What Does "UX" mean?
Have you ever seen the mysterious UX and wondered what it meant? UX stands for User Experience and can be applied in every way a business reaches their customers. UX is the process a customer goes through to order a product, find more information, sign up for a subscription or reach out to customer service. There are many ways to describe UX but since I am a web designer, I am going to explain how UX specifically applies to a website and how I use it when designing websites for my clients.
Website Appeal
The first layer of UX design is the website appeal which is measured by how a person feels when they visit a site. Without getting too deep into branding, the goal of the website appeal is to encourage a visitor to take an action. To help explain my point, allow me to introduce my favorite UX example: casinos.
Regardless of how you personally feel about gambling, there’s no denying that casinos are at the top the game when it comes to UX. The moment you walk into a casino, you are surrounded by wealth: glass chandeliers, sparkling floors, gold walls and plush, velvet chairs are everywhere you look. This is partly because casinos make a ridiculous amount of money and can afford it but it goes much deeper than that. When a visitor walks into a casino, they suddenly feel richer. Nothing about their bank account changes but because they’re in such an elaborate space, they begin to act rich. And what does this do? It loosens their grip on their pocketbooks; and we all know the house wins more often than not. There are many other things casinos do to encourage spending (cooler temperatures, higher levels of oxygen, free alcohol, etc.) but their reliance on UX to grow their bottom line has changed the way branding is viewed on a massive scale.
This same principle of branding applies to websites as well. Using UX design in conjunction with a clear picture of your target market can encourage your visitors to take action on your site.
Website Journey
Once the overall appeal of the website has been set, the next step is to consider the journey you want your customers to take. The first thing I consider is what goal the website needs to accomplish. Once the goal has been established, I work backwards to figure out how that goal can be accomplished. Using UX design, I create a process that will take a website visitor on a journey through the website so they are easily guided to accomplishing the goal of the website.
Website Ease
With the journey defined, the next step is to make everything as easy and painless as possible. People like to be handheld through every step of an unfamiliar process. The customer should always know what to expect and when to expect it. This can be something as simple as telling them an email will be arriving in the next couple minutes or sending a link so they can track their package once it ships. Simplicity is key in making sure your UX design is as effective as possible.
Do you have any questions about how UX design applies to your own unique situation? I would love to show you how it can improve your customer’s experience! Consultation calls are always free.
With love,
-Heather
Heather Brockell is a Web Designer and Copywriter based out of North Dakota, USA. When she isn’t designing websites or writing, she performs as a professional figure skater and singer in ice shows all around the country.
Want to hire Heather to create something magical for your online presence?