Banks and the homepage
I'm currently working on the re-design of a bank. When visiting their
website it currently defaults to the Personal Banking section, which is the
case with many other banks. On the other hand, other sites do have a
dedicated homepage that highlight the main entry points (i.e. Their
different banking offerings; personal, commercial banking, etc.).
Even though most of their customers fall under the Personal Baking umbrella,
I'm recommending to create a homepage which will provide first-time users
will a clear explanation of what the website is and what they can do in it
as opposed to always defaulting to the Personal Banking page where they are
provided with too many options.
>From my own research there are more banks that make use of a homepage which
can be overriden via cookie on subsequent visits. I'm debating whether to
recommend that they have a homepage or not, but I'm wondering if there is
additional research related to this.
Thx,
--
Diego
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I'm currently working on the re-design of a bank. When visiting their
website it currently defaults to the Personal Banking section, which is the
case with many other banks. On the other hand, other sites do have a
dedicated homepage that highlight the main entry points (i.e. Their
different banking offerings; personal, commercial banking, etc.).
Even though most of their customers fall under the Personal Baking umbrella,
I'm recommending to create a homepage which will provide first-time users
will a clear explanation of what the website is and what they can do in it
as opposed to always defaulting to the Personal Banking page where they are
provided with too many options.
>From my own research there are more banks that make use of a homepage which
can be overriden via cookie on subsequent visits. I'm debating whether to
recommend that they have a homepage or not, but I'm wondering if there is
additional research related to this.
Thx,
--
Diego
Hi Diego:
Some of the answers depend on what paths/content the business would
like to drive through on their home page to either make or save the
business money. Our experience suggests that when users arrive at a
Banking Home Page they tend to ignore most links and click directly
on the login to access their "relationship with the bank" (either
personal or business)
Also see:
* Home Page Design -- http://www.uxmatters.com/MT/archives/000212.php
* Is Home Page Design Relevant Anymore? -
http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2005/09/29/is-home-page-design-relevant-anymore/
* Usability Tools Podcast: Home Page Design -
http://www.uie.com/brainsparks/2007/08/06/usability-tools-podcast-home-page-design/
* Chinese Banks Homepage Usability -
http://www.apogeehk.com/research_chinese_banks.html
Unfortunately, usually the fight for real estate on the Home Page is
less to do with actually helping the business or user and more to do
with the business units all wanting attention through marketing
campaigns that are not aligned with other channels.
Finally, I recently gave a presentation at STC on Home Page Usability
-- http://www.stc.org/55thConf/sessions/search03.asp?ID=125 and be
pleased to discuss further.
rgds,
Dan
--
Daniel Szuc
Principal Usability Consultant
Apogee Usability Asia Ltd
www.apogeehk.com
Usability in Asia
The Usability Kit - www.theusabilitykit.com
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Posted from the new ixda.org
http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=30807