The company I have been reviewing the class has been Harley Davidson. Upon opening up their homepage, they have a large video which instantly starts playing showing motorcycle riders in very scenic areas. Through forests, across mountainous roads, this video instantly gives the sensation of the freedom capable of riding a Harley Davidson. I think the website is very well built and has a top bar where you can view bike styles, shop accessories as well as any info you might need if you were thinking of buying a bike. They also give you the ability to set up an appointment to test ride or even learn how to ride a bike if you need.

I think the website is built very easily and you can easily remember how to navigate to certain pages. They do not sell motorcycles directly online but give you the ability to build a custom bike and information on where you can find your local dealership.

I did not make any errors navigating the site as I think it is all very well labeled and to the point. I enjoyed viewing their website and it kind of makes me want a motorcycle in the future. One thing I might change is the visual layout when you go into bike categories. I know they need to be descriptive but I feel as there is to much information on the pages scattered from left to right. The assortment of info and pictures makes it seem like a collage as oppose to straight information. Other then that, I think the website is designed very well.

2.

Intuitive design? How much effort did it take you to understand the information architecture and navigation at first look?

It was immediately apparent that Scientifics Direct looks like a cool place to be, with their rolling banner ad of a waving robot, “Flash”40% discount on telescopes, and free shipping on orders $35 or more. That tells me that they may be trying to unload old stock. But that doesn’t mean the product is bad.

Ease of learning? How fast did you learn to use the interface on the site? Do they use familiar layouts or one you had to figure out first?

The interface is very easy to use, at the top are interactive tabs that drop down to provide more options that took you right to where you want to go. I love that I can shop by age too, because I have a 6 year old and a 9 year old. Honestly I think their system is a improvement on other designs we are use to using.

Memorability? After you visited the site for the first time, was it easy enough to remember how to get around and get tasks done on subsequent visits?

It was very easy to remember how to navigate this site for the various tasks we have had to complete, in fact the only thing I have had any difficulty finding is the company blog, but it isn’t updated often enough to be concerned about.

Error frequency? Did you make errors while using the site? Were you able to adjust and find the right way quickly?

I didn’t come across any errors at all, the shopping experience is straight forward and simple. Just like many other online stores, you can add an item to your cart to buy now or even select a gift wrap option as part of the purchase (new for holidays).

Subjective satisfaction? How much did you like using the site? What would you change?

I would like to see a Wishlist option for a future CRM improvement, because having a wishlist puts the idea in the customers head that browsing is encouraged, so when a purchase is ready to be made you won’t have to remember what caught your eye the last time you were at the site. Switching between these two processes should be simple as well, if you want to move an item from your wishlist to the cart there should be a quick click option for that.

Explain how the information from Usability.gov can be turned into strategies that can help the company attain marketing success.

Scientifics Direct would do themselves a favor if they put some time into learning the Methods provided by usability.gov in their How To & Tools section.