Are UX experienced?

We know affiliate marketing is continuously evolving. In line with new marketing developments, webmasters must ensure their sportsbook and casino websites are also up to scratch with UX best practice principles. Imagine the frustration of readers who see a relevant result on a SERP, only to end up on a website that is difficult to navigate.
The result, generally, is that people will bounce if it isn’t easy to find what they’re looking for right away.
This hurts a site in two ways: readers are disappointed and will probably not visit again, and Google views high bounce rates as an indicator of lack of relevance to the search query (and future rankings will suffer).
In fact, UX is so important to Google it has pre-announced that a site’s UX experience will be a significant ranking consideration beginning in 2021. Here are our tips on the basics of User Experience (UX), how to monitor it and how to make changes.

WHAT IS UX?
UX refers not only to how your website is designed but how easy it is to navigate. Without a positive user experience, your ranking will suffer no matter how beautiful the site is.
The primary requirement for outstanding UX is to meet the exact needs of visitors without any barriers. Therefore, it’s best to avoid the temptation to pummel readers with loads of information you want them to see but does not match their query.
The broader perspective of UX comprises design, layout, brand, site maps, interaction and interface. There are measurable factors which can be improved through UX.

TRAFFIC LOYALTY
If a user has a problematic online experience, it’s highly unlikely they will return. Not only have you missed out on a conversion, but they may also be more inclined to go to a competitor with a better website.
The design is not merely about looking good for site visitors, but the more profound effects of UX prove that it needs to stand out among the competition to maintain a solid standing in the market.
Equally, having all the bells and whistles is one thing, but succeeding in the entire customer experience is the ultimate goal.
While customer experience and user experience are different threads of the broader customer satisfaction bubble, the UX is more on the technical and psychological side.
Knowing how people react with different styles, layouts and formats can help to improve the UX value.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND CONVERSION RATES
Proven ROI gains from UX include overall revenue and conversion boost, fewer requirements for customer support and reduced development waste, which creates a more efficient process.
The impact of any UX activity is quantifiable. You can look at conversion rates, page bounce rates, how long users spend on specific pages as well as the pages that convert. It’s golden data that every affiliate should look at.
With great user experience comes great efficiencies. Streamlining digital processes and simplifying system navigation can make life easier for the workforce, enabling them to execute more tasks efficiently.

PAGE LOAD TIMES
Long load times can cause drop-off before a player converts, often causing them to page-bounce within three seconds, so the process needs to run quickly and smoothly. Reviewing site maps and the navigation of the site, as well as the value of all pages, may help define where the issues stem from.
Often, non-compressed images cause the biggest issues with load time, so be sure you are using the right specifications for creative. Once this is identified, it can be revised.

COGNITIVE BIAS
Cognitive bias in behavioural science is proven to influence purchase behaviour and decision making. These include category heuristics (short product descriptions), power of now (the longer you have to wait, the less likely you’ll click), social proof (testimonials), scarcity bias (showing stock availability), authority bias (client, compliance or payment logos) and the power of free (free gift with a purchase).
When placed on decision-making pages such as home, product or key landing pages, these components are proven to help remove doubt and encourage clicks. Almost like the cherry on top, sprinkle your site with these components and you have a good chance of increasing customer conversions and in turn improving your ROI.

UX QUICK WINS
If you can already see the potential for UX, take an unbiased look at your website and judge it based on these points:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOVE THE FOLD
Make a conscious effort to put the most crucial information as high up the page as possible. If you cannot, make sure the navigation options are clearly visible there instead.

SIMPLE NAVIGATION
Conversion should be no more than three clicks away on a website and is a massive thing for designers and developers to consider. Navigation menus must be clear, concise and answer queries within a few clicks.

RESPONSIVE DESIGN
Responsive design means the content on the website can manoeuvre itself, so all information is visible on the device and is easy to use. Whatever the screen size, the site can respond and show a user-friendly interface.

“WHILE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND USER EXPERIENCE ARE DIFFERENT THREADS OF THE BROADER CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BUBBLE, THE UX IS MORE ON THE TECHNICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SIDE. KNOWING HOW PEOPLE REACT WITH DIFFERENT STYLES, LAYOUTS AND FORMATS CAN HELP TO IMPROVE THE UX VALUE."