Thursday, 18 October 2007
Hmv.com, designed in conjunction with Manchester digital agency Code Computerlove (www.codecomputerlove.com), has today topped a usability survey carried out by web usability and accessibility specialists Webcredible.
Webcredible’s 2007 Ecommerce Usability for High Street Retailers report evaluates the websites of 20 of the UK's leading high street retailers. Based on their experience of usability testing on a variety of ecommerce sites, Webcredible devised 20 essential guidelines that all ecommerce websites should adhere to, evaluating each site against these guidelines. Sites were marked out of five in each of the twenty areas, such as displaying search functions clearly on each page.
HMV came top with a score of 70%, earning particular praise for its use of search and purchase functionality.
Code Computerlove account manager, James Barley said: "As HMV's digital agency of two years, Code Computerlove is responsible for supporting the brands digital goals to increase sales, improve overall user experiences and achieve operational excellence. Code implements a programme of site evolution including web design, creative campaigns and site enhancements, resulting from continual research into the user journey and behaviour. Moreover, we ensure HMV.com leads the way in industry best practice and makes strides on the competition in terms of technological advances.
"Among other features, HMV was praised for having a highly visible and consistently placed search box; providing excellent orientation clues; for showing how to present appropriate filtering options to users navigating in a product category and its ‘add to basket' was sited as an excellent example of a clear call to action.”
Justin Moodie of HMV added: ""Our main goal when redesigning hmv.com was to make it easy for everyone to find and buy the product they want. We're delighted to see that the redesign is moving us closer to achieving this goal."
This is Code Computerlove's second success this month after scooping two awards at this year's Fresh Creative awards for its moodboard website that took gold for best business to business site, while it site for Bisto took silver for best consumer website.
Code Computerlove (www.codecomputerlove.com) is a full service digital marketing agency offering website design and build, re-building, maintenance and e-marketing. Formed in 1999, Code currently employs 48 people at its offices in central Manchester. Over the last five years, Code has won a total of 37 industry awards – including a Revolution award for best retail site in 2007 and three 'best agency' awards in 2006/7. Code's client list includes HMV, Waterstone's, Kimberly Clark Corporation, Transpennine Express, Premier Foods, NUS and Hillary's. Visit www.codecomputerlove.com for more information.
The website that were analysed and their scores were:
- HMV - 70%
- Game - 66%
- Mothercare - 64%
- Argos - 62%
- John Lewis - 62%
- Body Shop - 62%
- Currys - 61%
- Early Learning Centre - 59%
- Waterstones - 59%
- Debenhams - 57%
- H Samuel - 57%
- Marks & Spencer - 55%
- B&Q - 54%
- Accessorize - 54%
- Hamleys - 54%
- Boots - 51%
- WH Smith - 50%
- Next - 49%
For more information see www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/white-papers/ecommerce-usability-2007.shtml
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