A Site for Sore Eyes...

When you launch a website, particularly a social network, is it possible to get it completely right the first time? Even if you’ve enlisted the help of the ‘elite’ web developers and designers, it’s still a long road from misery to magnificent.

The difference between a company website and a social networking site is that a company website is a source of information for the user. A social network requires interaction, user generated content and a reason to stay a while and play. we’re not talking about the difference between pretty and ugly websites - although aesthetics naturally do make that first and lasting impression.

Hummba has continually reviewed the look and usability of the site to ensure that we can deliver on our promise to connect people and provide independent travel information. Now in its third stage of development, we chatted to (newly) on board in house web developer, Pieter Botha, about the latest developments on hummba.

What are the most important factors to consider when designing a social networking site?

Your users. When developing a portal you have to know what you want users to do on your site and what the incentive is for them to do so. A great question to ask yourself is how your service fits into the day to day life of your user. This is also called ‘augmented reality.’ If you can’t answer that, you’re probably not thinking enough about your users and how to be of service to them.

Users can be anybody so it’s important to make sure that your site is accessible to beginners. Your site should orientate users quickly and show them the benefits of using the site. Simple web applications that have a powerful effect on day to day living will always get more attention than complex, over-developed applications that alienate users with jargon and foreign concepts.

Research your user group and find out how to satisfy their wants and needs. Great portals don’t just facilitate communication and interaction between users, but between users and web relevant information.

What are the major pitfalls when developing a site that requires user interaction?

Developing a site purely from a production point of view might be easier and make more sense on paper, but as I said - it all comes down to the user and what they want. Its also easy to drown users with information. Important, relevant information that is easy to find and use should be included on your site. Leave everything else out. Clean, easy to read designs are a must, don’t be tempted to create something so beautiful, it becomes more of a screen saver than a user-friendly site.

Also, I think marketing gimmicks should be carefully considered when including them onto a social networking site. Forcing pop up ads, flashing banners and an endless amount of banner ads on users might just scare them off. Make sure that if you are including marketing information on your site, it is relevant to your user, not just your bottom line.

What lessons have you taken from big social networking/sharing sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Flickr?

Never forget the original idea. Never forget about the users who liked that idea and who got you to where you are. Be flexible to the changes in user needs but don’t bend to every trend, creating countless applications to keep up with competitors and attract investors brings with it a whole other set of pitfalls.

What advice could you give web developers in the process of building a social network?

Less is more. Know your product and know why it is unique. If you can communicate your service in simple terms to a complete stranger and they can grasp it, than you have something.

There you have it. If you needed a good place to start…I think you might have found it.