Online Seo For Beginners

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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>HEURISTICS AND SITE USABILITY</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://onlineseoclassroomforbeginners.blogspot.com/2015/03/heuristics-and-site-usability.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9K1MCRCOxowSqsU3_4kPa2uZB3BxeeWJH4RWkJUAswOdQO-T8wbCZ8I5eozIHTsn0P_VIANn0mCVHRp0I_mqAEhbuRkPi7glA5eahnC7NFSUlUk0y4yXJ8qRgu15TPZtz874D9ES5N6M/s1600/two_hands_usability_figure.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Heuristics</b> applies to more than just the <b><a href="http://onlineseoclassroomforbeginners.blogspot.com/2014/09/long-tail-search-concept.html" target="_blank">keywords</a></b> that you use on your site. <b>Heuristics</b> also applies to web site usability, and a set of heuristic guidelines for site usability was first established by Jakob Nielsen in 1990. At the time, he developed a list of 10 items that when included in web site design would make a site more usable for individuals. In 1994, Nielsen updated that list of heuristics so that it now includes the following items:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">■ <b>Visibility of system status: </b>This principle says that the user should always know what’s going on through feedback from the system that’s provided in a timely manner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">■ <b>Match between the system and the real world:</b> According to this, the system should speak the user’s language. This means that keywords, phrases, and concepts should be used in a natural language that is familiar to the user and not be just technical or marketing buzzwords.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">■ <b>User control and freedom: </b>This principle says that users often mistakenly make choices they don’t really want. For that reason, it’s essential to offer the capability to undo or redo an action. A good example of this is having back and forward buttons in a web browser.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">■ <b>Consistency and standards:</b> Each time users click a button or see a word, they should not have to wonder what that action or word means. <b>Consistency</b> and standards apply to both languages and actions, and should be predictable across the Internet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">■ <b>Error prevention:</b> Users are frustrated by errors, so you should design your site with the prevention of errors in mind. However, if you recognize a place where users might encounter an error, then using a confirmation system is recommended.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">■ <b>Recognition rather than recall: </b>Don’t make users remember things from one screen or </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dialog to another. Instead, create your <b>pages</b> with clearly visible instructions, actions, and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">objects. If you must create an element that requires additional instructions, make those</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">instructions easy to access, and clearly mark them as instructions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">■ <b>Flexibility and efficiency of use: </b>This principle applies to both novice users and experienced </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">users of your site. According to this rule, your site should apply to both groups of </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">users by providing customizable actions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">■ <b>Aesthetic and minimalist design:</b> Remember the adage KISS (keep it simple, stupid)?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well, your users may not be stupid, but they still want you to keep your site as simple</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">as possible. If your products, services, or information are complicated to locate, you’ll</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">lose site visitors very quickly. They’ll go to a site where it’s easy to find what they’re</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">looking for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">■ <b>Help users recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors:</b> Users want error messages </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that help them navigate through and correct an error as quickly as possible. Make sure </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that error messages aren’t cryptic, and provide clear, easy-to-follow instructions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">■ <b>Help and documentation:</b> It’s always best not to have to refer users to help and documentation </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">files, but sometimes it can’t be avoided. If that’s the case for your site, be sure </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">your help and documentation files are easy to navigate and written in a clear, understandable </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">language.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Image Source:</b> Google</span></div>
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Heuristics and site usability

HEURISTICS AND SITE USABILITY Heuristics applies to more than just the keywords that you use on your site. Heuristics also app...