A website that is usable is one where the user is able to clearly identify the information they need and/or perform the task they came to the website for.

To assist the user in this, there are several things you need to consider.

Site navigation:
Navigation is how users get to where they want to go. It is the pathway they take through a site.

• Support different navigational methods
  Navigation is traditionally thought of in terms of hierarchical navigation links and, while these are often the main means of navigation (and therefore need to be carefully crafted), you should also include other navigational aids such as a search engine, site map and site index - all of which should be located prominently on the page.
• Ensure consistent navigation
  Global navigation elements need to be implemented consistently to provide a clear indication to the user of where they lead. Section navigation should be located consistently on the left side of every page. Highlight boxes should not be used for section navigation and should be reserved for related links, news items and event notification.
• Provide clear labels
  Navigation labels should be informative, concise, and use simple language. They should also be easy to read and able to be resized for users with less than perfect vision.

User orientation
User orientation consists of the visual clues that allow a user to know where they are in the structure of your site. Without these clues, users often feel "lost" and can find navigation more difficult.

• Identification of sites and pages
  Site sections and individual pages should allow users to easily identify where they are within the site. Things such as the text used in the title bar and breadcrumbs are good examples of identification.
  
• Provide a logical content structure
  The structure of the site should reflect the way users see your content, and match their needs, rather than be based on organisational structures.
  
• Clearly indicate the search scope
  Where a limited scope search is used, the search interface needs to clearly indicate the scope of the search.

Improve user control and flexibility

• Keep page sizes as small as possible
  Sub-site home pages and all section home pages should be less than 40kb in size to facilitate good download times for modem and international users.
• Allow users to resize text
  And use a larger text size by default.
• Improve access to content of seasonal interest

Content
One of the most important things on your website is the content you are presenting. The more clear and relevant the content is to the user, the more usable it is.

• Avoid using jargon
  To support new and first-time users who are unfamiliar with the university environment, avoid jargon and abbreviations which may confuse them.
• Use plain language
  Use everyday words, short sentences and the active voice.
• Keep content accurate and up-to-date
  All publishers should develop a quality assurance process and maintenance schedule. If users see content that is old or inaccurate, they will cease to trust your website as a source of credible information.
• Less is more
  Relevant information can be difficult to find if there it is surrounded by lots of other content. Keep your text concise and use things such as headings or lists to direct attention to critical content.
• Avoid duplication
  If information is presented in slightly different ways in different locations, it is easy for users to become confused as to which is the "right" information. Try to organise your content so that you can link to information that is used more than once rather than duplicating the text.

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