User experience (UX) plays a critical role in the success of a website, especially in higher education. A well-structured, accessible, and user-friendly site ensures visitors can find what they need quickly and efficiently. The good news? Some UX improvements can be made directly in your CMS. Whether you're managing a WordPress website, a Drupal website, or another CMS, here are some practical, impactful changes you can implement to enhance the UX on your website.
Optimize your sitemap for intuitive navigation
A confusing or cluttered sitemap can frustrate visitors and drive them away. Take time to review and streamline your navigation structure to ensure it aligns with user needs. Whether you’re planning a website redesign or making incremental updates, refining your sitemap improves usability and helps with search rankings.
- Simplify Menus: Reduce the number of main menu items to essential categories.
- Use Clear Labels: Avoid jargon and use intuitive language that reflects what users are searching for.
- Highlight Key Pages: Ensure critical pages (like programs or contact information) are easy to find.
- Eliminate Redundant Links: Consolidate duplicate pages or outdated content to create a cleaner experience.
Improve accessibility for a more inclusive experience
An ADA-compliant accessible website design benefits all users, including those with disabilities. By focusing on accessibility, you enhance usability and WCAG compliance while improving engagement. Many accessibility improvements can be made directly in your CMS:
- Ensure Proper Heading Structure: Use H1, H2, and H3 tags correctly to create a logical content flow.
- Add Alt Text to Images: Describe context-necessary images, like infographics, in alt text fields to assist screen readers.
- Check Color Contrast: Use high-contrast text and background colors for readability.
- Enable Keyboard Navigation: Test forms and menus to ensure they can be navigated without a mouse.
- Include Descriptive Links: Instead of “Click here,” use meaningful text like “View admissions requirements.”
More accessibility improvements for your website
Strengthen calls to action (CTAs) to drive engagement
A well-designed CTA structure is key to an effective website strategy. Clear and compelling CTAs guide users toward key actions, such as applying, donating, or signing up for newsletters.
- Use Action-Oriented Language: Phrases like “Apply Now” or “Request Information” are more effective than vague links.
- Make CTAs Stand Out: Use buttons with contrasting colors that are easily visible.
- Place CTAs Strategically: Position calls to action above the fold, at the end of blog posts, and within relevant content sections.
- Reduce Friction: Keep forms short and only request essential information to encourage submissions.
Leverage content strategy for a more engaging experience
A strong content strategy ensures that your website remains valuable and engaging to visitors.
- Keep Content Concise & Scannable: Use bullet points, short paragraphs, and headers for readability.
- Ensure Up-to-date Information: Regularly audit content to remove outdated pages.
- Use Storytelling to Connect with Users: Feature testimonials, researcher highlights, and real-world success stories.
By optimizing your sitemap, improving accessibility, strengthening CTAs, and enhancing content strategy, you can create a seamless and engaging digital experience for visitors. Whether you’re undergoing a full website redesign or making incremental updates, these strategies will help ensure your institution’s website is user-friendly, accessible, and effective.
Looking for expert guidance? As a leading higher education website redesign company, we specialize in creating user-focused digital experiences.
