Six Recommendations

 

Following a comprehensive analysis of the JRS Books website, I have formulated six recommendations aimed at enhancing the overall usability of the platform.

1. Update the title cards- The utilization of title cards serves as an effective means of promoting books and capturing the shopper's attention. To optimize this feature, I recommend standardizing the formatting of pictures to ensure that each image distinctly represents the book cover and maintains uniform size throughout the webpage.
2. Reformat the Author's Corner- The Author's Corner serves as an excellent platform for showcasing independent authors and their written works. I recommend a reformatting of this page to ensure uniform entry size, with a clear emphasis on book art, and improved navigation. Such adjustments aim to enhance the overall browsing experience for consumers, potentially leading to increased sales for the featured authors.
3. Update the Contact Information page- The contact information page plays a vital role in facilitating customer communication with the business. A malfunctioning contact page impedes customers' ability to reach out with inquiries or concerns, potentially creating hesitancy in their decision to make purchases. I recommend enhancing this page by including multiple contact methods, such as a phone number, address, email address, and various social media links, to provide customers with diverse avenues for communication.
4. Improve the "Add to Cart" feature- A recurring issue identified in the usability tests pertained to the process of purchasing a book. While a bar at the bottom of the page provided guidance on adding a book to the cart, there was a lack of convenient access to the cart in close proximity to the book information. Additionally, the presence of SC-Quick-Shop and SC-Bulk-Order-Form features introduced complexity to the book-buying process. To enhance clarity and user experience, I recommend deactivating these three features and introducing a dedicated button next to the book information explicitly guiding users on how to add a book to the cart. Streamlining the purchase process will contribute to a more comfortable and enjoyable leisurely browsing and online shopping experience.
5. Create a consistent color scheme- A minor aesthetic inconsistency was observed in the color scheme and layout between the JRS Books homepage and its affiliated site, JRS Shirts. While this may be considered a subtle concern, it has the potential to create a sense of distortion for the customer. To address this, I recommend harmonizing both homepages by implementing the same color scheme and layout. This alignment will foster a cohesive visual identity, aiding customers in recognizing that both pages belong to the same company.
6. Make the website more accessible for the visually impaired- A volunteer with a visual disability expressed discomfort with the color scheme on JRS Books, prompting the recommendation for a darker color scheme or the incorporation of a dark mode feature to accommodate users with similar needs. Additionally, it is suggested to introduce the functionality of clicking on a title card to enlarge it, enhancing the user-friendliness of the website for individuals with visual impairments. These modest adjustments aim to improve the overall accessibility and experience for visually impaired users.