It is crucial at the planning stage to think about the usability of a website - that is providing a website that is easy to use, easy to navigate and has information set out in a say that provides relevant content within three clicks.

Some of the usability issues we address at planning stage are:

Content and page layout communicate what your site is about. Potential usability considerations include reviewing whether the text is clear, relevant and informative. Do the colours provide adequate contrast for ease of reading? Is the site/page layout logical, and is it easy to find the information you are looking for?

Information architecture and navigation are some of the primary mechanisms that allow users to move around your site and find information on your products and services. Possible usability questions to ask might be is it easy to see where you are on a site, where you have been, and where you want to go? Are menus of services in the right place, and easy to use and consistent? If you don't enter the site on the home page, can you navigate to another part of the site easily?

It is important to measure the success of the site after launch from many perspectives including usability. This is part of our ongoing support, and will be discussed at the planning stage.

Accessibility is a topic closely related to usability, and is concerned with the ability of different visitors being able to actually use and interact with your site. Is the site suitable for use by people with visual impairment or impaired motor functions, is it compatible with their screen reader? Can the site be accessed by different types of equipment and devices? There is increasing legislation in this area, and poor accessibility is artificially restricting the numbers of people able to view your website.