6 Simple Tips to Improve Your Website’s User Experience

User experience (UX) plays a crucial role in your website’s success, not just for keeping visitors happy but also for SEO. Search engines like Google prioritise websites that provide a smooth and intuitive experience, rewarding them with higher rankings.

In this guide, we’ll share six simple yet effective tips to improve the user experience of your website. From navigation to design, these strategies will help you create a site that keeps users engaged and coming back for more.

Make Your Site Accessible

Making your site accessible automatically improves user experience for all users. That’s because accessibility follows best practices like clear navigation, readable text, and responsive design – ensuring a smoother experience for everyone.

Moreover, 1.3 billion people worldwide – about 1 in 6 – experience significant disabilities. So, making your website accessible isn’t just about improving user experience; it’s about making your site inclusive and open to everyone.

An excellent example of an accessible website is GOV.UK, which keeps its design simple and user-friendly. Its clean layout, high-contrast colours, and intuitive navigation make it easy for everyone, including those with disabilities, to access information and services.

How to Make Your Website Accessible

• Find out where your website stands in terms of accessibility. You can use our free tool, WebYes, to run an accessibility audit.
• Next, review the issues identified by the automated tool that are preventing your site from being fully accessible.
• Finally, resolve these issues to meet WCAG guidelines and deliver a better experience for all users.

For a more detailed guide on making your website accessible, check out our WCAG compliance guide.

Improve Page Load Time

Speed matters. If a page loads too slowly, users get frustrated and bounce – simple as that. Here’s what the data says about it: pages loading in 1-2 seconds have a 9% bounce rate, while those taking 5 seconds see it jump to 38%.

So, what’s the ideal page load time? Most agree that anything under 3 seconds is considered good. However, the average load time for sites ranking on Google’s first page is 1.65 seconds, so aim for that if you want to stay competitive.

Where do you go from here? Start by getting your score. WebYes offers a free service to check your page speed and Core Web Vitals. Plus, it provides helpful tips to improve load times on both mobile and desktop, so you know exactly what to fix.

How to Improve Page Load Time

• Use tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim to compress images without compromising quality.
• Enable browser caching to store frequently used data and avoid reloading it for returning users.
• Choose a quality hosting plan that suits your website’s needs. Opt for providers like SiteGround, Hostinger, or CloudWays.

Be Responsive and Mobile-Friendly

Stats show that over 60% of web traffic now comes from mobile devices, so making your website responsive is a must. A responsive design adjusts beautifully to any screen size, giving users a smooth experience whether they’re on a phone, tablet, or desktop.

Moreover, mobile-friendliness isn’t just good for your users – it’s a big deal for SEO too. Google and Bing prioritise mobile-friendly sites, so if your site isn’t optimised for mobile, it could hurt your rankings in search results.

How to Make Your Website Responsive and Mobile-Friendly

• Build your site using responsive design frameworks like Bootstrap to ensure it adapts to all screen sizes.
• Optimise buttons and links so they’re easy to tap on mobile devices.
• Test your website on different devices to make sure it works seamlessly everywhere.

Minimise Distractions

Ads and popups can be a major turn-off for users, especially when they interrupt navigation or slow down the page. When that happens, users leave immediately, signalling to Google that your site didn’t meet their needs – which can hurt your rankings.

So, reduce the number of ads on your site. But how many are okay? Well, the key is to keep them minimal and non-intrusive. Ads should never get in the way of users accessing information. Your layout should stay clean, with the main content as the focus.

You can take inspiration from how The New York Times handles ads. For long-form content, they place ads approximately every 700 words. For shorter pieces, they ensure there are no ads within the first 2-3 scrolls. This thoughtful approach balances revenue with UX.

How to Minimise Distractions

• Use ads sparingly and try placing them in non-intrusive areas like sidebars. 
• Avoid autoplay video ads or anything that disrupts the user’s experience.
• Show popups only when they offer value, like a discount or essential info.

Improve Readability

Even the best content can fail if it’s poorly presented. Users should be able to skim through and quickly find what they need. Good readability reduces bounce rates and improves dwell time, which are factors search engines consider for rankings.

But it’s not just about structure – visual elements matter too. Your font, contrast ratio, use of white space for breathing room, and overall page balance all contribute to a smooth and enjoyable reading experience for your users.

Following these principles will significantly improve the user experience on your website, making it more engaging and accessible for everyone.

How to Improve Readability

• Ensure your text meets the WCAG-recommended contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text, so it’s easy for everyone to read.
• Use simple fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Comic Sans. Keep paragraphs short – two sentences max for easy reading.
• Use clear, structured headings (H1, H2, H3) to guide readers and help them find information quickly.

Keep Your Design Simple and Consistent

When it comes to design, user experience always takes priority over aesthetics. A website might look stunning, but if it’s hard to navigate, users will leave. Simple designs reduce cognitive load, making it easier for users to process information and stay engaged longer.

Similarly, consistency across pages – such as uniform colours, fonts, and button styles – builds familiarity and trust. It helps users navigate smoothly and reduces the learning curve, keeping them focused on what matters most: your content.

Take websites like SEMrush or HubSpot, for example. Their designs are clean, simple, and consistent across all pages. This level of consistency ensures a seamless experience that keeps visitors engaged and builds trust in their brand.

How to Make Your Design Simple and Consistent

• Use the same fonts, colours, and button styles across your site to create a cohesive look and feel.
• Keep your layout clean by including only the most essential features and avoiding unnecessary clutter.
• Use standard design practices, like placing navigation menus at the top, to make it easy for users to predict where things are.

Improve the User Experience of Your Website with WebYes

WebYes helps you make your website accessible and boosts its performance – two key factors that directly impact the user experience of your website. The free tool audits your website for accessibility and performance, identifying key areas for improvement.

Start improving your site’s UX today with a free audit from WebYes. Discover what’s impacting your site’s user experience and get a clear view of the issues to fix. Our audit insights help you improve the user experience of your website and keep users coming back.