Resources
If you’re interested in studying the field of usability, we’ve collected some of our favorite books, useful links and a few articles to share with you on this page.
Articles
What is Scaring online shoppers?
Identity theft, storefront scams and exploitation of personal information all cast a shadow over consumer confidence with online buying. Other concerns like poor product quality, bad customer service, inflexible return policies, late gift delivery, and high shipping costs also dampen enthusiasm for Internet shoppers. , , read full article
6 Tips to Boost Online Sales
without re-designing your Website.
Good usability and persuasion tactics are key components in monetizing site traffic. Yet often, even the basics are overlooked. Following are six tips for easy-to-implement changes that will help you make more sales on your website . . . read full article
How to Make Your Homepage ‘Sticky”
The homepage is a critical element for any successful website. To take advantage of site traffic, homepages must be ‘sticky’ enough to persuade visitors to stay and explore. . . read full article
Recommended Books
Here’s a list of our favorite books related to the fields of usability and persuasion.
Help an autistic child get a special service dog. All proceeds for books purchased on Amazon by clicking the link from our Website go to Autism Service Dogs of America (ARM) to help provide special service dogs to autistic kids. ARM website
Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug
This is a classic. It is an easy-read usability 101. Read this book and you’ll get the basics of what usability is about. Some people buy this book to give to upper management to get them on the usability bandwagon. Buy Don’t make Me Think at Amazon.com
Designing Interfaces by Jenifer Tidwell
Tidwell explains that intuitive means ‘familiar’. Making it clear, it’s not necessary or wise to reinvent the wheel for every UI. The book is organized and color-coded by pattern, making it easy to find what you’re looking for. This is a great reference book. Buy Designing Interfaces from Amazon.com
GroundSwell by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff
If you’re feeling left behind with all the talk about Web 2.0, social networking, blogging, tagging and all that stuff, this is a primer that doesn’t talk over your head or presume you already know the basics. I highly recommend it. Buy Groundswell at Amazon.com
Information Architecture for the World Wide Web by Peter Morville & Louis Rosenfeld
If you’re interested in Information Architecture for websites, this is one of the best books out there. Morevill and Rosenfeld take you through the basic principles of information architecture as well as research strategy and methodology. This is a read-front-to-back book and a good reference as well. Buy Information Architecture for the World Wide Web at Amazon.com
The Inmates are Running the Asylum: Why High Tech Products Drive Us Crazy and How to Restore the Sanity, by Alan Cooper
Cooper illustrates in entertaining style and real life cases, whose running the show in website development and why so many websites are maddeningly frustrating to use. Buy The Inmates Are Running the Asylum from Amazom.com
Communicating Design by Dan Brown
Dan provides instruction and examples on how to develop documentation for website design and development. Types of reports include wireframes, site maps, flow charts content inventories, personae and more. An excellent resource for new and seasoned usability professionals. Buy Communicating Design at Amazon.com
