Direct Your Readers to Where You would like them to Go

Web users surf and scan - they click on obvious things. Web users don’t like complexity, the last thing they will do is read instructions or delve through archives to find the best posts.

As a blog owner you want to try and make the experience for web users as easy as possible. Your website should be easy to navigate, it should be obvious what the blog is about. It may be obvious to you, but don’t forget you built it. If you really want to test how simple your blog is, ask your mother to look at the blog and look in exasperation as she struggles to do anything.

Never assume that web users know anything. It is worth bearing in mind how popular searches like “what is a blog?” are.

Here are some simple tips to to increase usability on your blog

1. Don’t offer too many choices.

If you present too many options, people may not actually choose anything. - It is too much effort to read through all the options for them. Make it obvious for readers. Offer 1 choice and you can send them exactly where you want to go.

2. Highlight your best posts.

Make sure you have a best of your blog. This makes sure your best articles are not lost in the archives. Even better consider having popular posts in the sidebar for easy clicking. (see most popular posts plugin)

3. Minimise clutter.

This is difficult if you want to have lots of advertising. But, remember the maxim - sometimes less is more. Reducing the number of google ads, not only makes it a more attractive visitor experience; but, many bloggers have the experience that reducing the number of ads can keep the revenue the same.

Good example: Skelliewag.org 

4. Make it easy to know who the blogger is.

Add an about page with contact details.

5. Make Sure Articles Are Easily Scannable
Lists and headings make articles easy to read. Lists and bullet points may not be Shakespeare, but then, do people go on Internet to read the Complete Works of William Shakespeare.
6. Don’t Write More Than Necessary

7. Make pictures clickable

Don’t just offer a link in text. If the image is related to link, make sure you make it clickable. Many users will click on pictures expecting it to be a link.