Simplifying Website Usability: The 3 Step Approach

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May 01, 2009

Simplicity is key to any successful website or web app.

If your site is too complicated, the user will have to go through too many hoops to find what they are looking for and won't even bother trying it out.

The Jackson 5 got it right back in the 70's when they sang "easy as 123".

A simple and effective approach is to break down your services, signups and checkouts into 3 easy steps. This will improve usability, increase sales, signups and conversion rates.

In this article, we'll take a look at 20 great examples of the 3 step approach for effective website usability.

1. Banner Snack

Banner Snack


2. Big Filebox

Big Filebox


3. Stack Magazines

Stack


4. Posterous

Posterous


5. Statement Stacker

Statement Stacker


6. Wufoo

Wufoo


7. Tender Support

Tender Support


8. Campaign Monitor

Campaign Monitor


9. Simple Spark

Simple Spark


10. CSS Rockstars

CSS Rockstars


11. The Choppr

Choppr


12. Scrap Blog

Scrap Blog


13. Food Feed

Food Feed


14. Product Planner

Product Planner


15. Crowd Spring

Crowd Spring


16. Name Birdie

Name Birdie


17. The Twitter Tag Project

Twitter Tag Project


18. Get Me Fast

Get Me Fast


19. TwitterFone

TwitterFone


20. TwittBot

TwittBot



Written exclusively for WDD by Lee Munroe, a freelance web designer and blogger. You can find more of his writing at his blog or follow Lee on Twitter.

Is the 3 step approach an effective way to simplify your web design? Please share your comments below...

WDD Staff

WDD staff are proud to be able to bring you this daily blog about web design and development. If there's something you think we should be talking about let us know @DesignerDepot.

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