Newsletter issue #29 - 1st August 2006
This issue
Hello and welcome to the August edition of the Webcredible newsletter!
In this issue:
- Feature article: Innovative user interface design
- Top tip: Break up long pages with sub-headings
- Useful program: IE7 Readiness Toolkit
- Top link: The Webcredibles
- New articles in July
- Webcredible news in July
Enjoy!
Feature article: Innovative user interface design
More and more websites are taking advantage of users' increasing levels of Internet-sophistication and faster connections, by developing new types of interfaces. We've gathered together examples of some of our favourites - check them out and see what new ideas you can glean!
Read this article in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/web-usability/user-interface-design.shtml.
Top tip: Break up long pages with sub-headings
Breaking up long pages of text with sub-headings is crucial. There's no absolute rule for how frequently to use sub-headings, but as a general rule of thumb try to insert a sub-heading at least every four or five paragraphs. Here are three reasons why sub-headings are so important:
- Usability will improve We don't generally read on the web - we scan. Sub-headings can greatly aid us in achieving this as they describe the content contained beneath them. You can scan through a web page simply by looking at sub-headings, in order to hone in on what you're looking for. If the heading font size is larger than that of regular text, and there's white space above and below, then sub-headings become even easier to spot.
- Accessibility will be enhanced Sub-headings are also crucial for accessibility. Screen reader users, for example, may browse through a page by calling up a list of headings. Screen magnifier users, who can only see a small part of the page at any one time, may stop moving the magnifier around the page when they spot a heading. Those with reading difficulties are also likely to appreciate headings - by using these they can hone in on the information they're after without having to read as much text.
- Your search engine ranking may benefit With the exception of the page title, search engines place more importance on text within headings and sub-headings than any other on-page elements. By using sub-headings and making sure that they're descriptive of the content beneath them (which is good for usability and accessibility - see above), they're likely to be keyword-rich.
Useful program: IE7 Readiness Toolkit
Internet Explorer 7 is soon to be released and Microsoft has published their readiness toolkit for developers. The toolkit contains a number of useful programs to help ensure your website is ready for IE7.
You can download the toolkit from www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=D13EE10D-2718-47F1-AA86-1E32D526383D&displaylang=en.
Top link: The Webcredibles
The Webcredibles are our resident superheroes and are here to save your website from the evil clutches of bad usability and accessibility!
Follow their adventures at www.webcredible.co.uk/webcreds.
New articles in July
Read these and many other articles at www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources.
Webcredible news in July
- Brand new service for small businesses is launched
- Webcredible is recruiting a senior PHP web developer
- New training dates for September announced
Read these news stories in full at www.webcredible.co.uk/about-us/latest-news.shtml.
Website review lite
Webcredible is proud and excited to announce a brand new service tailored specifically to small businesses and start-ups. The website review lite is a trimmed-down, more affordable version of our main offering, and will help you improve your website's usability, search engine optimisation and credibility.
Read all about it at www.webcredible.co.uk/lite
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 September and October:
- Usability testing training - Monday 2nd October. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our usability testing training page.
- Web writing training - Tuesday 5th September & Tuesday 3rd October. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our intermediate web writing training page.
- Web usability training - Wednesday 6th September & Wednesday 4th October. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web usability training page.
- Web accessibility training - Thursday 7th September & Thursday 5th October. For more information and to reserve your place before it fills up please consult our web accessibility training page.
- Advanced CSS training - Friday 8th September & Friday 6th 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.
