businesses only pay for the services rendered during the contracted period. Retaining control. By leveraging staff augmentation, organizations retain direct control over project management and decision-making. External professionals work alongside the existing team, ensuring seamless collaboration.   Cons of staff augmentation Not suitable for long-term projects. Staff augmentation is practical only as long as you look for short-term business engagements as projects come and go.  Increased dependence on third-party talent organizations. This can put your sustainability plans more at risk.  Lengthy staff integration. New professionals that join specific, complex projects may require some time to get familiar with your products and expectations.    Pros of managed services Access to expertise. Managed service providers (MSPs) have extensive experience and expertise in their respective domains. By engaging their services, businesses can leverage the knowledge and capabilities of industry experts. Operational efficiency. MSPs follow standardized processes and best practices to deliver efficient and high-quality services. This helps organizations improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and achieve better outcomes. Scalability and flexibility. Managed services can easily scale up or down to match the evolving needs of the business. The service provider can quickly allocate additional resources or adjust service levels as required. Reduced risk and responsibility. By outsourcing specific functions to a managed service provider, organizations can mitigate risks associated with those tasks. The responsibility for managing and delivering results lies with the service provider.   Cons of managed services Hard to ensure security. When opting for the services of a provider, you provide access to sensitive data and assets. Therefore, companies that require high levels of data and information security might want to think twice before choose a managed services outsourcing model. Higher costs. Although hiring a managed services company might be cost-effective in the long run, it's not always possible to get the complete services package at a low price. The costs of handing over your project to an IT firm might be higher than when opting for staff augmentation since managed IT services cover both IT functions and project management.  Less control and autonomy. If you are looking to internalize your project management process and supervise outsourced staff, a managed services model might not be a suitable option for you.    Wrapping up Although outsourcing is becoming more popular, finding an external reliable development team can be a struggle. There is a plethora of options available on the market, making it challenging to make a choice. A wise choice.  At Optasy, we understand how important it is to have a dedicated team of professionals that can handle a wide range of projects. So have a look at your services and contact us to learn more about how we can collaborate for success.    Image credit: Annie Spratt on Unsplash.    ... Read more
Raluca Olariu / May 31'2023
Tips
Adobe Experience Manager: Benefits and FAQs

Adobe Experience Manager: Benefits and FAQs

  In today's digital era, delivering exceptional customer experiences is vital for businesses to succeed. Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a comprehensive content management system that empowers organizations to create, manage, and optimize their digital experiences across multiple channels. By seamlessly integrating content, data, and personalization, AEM enables businesses to deliver engaging and personalized experiences that drive customer satisfaction and loyalty. In this article, we will delve into the definition, benefits, and answer some frequently asked questions about Adobe Experience Manager. Adobe Experience Manager is a leading enterprise-level content management system (CMS) developed by Adobe Systems. It enables businesses to create, manage, and deliver personalized digital experiences across websites, mobile apps, and other digital channels. AEM provides a robust platform for content creation, digital asset management, social collaboration, campaign management, and analytics, all of which are essential for delivering consistent and engaging experiences to customers. Benefits of Adobe Experience Manager Enhanced content creation and management AEM offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies content creation and management processes. It provides intuitive authoring tools, drag-and-drop functionality, and in-context editing, enabling non-technical users to create and update content effortlessly. AEM's content repository allows for centralized storage, version control, and seamless collaboration, ensuring consistency and efficiency across teams. Omnichannel experience delivery With AEM, businesses can deliver consistent and personalized experiences across various channels, including websites, mobile apps, social media platforms, and more. AEM's responsive design capabilities enable the automatic adaptation of content to different screen sizes and devices, ensuring optimal experiences regardless of the user's device or platform. Personalization and targeting AEM enables businesses to deliver personalized experiences to individual users by leveraging data and analytics. It integrates with Adobe Analytics and Adobe Target, allowing businesses to gather insights about user behavior, preferences, and engagement. This data can then be utilized to deliver targeted content, recommendations, and offers, enhancing customer satisfaction and conversion rates. Efficient digital asset management AEM includes a robust digital asset management (DAM) system, allowing businesses to organize, store, and distribute digital assets efficiently. It provides powerful search capabilities, automated tagging, and metadata management, making it easier to find and reuse assets across campaigns and channels. AEM's DAM system ensures consistent branding and accelerated content creation by eliminating the need for redundant asset creation. Scalability and integration AEM is a scalable solution that can adapt to the evolving needs of businesses. It seamlessly integrates with other Adobe Marketing Cloud products, such as Adobe Campaign and Adobe Target, enabling businesses to build comprehensive marketing campaigns and leverage data-driven insights. Furthermore, AEM's open architecture allows for integration with third-party systems and technologies, ensuring compatibility and flexibility. FAQs about Adobe Experience Manager Is Adobe Experience Manager suitable for small businesses? While AEM is primarily designed for enterprise-level organizations, Adobe also offers a scaled-down version called Adobe Experience Manager Sites, which caters to the needs of smaller businesses. Can AEM handle multilingual and global websites? Yes, AEM provides robust multilingual and globalization capabilities. It allows for easy translation and localization of content, ensuring consistent experiences across different languages and regions. What kind of support does Adobe provide for AEM users? Adobe offers comprehensive support for AEM users, including documentation, tutorials, community forums, and access to Adobe Customer Care. Additionally, Adobe provides training and certification programs for individuals and teams to enhance their AEM skills. Is AEM a cloud-based solution? Yes, Adobe Experience Manager can be deployed in the cloud, on-premises, or in a hybrid environment, providing businesses with flexibility and scalability options based on their requirements. How secure is Adobe Experience Manager? Adobe prioritizes security and compliance, and AEM includes robust security features to protect data and content. It provides user authentication, role-based access control, encryption, and compliance with industry standards and regulations.  Adobe Experience Manager empowers businesses to deliver exceptional digital experiences by providing a powerful content management system, personalization capabilities, and seamless integration with other Adobe Marketing Cloud products. By leveraging AEM's features, organizations can optimize their content creation processes, enhance targeting and personalization, and streamline their digital marketing efforts. As customer expectations continue to evolve, Adobe Experience Manager equips businesses with the tools they need to stay ahead in the realm of digital experiences. Contact our team of experts and start delivering outstanding digital experiences today!   Photo credit: Unsplash.... Read more
Raluca Olariu / May 29'2023
DrupalTips
Key Steps to Migrating from WebSphere to Drupal10

Key Steps to Migrating from WebSphere to Drupal10

  As technology continues to evolve, businesses are constantly seeking more efficient and flexible solutions for their web platforms. One popular migration path is transitioning from WebSphere to modern CMS platforms like Drupal 9 or 10. Drupal, renowned for its robust features and flexibility, offers a powerful and scalable framework for building dynamic websites and applications. In this article, we will explore the key steps involved in successfully migrating from WebSphere to Drupal10. Step 1: Evaluate and Plan Before embarking on any migration project, it is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation of your existing WebSphere system. This evaluation should identify the specific features, functionalities, and content that need to be migrated to Drupal. Take note of customizations, themes, modules, and any third-party integrations that are currently in place. Once the evaluation is complete, develop a comprehensive migration plan. Identify the goals and objectives of the migration, set realistic timelines, and allocate appropriate resources. Creating a prioritized list of tasks and determining the necessary budget for the migration process is also important at this stage. Step 2: Content Analysis and Migration One of the critical aspects of migration is content analysis. Evaluate the content structure in your WebSphere system and map it to the Drupal data model. Determine how your existing content types, taxonomies, and hierarchies can be translated into Drupal's entities, vocabularies, and menus. Next, extract the content from your WebSphere system using various migration tools or custom scripts. Transform the content into a format compatible with Drupal's structure and import it into your Drupal site. Ensure that all metadata, images, and other associated assets are correctly migrated and linked to the respective content items. Step 3: Design and Theming During migration, take the opportunity to refresh the look and feel of your website by leveraging Drupal's powerful theming capabilities. Identify the existing themes in your WebSphere system and recreate them in Drupal using the appropriate theming framework, such as Drupal's default theme engine or popular base themes like Bootstrap. Customize and fine-tune the theme to match your brand identity, ensuring consistency and responsiveness across different devices and screen sizes. Implement any required design modifications, such as layouts, typography, color schemes, and navigation menus, while adhering to Drupal's best practices. Step 4: Functionality and Module Integration WebSphere often includes custom functionalities and integrations that need to be migrated to Drupal. Analyze the existing modules and extensions in your WebSphere system and explore Drupal's extensive module ecosystem to find suitable alternatives or custom development options. Identify Drupal modules that offer similar functionalities to the ones used in WebSphere. Install and configure these modules in your Drupal environment, ensuring they meet your requirements. If no direct replacements are available, consider developing custom modules or engaging Drupal development experts to assist in replicating specific functionalities. Step 5: User Training and Testing Migrating to a new CMS requires training your content authors, editors, and administrators to ensure a smooth transition. Familiarize them with Drupal's interface, content management workflows, and administrative tasks. Provide comprehensive documentation and conduct training sessions to ensure your team is proficient in using Drupal. Conduct extensive testing throughout the migration process to identify and rectify any issues. Test the migrated content, functionalities, forms, and integrations to ensure they function as expected. Perform user acceptance testing (UAT) to obtain feedback from key stakeholders and make necessary adjustments before going live. Step 6: Go Live and Post-Migration Support Once all testing and refinement processes are complete, it's time to deploy your Drupal site and make it live. Coordinate with your IT team or hosting provider to ensure a seamless transition. Optasy is a leading Drupal development agency that specializes in assisting companies with seamless and successful Drupal migrations. With our extensive expertise and experience in Drupal, we offer comprehensive migration services tailored to meet the unique needs of each organization. Our team of skilled professionals meticulously evaluates the existing systems, designs a strategic migration plan, and executes the migration process with precision and efficiency. Optasy ensures a smooth transition from legacy systems like WebSphere to the latest versions of Drupal, including Drupal 9 and 10. We provide end-to-end support, from content analysis and data migration to theme customization, module integration, and post-migration support. Contact us for more information.   Photo credit: Pixabay.... Read more
Raluca Olariu / May 24'2023

Need a new Project?

Dare us to shape and boost your idea(s)!

Start a Project

(416) 243-2431

Contact

(416) 243-2431

Toronto Downtown

First Canadian Place,
100 King St. W. Suite 5700, Toronto

Toronto West

2275 Upper Middle
Rd. E, Suite 101
Toronto

New York

1177 Avenue of the
Americas, 5th Floor,
New York