Today, we want to begin our discussion on usability. This is a hot topic for the Active Enterprise Network as we continue to evolve in order to meet the demands of our customers. We need to remember that usability is crucial to the success of our websites and we must have a plan of action. Understanding how users are interpreting our sites will help us adapt to their needs.

Just like our websites, we need to keep our customers in mind when it comes to our blogs. A few weeks ago, we did a video presentation on How to Write an Effective Blog for our Active Community Series that covered guidelines for writing a post that will most appeal to your readers. Today, we want to take that a step further and discuss the importance of your overall blog site.

Gaining the attention of your readers through your post is essential, but following certain usability rules for your site is important as well. When creating your blog, keep in mind the following questions:

1.    Are past posts easily accessible?
2.    Is your text readable?
3.    Is it clear where your links are leading your readers?
4.    Are your headlines relevant to the post?
5.    Is it easy for users to follow your blog?
6.    Are users able to share your blog on other social media sites?
7.    Does your blog encourage interaction through comment fields?
8.    Is the most critical information above the fold?
9.    Do you have an area where readers can contact you?
10.  Are you publishing posts consistently?

By asking yourself these questions and adjusting accordingly, your customers will better understand the site and your company. If your blog is easy to navigate through, you’ll give readers a reason to return. Nothing is more frustrating to a user than not being able to find relevant information on your website – including your blog!

Related Posts:

How to Write an Effective Blog

Blogging is Like a First Date

By Amanda Stephan

blog.activewebsite.com