Here's a sure fire checklist we use for making sure your website will be easy to use:
Group 1
Is the domain name appropriate and meaningful?
Do you see something meaningful within 8 seconds?
Does the site’s name (or product/purpose) come up instantly?
Is the home page less than 100 KB in size (does it use small images)?
Is text visible (and ‘held steady’) while graphics are loading?
Do decorative images use ALT tags with meaningful descriptions?
The site does not use an ‘entrance portal’ (but if it does, is it needed).
Is there useful information on the homepage?
Does the Homepage look good? Does it have a clean, uncluttered look?
Is important information 'above the fold' (ie. in the top portion of the page)?
Group 2
Can you contact the business via email on every page (eg. is there a footer link)?
Is it clear what to do if you have a comment, suggestion, or problem?
Frames are not used (but if they are, they are needed).
You are not distracted by excessive animations (eg. repetitious Flash animations).
Is the name of the organisation clearly visible (ie. in a large, clear typeface)?
Can you tell where the business is based?
Is the style of the homepage appropriate for the target audience?
Does the homepage give an idea of the ‘sort’ of information available in the site?
Can you find a contact name, address, phone number, and email address?
Is the homepage title meaningful?
Group 3
Are there less than seven choices in a menu (if there’s more, are they needed)?
Are image links consistent and do they go somewhere appropriate?
Images aren’t used as links (but if they are, they have ALT tags).
If an image is used as a hyperlink, is it obvious (ie. is there more than one cue)?
Is the site’s structure clear (ie. the navigation is not confusing or ambiguous)?
Is useful content less than four clicks away from the homepage?
Is there a list of contents or a site-map (with a link to every page)?
Does every page have a link to the site-map or contents page?
Are there appropriate links to other useful pages (eg. a site search tool)?
Is a search tool provided (if one isn’t, its because its not needed)?
Group 4
Do all pages obey the same rules (eg. consistent layout, fonts, etc)?
Does each page have a proper title?
Do link names match the title of destination pages?
Do all pages have relevant META tags?
Are lines of text short enough to read comfortably (eg. no more than 20cm wide)?
Is page content fairly short (if not, is it because its meant to be printed)?
Tables aren’t used (if they are, several small ones are used instead of one big one).
Pages don’t take long to load, but if they do, you are warned of the wait.
Are sentences and paragraphs kept short (not too many words before a full stop)?
If you send an email through the site, is there confirmation that it was received?
Group 5
Is the site author or business name shown on every page?
Statistical data is not shown, but if it is, a source or acknowledgement is given.
Can you see a ‘last update’ or ‘creation date’ on every page?
Are ‘back to top’ links provided at appropriate intervals in pages?
There are no links to external sites, but if there are, they are relevant.
Are there any links to associated organisations?
Information given on one page isn’t repeated on another.
If an external link is given, are you told where it will go and why its there?
Are external links shown with their full URL?
Pages aren’t meant for printing, but those that are show company name/contact info.
Group 6
Is it clear what the purpose of the website is?
Does it look like the website has achieved its apparent purpose?
Does the website make appropriate use of images and colour?
Does the website seem professional, planned out, and friendly?
There are no forms contained in the website, but if there are, they are easy to use.
Does the website work OK in Netscape and Internet Explorer?
Does the website make good use of contrast and fonts?
Does the website look OK when you view it in 256 colours, at 800x600?
Are you tempted to return to the site in future (pretend you are the intended audience)?
There is no horizontal scrolling on pages.
Group 7
Over all, do pages generally load quickly (if they don’t, there’s a good reason)?
Does it generally seem as though there are no broken links?
There is no request for personal details before allowing someone to use the site.
The site doesn’t need a search tool, but if it does, search results seem relevant.
Are banner adverts kept to an acceptable limit (ie. they aren’t too annoying)?
There are no pop-up windows.
Are hyperlinks shown as blue underlined text (if not, is there a good reason)?
There are no instances of ‘click here’ hyperlinks (eg. click here to continue).
The overall website design is not cluttered.
There is no scrolling text (but if there is, there’s a really good reason for it).
Group 8
You are not forced to listen to music or watch a video stream.
There are no flashing images or text.
The website does not force you to install a plug-in to use it.
The website does not make use of unnecessary JavaScript or Java.
Does the website let you enter without telling you to first upgrade your browser?
The words ‘under construction’ or ‘coming soon’ don’t appear anywhere on the website.
Massive, unnecessary, slow loading images aren’t used.
Images aren’t used where text will do (ie. an actual image of a word).
Does it look like all image rollovers work properly?
Is there an indication of your current location (ie. what page or section you are in)?
Group 9 (Shopping, if applicable)
Is there a friendly and quick route to buy goods?
Is the handling of credit card information secure (eg. is SSL used)?
Are orders acknowledged with a delivery date?
Is there some kind of system for tracking orders?
Is there any evidence or reassurance that delivery is reliable?
Is a returns policy stated?
Does the business display any certificates obtained from trade bodies?
Is a privacy policy made available?
Is the shopping system self-evident or is some kind of explanation provided?
Does the system remember the details of a returned shopper (eg. address, etc)?