Having the ability to search a website can help a user immensely – therefore, a search field is an important inclusion when creating a web design strategy. Searching is an important usability tool as it is the quickest and most convenient way of searching for content with the click of a button.
Search fields are proven to work and are a familiar feature with many web users, as it is the primary way which many people search for content. Search engines like Google or search fields on Amazon are an example of the importance of searching – as if the site search feature wasn’t available – we would have a very hard time of finding what we were looking for.
A search function should be included in most websites, however if you have a content rich website, for example, an e-commerce website with a product database, a list of services, or a blog, then a site search feature will help locate what your users are looking for.
The search box should be placed in a prominent or familiar part of the website, and can most commonly be found in the header of any website.
It is also important to ensure that you search function is for your website, and your website only. It is now all too common to stumble across websites that have a search function which searches the entire web, and before you know it you have been redirected from the website. This makes for one frustrated user, and the loss of a potential client.
Keywords play a major role in any website, whether it’s to assist users searching your website or for SEO purposes.
By using keywords, it avoids a user having to stare at a computer screen for a long period of time, as it has been proven that many will only skim a website. Therefore, by including prominent keywords throughout your site, it will attract attention to web users who are looking for specific content.
Keywords also play a major role in page titles on any website. Yet again – they attract the attention of the user and point them in the right direction. A feature that is commonly used in this situation is to use a keyword or related keywords in the first and last sentence of the page – this ensures the content is relevant and may entice someone to read the entire page.
It is also important to have accurate page titles, because if the content doesn’t match the titles, then the user will feel mislead and will almost immediately leave your website.
Another important usability tool is the use of site pages and related pages to help with navigation around a website.
A site map is a great navigation aid, especially if the titles and keywords are specific. A site map assist not only users on your website, but it also assists with SEO as it has the ability to help crawlers find pages and ultimately categorize and rank your website.
Although a navigation bar can act as a site map, it is recommended to have an xml site map to ensure crawlers find the pages you want indexed.
Related pages are another way of helping users find relevant content and it can normally be found at the bottom of pages or articles. It also assists with boosting internal links throughout your site to help with SEO as it can help search engines define which pages are of importance on your website.
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