User experience is a subject that you must take into account whether you are thinking about being part of the Internet community where to present your hotel or if you want to change your old hotel web. Your website is not for you, it is for your customers. So have them in mind when creating it.
Why the user gets tired and leaves your website.
If I enter to your website and two seconds later I get a pop-up that gives me scared to death, for sure I’m leaving.
If I am interested to subscribe to your newsletter and it takes me more than 30 seconds to do so, I get tired, I leave and I forget about you.
These are just a few examples of bad UX. Your ideal user must enjoy browsing your website, he should not suffer to find content that interests him. You have to appeal him from the beginning and guide him throughout his journey. He has to want to come back, use your web in his regular consultations.
What is User Experience? Your user at the center of everything.
User experience means that our users will be able to find what they want on our website.
It is the philosophy we follow when creating a product or service, such as a corporate website or online sales one (as it could be offering direct bookings from your hotel website). The UX is always thinking about users and how they will feel when browsing our web.
First of all: you must know your target. It is not the same a user accustomed to the technology than an audience without major web knowledge. You have to settle down the bases of a website they would love to use.
The 4 keys of User Experience.
1. Usability: your website must be simple to use for your target. Think about who your audience is and don’t make it difficult for them.
2. Utility: provide all the functionalities a user needs when he is visiting your site. Like, for example, your own booking engine or your contact information or links to social networks.
3. Accessibility: getting to any point of your website should be limited down to three clicks. Information should be easy to find. Create an intuitive web.
4. Functionality: Optimize your website so it can be loaded in the shortest possible time. Any user will thank you and so your business.
Bad practices to avoid.
1. Do not force him to download an application:
It is one of the worst mistakes you can make. We assure you that users will leave your web instantly. Don’t make them doing something they don’t want to do. Don’t be intrusive. Let them following their journey, getting to know you and deciding when to take a step further.
2. Don’t try to increase your clicks at the expense of your user:
In the end, if the user wants to return to your website because he considers it is a reference page, that will help you position much better than stealing him time at the expense of his dissatisfaction. Make it easier for him.
3. Endless forms to fill:
If you really want to convert your user, you should minimize any kind of subscription steps. You will have enough time to gather more data! Now just ask what’s really relevant, such as an email address. In addition, if your user enters some incorrect information, show him clearly where he made a mistake so he doesn’t have to start filling out the form from the beginning.
This recommendation will be also very useful in the forms of your booking engine. If the user is about to book, don’t make the task difficult for him!
4. The simple and good, twice good:
Simplify your website and avoid excessive text. Don’t include very complex functionalities. For example, your booking engine should be very visual and intuitive, no more is needed. Offer you users what they want and leave the complexities to other format: you can send an email explaining further details about the booking process or use it to offer additional services.
Your User Experience in the long term. A happy user is your best promoter.
No one should know better than you do your website. Review it constantly, and not just your homepage. Browse like you’re just another user. Would it be easy to find the information you are looking for? Do you have high quality images? Do the text flow or it too hard to read?
Maintaining your website is not something that can wait. Don’t check your website every five years, you should be adding small changes to improve it every now and then so it can survive the time and changing trends.
Remember that the Internet is alive. Take advantage of the ease of making modifications to the online world and adapt it to changes in how the user prefers to navigate.
Working in UX doesn’t mean working more expensive, however, it does mean winning more. The cost is the same if you have the knowledge and the right team and the benefits much greater. Note that a good user experience will be noticed in the number of conversions of your website.
