User experience or UX is one of those vague terms that you hear floating around all the time, but everyone seems to use it to mean something slightly different, and you might be wondering what it really is and why it matters so much.
You might understand the basic concept of user experience, and you may even have a general idea of why it might be important, but there are so many factors and specifics that can make understanding what user experience is and why it matters quite difficult. Today, we will dive into six different ways that a good user experience on your website can take your business from barely passing by to thriving in today’s market.
What is User Experience (UX)?
Before we can jump into user experience (UX) benefits, we need to establish what this “user experience” really is. Well, there is good news and bad news here. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. The definition of user experience depends on the context. So, “user experience” could mean any of the definitions you have heard for it so far — whether that be the feeling a person gets from using a product or service, the user interfaces design of the product or service, or anything in between.
But, the good news is that no matter what specifics or factors are being considered at any given moment, user experience just boils down to the feeling the user is experiencing when using a product or service. In other words, do your customers feel satisfied with your product or service, or does it leave them feeling frustrated and upset?
The Benefits of a Good UX
It pretty much goes without saying that happy customers should be the goal of businesses of any size or industry. After all, if you aren’t making customers happy, then what’s stopping them from simply no longer using your products or services and going to your competition instead?
Luckily, there is a very easy way to achieve customer satisfaction, and it all revolves around cultivating a good user experience. But how exactly do good user experience and satisfied customers help your business?
1. Differentiates Your Brand
The first thing that a good UX does for your business is helping it stand out from the crowd. This is absolutely essential as more and more businesses are coming into the digital marketplace because there are so many different brands that may offer the same products and services you do.
But, not all of these brands will have a great UX. You can use this to your advantage and better appeal to your audience by offering them a pleasant experience. A good experience goes a long way in customer relations and helps you build trust with your customer base.
2. Helps You Win Against the Competition
As mentioned above, the digital marketplace is continuing to grow, and more and more competitors are becoming available for your current (and desired) customers. This means that you want to get any leg up on your competitors that you can. But, many people forget that it is not enough to simply have the best product.
Today, UX is a crucial part of any sales process, and without a good experience, your customers may very well decide to move on to the next brand.
3. Improves Your Reputation
Reputation is everything. Whether you are an actor, an artist, or a business owner, you are aware of the importance of a good reputation. The unfortunate truth is that people are much more likely to tell their friends and family about bad experiences than they are to promote good experiences.
This disappointing experience can spread like wildfire and cause you to lose current customers and diminish your chances of getting new customers. So, to keep your reputation on the positive side, make sure that you are not giving your customers the opportunity to share a negative experience by implementing a great UX.
4. More Customer Loyalty
Good UX means happy customers. Happy customers mean more returning customers. Think about it like this, have you ever been to a store or restaurant and had such a bad experience that you swore never to go there again? This is exactly how many customers feel when they negatively experience a business online.
In contrast, customers who remember good experiences with a business are much more likely to return to that brand when they need something in the future. We all do this, even if it is unintentional. Many of us have go-to stores and brands that we check first when we need something. You want to be that for your customers.
5. Keeps Customers on Your Website for Longer
Your audience will likely stick around if your website (or app) is easy to navigate and pleasant to use. On the other hand, if your website is poorly designed, difficult to navigate, slow, or otherwise frustrating to use, your audience will likely consider going to a competing website to find what they are looking for.
You can prevent these bounce rates and keep customers on your website rather than on competitors’ websites with good UX.
6. Increases Conversion Rates
The easier (and more pleasant) it is to navigate your website, the more likely you will be to make more sales. If they find they are having difficulty finding their desired product or they are simply experiencing difficulties when it comes to navigating the website in general, they are much more likely to simply leave without completing a purchase.
Basically, customers want to be able to efficiently find what they are looking for, add it to a cart, and make a purchase without needing to spend minutes navigating a website that is poorly designed. A good UX can give your customers this ease and lead to more conversions — which means more profit for your company.
For more tips and additional guidance on creating and maintaining a good user experience for your customers, contact us today at APS Central!
