What Is the Influence of Website User Interface on a Person’s Productivity?
A website’s User Interface (UI) greatly impacts the user experience while on that site. The UI should enhance the individual’s experience by encouraging the use of the site, saving time, preventing frustration, and generating a positive return for the user. It should be clear, easy to navigate, and offer access to everything the user needs.
While visual appeal might seem inconsequential, an ugly-looking interface can detract from the overall experience, which means the user is less likely to return or use the UI again in the future. So, while functionality is paramount, appeal is also important.
The Importance of Productivity
Productivity doesn’t just relate to business output. It is important in our personal lives, too. And, an effective UI can improve the productivity of people on entertainment websites which, in turn, yields beneficial results for the site and business owners.
Take streaming services. Productivity can be measured as the number of movies or TV shows watched. For the end user, improved productivity means more content viewed. For the streaming service, it means greater viewer figures and more subscription or ad revenue raised.
iGaming websites are another good example. An efficient UI means players can play more games they enjoy. For the casino or gambling site, it means more money staked by players and greater profits. That’s why some of the best sites like stake are those with the best user interfaces. As sports betting specialist Jonathan Askew points out, a user-friendly interface is one of the most important elements when players choose an online casino.
User Interface Elements and How They Affect Productivity
Whatever the type of site and its intended purpose, a good user interface is important. Many elements can either improve or reduce a person’s productivity, including the following page elements.
Consistent Design
Consistent design throughout a UX helps ensure that the user knows what is expected of them. This can be as simple as using the same Submit style button on every element of the page, or if a UI has multiple pages, using the same layout so the user knows exactly what to do when they arrive.
Consistent designs help alleviate time wasted trying to figure out where to go, what to click, and what to do next. As well as causing less confusion it also means users stay on the site longer, rather than leaving in frustration.
Simplicity
Overly complex user interfaces also cause confusion among users, and if the design is too complex, first-time users will click straight off the website without giving it a second chance. It can be difficult to achieve a simple design if an app or website has a lot of features or functions, but it is achieved through effective navigation, categorization, and even pagination.
Some of the most popular websites in the world are those with the simplest designs. An obvious example is Google. Google now offers services ranging from online email to document creation and management, local business listings, and even services like website analytics, but when you visit Google.com it has a very simple UI design.
Good Navigation
Navigation facilitates a simple user interface, even for complex websites. It means that the main feature of a website can be front and center, like on Google, and additional features can be categorized and placed behind links and categories. Not only does good navigation ensure that a user interface retains its simplicity, but it makes it easier for users to find what they are looking for. Less time hunting for basic and advanced features means greater productivity for the user.
Page Load Times
Delays reduce productivity because the user is sitting staring at their screen or hitting the refresh button in the hope of speeding things along. Optimizing page content, eliminating bloatware, and ensuring no code clashes reduces page load times which means less stress and greater productivity for the end user. If a user visits a single page and there’s a delay of a few seconds, some will stick around. If there are multiple pages, with multiple delays, more and more users will leave. And those that do stick around will have limited productivity.
Accessibility
A user interface should be accessible to all regardless of status or circumstances. In fact, accessibility is considered a legal requirement, and businesses can find themselves in a ton of legal trouble if they don’t put reasonable effort into making sure their site can be accessed and used by everybody.
Accessibility should also take into account factors such as the device a person uses to access the interface, the quality of their Internet connection, and more. Poor accessibility causes a degradation in productivity as the user either looks for a workaround, muddles through, or gives up.
Good Looks
Appearance isn’t everything, but it does matter. Users are consciously and subconsciously assessing a website’s appearance from the second they first visit to the last click they make to leave. A user interface doesn’t necessarily have to be beautiful, but it needs to look functional, relevant, and simple, regardless of what is underneath that façade. The design should also be free from distractions, which greatly reduce efficiency in users.
Plenty of white space can give a user interface a crisp look and the gaps between content make it easier to digest the information contained on the page. And, while there shouldn’t be too many distractions, the proper use of color and images will also help elevate a design, guide users, and enhance productivity.
Conclusion
Productivity is key in our personal lives, as well as in business. Whether a user is using a content management app or playing at a real money online casino, effective design, fast-loading pages, and the judicious use of white space and other design elements can help improve productivity and reduce attrition.