In “Applying Writing Guidelines to Web Pages” by John Morkes and Jakob Nielsen, the two authors elaborate on the need for web pages to be accessible to users. Some of the major discussion points of their article included: The use of concise wording, Objectivity in both promotions and wording, Utilization of a user-friendly layout, Making sure the user has the ability to scan the page for understanding, and actually understand it, Making sure you reevaluate and rewrite your page to optimize it for your users over and over again. Rewrite Generally, rewriting a web page reduces both the number of words used, but also rearranges content so that the average user can find and use the information on the page readily. According to Morkes and Neilsen, “the rewritten version [of a web page] was 159% better than the original.” This striking difference between an original and rewritten page only emphasizes the fact that rewriting and redesigning help to increase the chance users will find the information they are looking for. Be Concise Being concise reduces the workload for the brain and makes it easier for the user to absorb important information. There is no need to include information on a web page that means nothing to the mission of the page and its owner. Users want to know what the page is about, what information it includes, and whether or not they should spend more time on the page. Supplying only important, identifying information saves readers time if the page is not pertinent to them, and also prevents those who would be otherwise interested in what is offered on a page turning away because of too much “extra” information leading them away from the real point of the page. Maintain Objectivity Another point of interest in Morkes and Nielsen’s article is the idea that promotional activity on a web page turns readers off to the real meaning of a page. Using objective language on a web page helps to build credibility and authority without seeming opinionated or pushy, which could possibly alienate readers with “buzzwords” or offensive content. Use Scannable Text Scannable text is yet another tool that can help a web designer draw readers to the most important information on a page. Scannable text devices include tables, bullets, highlighting, headers, borders and many other things that help make text more noticeable on the screen. Deciding which parts of a page to add emphasis to is a tricky decision. Adding emphasis to the wrong text or images can totally redefine the meaning or the page or distract the user from what the page is really trying to say. Conclusion Morkes and Nielsen point out very complex ways to use very simple tools to make a web page better. A page that is easy to use is preferred over a page that is barely functional. Simple steps such as rewriting, redesigning and evaluating others’ opinions of a web page help keep the page up to date and accessible to anyone who crosses its path. |Home| page revised 9/27/2005, 10/3/2005, 10/10/2005