Originally written in December 2010 for a graduate class at Quinnipiac University.
1. Executive Summary:
Fat Birder ranks Hummingbirds.net as a Top 40 website among the Top 1000 Birding Websites. Although the site has some success, many aspects of it need to be altered in order to leave users with a great first impression and a reason to keep coming back.
In order to test the effectiveness of Hummingbirds.net, a usability test was conducted. Three participants of varying ages and Internet experience were asked to perform three various tasks to evaluate the ease of navigation and their ability to locate crucial information.
Based upon an initial analysis, a usability study, competitive comparisons and site map and wireframe comparisons the following changes are recommended to improve Hummingbirds.net. Each recommendation is ranked according to severity as it pertains to functionality and the ability to use the site effectively.
- Very Severe
- Rearrange and rename the local navigation links.
- Relocate and make the search box more prominent.
- Rewrite and simplify text and links to make the site easier to read and to understand the purpose of the website.
- Severe
- Relocate the “Home” button.
- Reorganize and restructure the layout.
- Rearrange and restructure the scan column.
- Create easy access to photographs and videos.
- Minor
- Eliminate the “Looking for answers” gif.
