Website Usability Tips to Keep Visitors (and Win More Business)
When was the last time you left a website because it was too confusing or too hard to use? Well, your customers do the exact same thing.
Website usability isn’t just a design preference, it’s the difference between someone buying from you or leaving your website for your competitor.
Let’s talk about address some website usability tips, why it matters so much, and practical ways to improve it.
Why Website Usability Matters
Your website isn’t just an online brochure, it’s your most powerful sales tool. But only if people can actually use it.
✅ If visitors can’t find what they want quickly, they leave.
✅ If it’s cluttered or slow, they get frustrated.
✅ If it’s confusing, they stop trusting you.
Great usability = more leads, more sales, and a better brand reputation.
At Optimus Agency, we see these issues every week in client audits. They’re incredibly common, and fixable.
What Does “Good Usability” Mean?
Put simply, usability is how easy your website is to use.
-
Can someone quickly understand what you do?
-
Can they find what they need with minimal clicks?
-
Is it pleasant to read and navigate on any device?
If the answer is no, you’re losing business.
Practical Website Usability Tips
Here are the core principles we use when auditing and designing client websites:
✅ 1. Keep It Simple
Clarity beats clever every time.
-
Avoid flashy designs that slow loading and distract visitors.
-
Stick to clean layouts with plenty of white space.
-
Don’t cram too much onto one page.
Pro tip: Simplicity helps your site load faster and makes it easier to use.
✅ 2. Prioritise Speed
No one waits 10 seconds for a site to load.
-
Optimise and compress images.
-
Avoid bloated themes and unnecessary plugins.
-
Choose reliable, fast hosting.
Slow sites kill conversions. Want to test your speed? Use Google PageSpeed Insights.
✅ 3. Design for How People Actually Read
-
Use headings and subheadings to break up text.
-
Keep paragraphs short and scannable.
-
Use bullet points for easy reading.
-
Highlight important information without overdoing bold or caps.
Remember, online readers scan. Make sure they can spot what matters quickly.
✅ 4. Make Navigation Effortless
Your visitors should never feel lost.
-
Clear menus with logical categories.
-
Breadcrumbs so users know where they are.
-
Consistent placement of navigation elements.
-
Avoid “creative” but confusing labels.
-
Include a sitemap for easy access to all pages.
✅ Want to go deeper? Read our full guide on the Importance of Website Navigation for practical ways to improve your site’s menus and structure.
✅ 5. Follow Conventions (Don’t Reinvent the Wheel)
There’s a reason links are blue and underlined.
-
Stick with familiar design patterns.
-
Clearly indicate clickable links and buttons.
-
Change visited link colours so users know where they’ve been.
Visitors shouldn’t have to guess how your website works.
✅ 6. Make Content Easy to Read
-
Use clear, legible fonts. Skip the fancy scripts.
-
Dark text on a light background for best readability.
-
Ensure font sizes work well on all devices.
-
Break content into chunks instead of walls of text.
-
Write in simple, accessible language.
Accessibility isn’t optional. It grows your audience.
✅ 7. Respect Your Users’ Time
-
Get to the point. Don’t bury important info.
-
Cut unnecessary steps to complete actions.
-
Make contact details and pricing easy to find.
Every extra second or click costs you potential leads.
✅ 8. Design for All Audiences
-
Avoid jargon. Write for everyone, including lower-literacy users.
-
Make sure your design is friendly for vision challenges.
-
Use alt text for images and ensure strong colour contrast.
✅ 9. Don’t Overwhelm with Visuals
-
Avoid busy backgrounds or too many animations.
-
Use images that support your message, not distract from it.
-
Remember, extra visuals can slow down load times.
✅ 10. Provide Feedback and Interaction
-
Make buttons clear and responsive.
-
Show users their actions worked (like form submission confirmations).
-
Use interactive elements that empower visitors without confusing them.
Users want to feel in control on your site.
Imagine the Alternative
What happens when your website is truly usable?
✅ Visitors stay longer.
✅ They find what they need quickly.
✅ They trust you more.
✅ They buy from you instead of your competitor.
Usability isn’t just design. It’s revenue.
Ready to Improve Your Website’s Usability?
At Optimus Agency, we don’t just build pretty websites. We design, audit, and optimise sites that convert.
✅ We make your website easy and pleasant to use.
✅ We help you keep visitors longer.
✅ We turn browsers into buyers.
📈 Check out our Case Studies to see the small, medium, and large businesses we’ve helped over the years.
👉 Are you ready to turn your website into a lead-generating machine? Book your free Lead Generation Assessment today.