Newsletter issue #52 - 1st July 2008
This issue
Hello and welcome to the July edition of the Webcredible newsletter!
In this issue:
- Feature article: Usability & security - Unlikely bedfellows?
- Top tip: Use images effectively
- Useful program: Rapid CSS Editor
- Top link: Usability of council websites report
- New articles in June
- Webcredible news in June
Enjoy!
Feature article: Usability & security - Unlikely bedfellows?
Any website that requires users to logon or provide sensitive information (e.g. credit card details) has to have some level of security. With people getting more and more overwhelmed with the number of usernames, passwords and PINs they have to remember, it's becoming a challenge to ensure that online security remains usable and safe. This month's feature article provides some top tips to help your customers remember their passwords and continue using your website in the long-term...
Read this article in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/security.shtml.
Top tip: Use images effectively
Pretty much every website uses images - some doing so more effectively than others. Images are an important part of any website and can be used to instantly communicate various messages, far more quickly than words can. Images can be used to sell products, show what you do or persuade site visitors to contact you. Follow these following guidelines and make the images on your site work harder for you. Ensure that all images are:
- Relevant Images can be an effective tool in giving site visitors a quick idea of what any page content is about. Users can glance at images and if they're relevant immediately understand the message you're trying to convey. Marketing images used to enhance your brand are perfectly OK, provided of course they convey your brand values.
- Easy-to-understand Many images are far too detailed, making it difficult for users to quickly understand their purpose. This is particularly true for small images that link to another page featuring an enlarged version of the image. By keeping images simple, users scanning their eye across the screen can immediately gain an idea of what the content is about.
- Quick to download Despite broadband penetration increasing and increasing (in the UK just 15% of Internet connections are dial-up) it's still important to reduce image file size as much as possible. Even on broadband connections any page with a number of heavy images can take a good few seconds to fully download, frustrating your users in the process.
- Able to be changed When an image is of a product that can be purchased, it's crucial that users can adjust the display of that image. This could include enlarging the image, zooming in or selecting alternate views of it.
Useful program: Rapid CSS Editor
Although there are a number of CSS editors out there, you can't go too wrong with the Rapid CSS Editor. With a number of nifty features it's well worth checking out.
Download this useful program at www.blumentals.net/rapidcss
Top link: Usability of council websites report
Webcredible's latest white paper evaluates 20 of the best council websites against 20 best practice usability guidelines. Download your free copy of the report today!
Download the free report from www.webcredible.co.uk/council.
New articles in June
Read these and many other articles at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources.
Webcredible news in June
- Council website usage is on the up
- Webcredible gets new head of client services
Read these news stories in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/about-us/latest-news.shtml.
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 May, June & July:
- Web writing training - Monday 21st July, Monday 1st September & Monday 6th October. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our intermediate web writing training page.
- Web usability training - Tuesday 22nd July, Tuesday 2nd September & Tuesday 7th October. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web usability training page.
- Usability testing training - Wednesday 23rd July, Wednesday 3rd September & Wednesday 8th October. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our usability testing training page.
- Web accessibility training - Wednesday 23rd July, Wednesday 3rd September & Wednesday 8th October. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web accessibility training page.
- Intermediate CSS training - Thursday 24th July, Thursday 4th September & Thursday 9th October. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our intermediate CSS training page.
- Advanced CSS training - Friday 25th July, Friday 5th September & Friday 10th October. 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 research
- User-centered design
- Accessible CSS web design
- Training courses & support
- Website reviews
- Usability lab hire
Please contact us on 020 7423 6320 or info at webcredible.co.uk, or consult www.webcredible.co.uk for further information.
