Mobile news sites: best practice tips
Most of the UK's newspapers now have mobile versions of their websites, but many could provide a better range of content and user experience.
Here are some best practice tips for mobile newspaper sites...
Online retailers still need to work on customer service
While a study of 46 leading e-commerce sites found overall performance to be satisfactory, with average scores ranging from 76% to 90%, many etailers still need to improve on customer service.
The eRetail Benchmark Study from eDigital Research used mystery shoppers to assess the usability of leading online retail sites in the UK. Customer contact by email and phone are two areas where some retailers performed poorly.
38% of visitors to e-commerce sites in research phase: survey
Of all visitors to e-commerce sites, 38.6% are there to research products and prices, and to gather information, though just 85% are able to complete this task successfully.
This is one if the findings of an iPerceptions e-commerce survey, suggesting that improvements in navigation and usability can have a significant impact on sales.
What should be above the fold on an e-commerce site?
As a number of usability studies have shown recently, the fold on a webpage doesn't have to be a barrier to users, and people are willing to scroll down to see more.
However, the area above the fold is the first thing visitors to your website will see, so what should be above the fold? Here are a few suggestions, with e-commerce sites in mind...
Q&A: Robin Terrell, MD of John Lewis Direct
John Lewis is one retailer which has been a success online over the last few years, experiencing consistent sales growth, and has often been used as an example of a usable website on this blog.
I've been asking John Lewis Direct MD Robin Terrell, one of the keynote speakers at the recent Internet Retailing conference, about the company's approach to e-commerce...
New M&S site tops usability chart
The newly revamped Marks & Spencer website, which was launched last week, has received a thumbs-up in a new report which evaluates the websites of the UK's high street retailers.
The M&S website has jumped eight places in the Webcredible High Street Retailers report, while the overall usability of the 20 websites studied has also improved over the last year.
Which auto websites are getting it right?
A study of automotive website usability has named the Audi website as the best by a manufacturer, with Volvo and Mini the runners up.
The eDigitalResearch study was commissioned by Auto Trader, and looks at various features of car websites, including selector tools and customer service options.
I've been looking at some of the winners' websites...
What happens in Vegas: Nielsen Usability Week (day two)
It’s 7.30am on day two of Nielsen’s Usability Week in Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas and let’s just say I’m pleased they’re pumping pure oxygen into the casinos...
Little things mean a lot: Usability & the wonky tray table effect
Even relatively small usability problems can have a big effect on user experience and user confidence on your site, especially at crucial stages of the user journey.
Making your site recession proof through better usability
The recession is an extra obstacle to shopping online. To stop it from being insurmountable, you need to make sure you remove all the other barriers you can.
Last summer I asked if the downturn was leading to greater use of e-commerce? The answer then was 'yes'. The answer is still “yes”, only maybe more so now...
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Web 2.0
Graham Charlton
Strategy & Planning
