Right before you are to finalize your UX, do you ever look back and say, “Something’s missing”?

However, that ‘something’ is somewhat unclear. If you had a process, a recipe to a UX design that you could follow every time perhaps that could do the trick.

We all know how demanding users today can be and retention is even more so difficult. To ensure that you do your part fully as a UX designer, you need to have a checklist to tick against after you’re through. Consider it to be a cooking endeavor with a great many ingredients. Together, they can turn out to be an assimilated and smooth version of what we call a successful UX design that is the final look of our meal.

Having a checklist of those ingredients can make your life a lot easier because it will allow you to not only stay focused but will also simplify the process. The entire phase consists of so many processes including estimation, planning, preparation, competitor analysis, mobile assessment, SEO, analytics, and lastly, testing. Testing plays a major role especially conducting UX tests when redesigning websites. But other processes require a smooth transition as well. So before we get into the elements that majorly define the checklist, here’s a topical view of the process:

•         A thorough analysis of the project.
•         Researching upon user insights and behaviors from various sources.
•         Identifying research needs.
•         Formulating brief design structure that represents initial design elements that are to be implemented in the UX.
•         Review user personas.

Now let’s head to the checklist of those important elements that we have been talking about:

• Homepage

A homepage is your very first impression and so it must project positivity. It is also responsible to make or break the conversion process. To start with, make sure that the homepage really describes the business/product/services that the company is offering. It should be clear so that the user is not lost. What you need to do to further complete it is to add in company details and contact information that are easily discoverable by the user. Also include clear calls to action using words that are describing the process further and what are the benefits of it to the user.

• User experience

Making the best user experience on a website is like a dream come true for a web design agency. There are so many petty things that are to be kept in consideration. First things first, ensure that the webpages mustn’t automatically refresh for such a behavior irritates the users. Hidden costs are yet another thing that infuriates them so say no to them. Using real images of products (preferably models wearing them) is yet another trait of a good UX design. If you want them to register followed by purchase or any other action, remember to keep it short and simple by asking the necessary details only.

• Search functions

If a website is large enough to hold too many details, nitty gritty information, then ensure you have included a search function. The search bar must have a search field that is wide enough to clearly display the typed content. Make it a form than a link and have it available for all pages to make each element of your website easily accessible.

• Navigation

Insert a sitemap as a favor to your visitors, and especially if it’s a large website. The navigation on top should also have clear and easily recognizable terms to navigate easily within categories and it should be consistent throughout the entire website. Not to forget the URL of the website should also be easy to remember.

• Links

If you are using a particular color for the links, make it uniform and different than the color of the links that have been visited. If there are particular commands, ensure that they are there on buttons. You may include them in the form of links as well but not everyone hovers to find out the command. User wants everything upfront – make him hunt for it and he will abandon the website. Also take into account any broken links, when found, fix them so that clickables are easily recognized.

• Content

A lucidly written content that is understood to a common man should be your top priority. Take care of the color contrast for background and text color. Once you have created relevant content that is precise and includes short paragraphs or bullets to be easily scanned, don’t forget to update any information, statistics, and necessary details.

• Forms

When you create forms, first step into your user’s shoes to see how much it irritates him with unnecessary questions. Avoid them straight, there’s no argument about that. Next, include the details that are ABSOLUTELY necessary by using field labels that have common terms like location, first name, etc. Also include autofill options and avoid long drop down menus that would have the user scroll and hence become irritated once again.

• Errors

When you are through, you need to test it for any errors. If you are to test, then do so with target users and that too in real-time. Custom error pages like 500 and 404 should exist. Certification and compatibility with various browsers is also a plus.

So you now have a checklist for your website UX design. The next time you are on it, include this in the process and put a tick against all that has been done. It will enable you to process smoothly further. Good luck!