Web Site Usability Checklist for E-commerce Sites

How much time do people spend on your website? Do they find the products or information you want them to find? Can they quickly find the information they want so they can either make a purchase or contact you about your services? The following questions will guide you:

• Can visitors tell immediately what you sell?

• Can they quickly find products and product descriptions?

• Are there links to related products (accessories to wear with a ladies suit, for instance)?

• Can they tell what to click on to place an order?

• Can they find the check out button when they are ready to pay for their order.

• Can they find your phone number from every page in case they have a question?

• Can they find your name and address, and fax number?

• Can they find your email address?

• Can they find price information?

• Can they find shipping information and costs easily?

• Can they find your guarantee and return policy?

• Can they find information about the company and its management?

• Can they find any other important information you want them to have?

After you've done your own review of the website, ask some people who don't know much about your business to look at the website while you watch them. Look at the things they click on and how they proceed through the site. Note whether they seemed confused or unsure what to do next at any point. Make changes to the site both on the basis of your own answers to the checklist and any problems you detect when observing others viewing the site.

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