Newsletter issue #40 - 2nd July 2007
This issue
Hello and welcome to the July edition of the Webcredible newsletter!
In this issue:
- Feature article: Improving accessibility for motor impaired users
- Top tip: Don't open links in new windows
- Useful program: 68 online SEO tools and resources
- Top link: UK new media review
- New articles in June
- Webcredible news in June
Enjoy!
Feature article: Improving accessibility for motor impaired users
The unique requirements for motor impaired web users can often be overlooked or poorly implemented. This group of users essentially have limited or no ability to use a mouse. Our feature article this month explains what exactly you can to do to improve accessibility for motor impaired users...
Read this article in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-accessibility/motor-impaired.shtml.
Top tip: Don't open links in new windows
Websites typically open links in a new window when linking off to external websites. The argument for doing this is that it'll "keep users on our site for longer". Unfortunately this doesn't typically stand true in the real world. Aside from artificially boosting the amount of time users spend on your site (your website will remain open whilst users browse in the new window) it's unlikely users will really spend more time on your site. Some of the reasons why this is true and why you shouldn't open links in a new window include:
- People can't get back to your website To return to your site many users will initially hit the back button and wonder why this doesn't work. After repeated attempts at hitting the button and nothing happening they'll give up and won't return to your website. Usability testing shows time and time again that around 1 in 5 users will do this, simply not realising that the new web page has opened in a new window. They therefore have no way of returning to your site. (This may sound strange if you haven't seen it first hand; remember though, if you work with the web you're not a normal web user!)
- People won't go back to your website There's a good reason why people click on links that lead away from your website - they're done using your site. If they want to come back they'll hit the back button, something that's far more intuitive and learned behaviour than having to close the browser window. Users will only return to your website if they want to - and opening links to external websites in a new window won't change this.
- It takes power away from the user Forcing links to open in a new window can disorientate and frustrate users, as well as cluttering up an already busy taskbar. In fact, opening a new window tends to make returning to your site more difficult as users will typically attempt to return by hitting the back button. When this doesn't work the 80% of users that now realise a new window has opened will have to change their behaviour and instead go to close the new browser window.
There are a few exceptions to this rule as there are occasions when opening links in a new window is actually a good thing. We'll tell you all about these in next month's top tip!
Useful program: 68 online SEO tools and resources
This month we're not going to recommend just one useful program - rather, we're going to tell you about 68! Well, actually, we'll just link to the Avangate site where they've helpfully put together links to 68 useful SEO tools all in one place.
You can use access these program from www.avangate.com/articles/online-seo-tools_79.htm.
Top link: UK new media review
The UK new media review provides what's probably the most comprehensive publicly available set of statistics to do with Internet usage in the UK (with a slight bias towards travel sites). Data about all other countries is available.
View this site at www.etcnewmedia.com/review/default.asp?SectionID=11&CountryID=53.
New articles in June
- Eye tracking: Eye candy vs. I can do
- Opening PDFs in a new window with JavaScript
- Advanced link building
- Website design aesthetics
Read these and many other articles at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources.
Webcredible news in June
- Webcredible on front cover of NMA
- Webcredible to exhibit at the Online Marketing Show
Read these news stories in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/about-us/latest-news.shtml.
We're recruiting!
Webcredible currently has a job vacancy for a lead user research consultant. We're looking for someone to coordinate our IA and near end UCD user research offering so you'll really need to know your stuff. Read all about this vacancy at http://www.webcredible.co.uk/jobs/usability.shtml and then send in your CV - you could be working here in our London offices sooner than you think!
Vote in our poll!
We're running a poll to find out how you use your local government websites. We'd really appreciate it if you took a moment to vote in our poll - it'll only take about 10 seconds of your time!
Put your opinion across and vote in our poll at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/polls.
Training courses
Courses continue to sell out well in advance! Our next training courses will take place in our training centre in Aldgate, London in July and September:
- Usability testing training - Monday 3rd September. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our usability testing training page.
- Writing for the web training - Tuesday 17th July & Tuesday 4th September. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our writing for the web training page.
- Web usability training - Wednesday 18th July & Wednesday 5th September. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web usability training page.
- Web accessibility training - Thursday 19th July & Thursday 6th September. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web accessibility training page.
- Advanced CSS training - Friday 20th July & Friday 7th September. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our advanced CSS training page.
About Webcredible
Based in London, UK, Webcredible is a user experience consultancy. Tailor-made usability, accessibility & design solutions include:
- User-centered design
- Accessible web design
- CMS services
- Usability
- Accessibility
- Training
- Website review lite
Please contact us on 0870 242 6095 or info at webcredible.co.uk, or consult www.webcredible.co.uk for further information.