Following are design flaws and constraints frequently encountered in page layout:
• Misalignment for foreground and background images
• Changing gutter sizes at the left edge of the browser
• Overlapping foreground images not allowed (although there are several tricks to get around this, such as using an image as a [...]
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Usability inspection is inexpensive, can be completed in as little as a few minutes, and can happen at any state of design. Inspection is really just looking at a web site to see what problems there might be.
Although the inspection can be performed by relying solely on your own expertise at identifying problems, it is [...]
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The most important step in any usability evaluation is to go back and fix the problems that were identified. Don’t just write up a report and leave it on the shelf – a usability evaluation must first identify the problems and then suggest practical solutions to improve the usability of the site.
A report that vaguely [...]
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In the first months of your release, you will undoubtedly receive several emails from users of your web site. Kudos, gripes, and bug reports are the most common. These may arrive in several different ways: emails, form data, snail mail, phone calls, feedback through your sales channels and business partners, and press coverage of your [...]
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Once your site has been up for a while, you can begin to investigate the use of the site. Studying the use characteristics of your site will help to inform future design decisions. Use studies differ from user testing in that they are more analytical and look at patterns of use. Also, they represent actual [...]
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Query-based search engines generally work by comparing a user’s query against an index that cross-references web pages. Although each search engine behaves slightly differently behind the scenes, there are some common traits across most systems.
Matches are often based on the number of times that a search term appears in your document, weighted by the length [...]
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Once your site has made it to the playing field, be sure that it has everything it needs to come out on top. Get your site noticed, keep it up to date and well-maintained, and respond quickly and efficiently to any errors.
Web Site Promotion: Getting the Users to Your Site
Having a highly usable site includes [...]
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During the launch stage, several steps need to be completed. These are as follows:
• Perform final domain name check to ensure DNS routing is working.
• Copy files over from staging area.
• Perform final check of functionality.
• Review postproduction checklist.
• Once the site is online, be sure to get final approval before going public.
• Coordinate with marketing on the expected launch time.
Domain [...]
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Once you have passed your formal testing procedures and have met all of the predefined exit criteria, you need to verify one last time that everything is in place and ready to go. Checklists are a wonderful way to make sure that you have all of the bases covered.
The Postproduction Check List
A postproduction checklist (Form [...]
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Develop a formalized system for recording and making bug fixes. You can either record the errors and changes in a database (for larger projects) or simply keep forms and checklists of the required changes.
Whatever you do, you must keep a record of the changes. Why? Having a history of the changes you’ve made and why [...]
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