Designing a useful and enjoyable user experience is critical for the success of any app, especially a PeoplePerHour clone aiming to attract freelancers and clients. By focusing on key UX principles during development, you can create an intuitive interface that addresses users’ needs.
12 Ways to Improve the UX of Your PeoplePerHour Clone App
1. Simplicity
The first principle is simplicity. Users want apps that are easy to understand at a glance. Remove any unnecessary elements or distraction from the interface.
Keep your design clean and clutter-free. Complex designs can overwhelm and confuse users. Aim for minimalism – only include elements that directly support the main tasks.
Ensure intuitive navigation as well. Users should be able to easily find what they need in just a few taps or clicks. Tooltips, dropdown menus and other navigation aids can guide users smoothly between pages.
2. Consistency
Consistency across the interface boosts usability. Users already familiar with one area of your app should instantly recognize common designs when navigating elsewhere.
Make sure to consistently apply:
- Colors – Use the same palette sitewide
- Fonts – One or two font styles should be repeated
- Layout – Element placement like headers/footers
- Terminology – Identical wording for similar features
- Functionality – Behavior of buttons/controls stays uniform
Even small inconsistencies can confuse users and negatively impact their experience. Test all areas of your app for consistent look, feel and behavior.
3. Feedback
Users want to know that their app interactions are recognized and will have a response. Provide feedback for all actions with loading indicators, confirmation messages and other acknowledgments.
When users tap buttons or links, they expect something to happen. Without feedback, they may click multiple times uncertainly.
Some key places feedback is needed include:
- Form submissions
- Uploads/downloads
- Payments
- Requests/queries
Feedback reassures users the app has registered their input and is working as intended. It creates a smooth, polished UX.
4. Clear Calls to Action
Calls to action (CTAs) should be highly visible and encourage the desired user behavior. They guide users towards completing important tasks and interactions within the app.
To draw attention, CTAs need:
- Prominent placement like primary buttons
- Descriptive, compelling text
- High contrast color schemes
Ensure CTAs are appropriately labeled based on their context and goal. For example:
Context | Example CTA |
---|---|
Profile page | “Update Profile” |
Browse page | “Find Projects” |
Messages | “Send Message” |
Clear CTAs help users understand what to do next and move them efficiently through your product.
5. Scannability
It should be possible for users to quickly scan your content and grasp the most essential information. Use structural elements like:
- Headings in varying sizes to create a clear hierarchy
- Bulleted/numbered lists for easy scanning of steps or items
- Bold/italic text to emphasize important points
- Paragraphs of consistent length for comfortable reading
- White space between sections for separation
Users spend little time reading online. Design your content to be rapidly scannable and digestible in snippets. This keeps users engaged with your app.
6. Familiarity
Building on expectations users already have from other products creates a more comfortable experience. Draw from conventions people know through:
- Borrowing designs from popular apps in the same category
- Using standard navigation patterns like sidebars or tabs
- Following platform-specific guidelines for iOS, Android, web
While originality has value, prioritizing familiarity first allows users to leverage their existing knowledge. This reduces learning curves and makes your app feel instantly usable.
7. Visibility of System Status
Users need to quickly understand the current state of the app and any ongoing processes. Display status through:
- Toast notifications for non-critical updates
- Progress bars during uploads/downloads
- Clear indications of loading, success, error or idle states
Without system status updates, users may wonder if their actions were accepted or queued. They may repeatedly trigger workflows already in progress.
Visually communicate app condition so users feel in control and know what to expect next from the interface.
8. Match Platform Expectations
Platform | Examples |
---|---|
iOS | Follow Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines ↗ |
Android | Follow Material Design specifications ↗ |
Web | Leverage browser defaults and web conventions ↗ |
9. Error Prevention
It’s ideal for users to complete tasks smoothly without glitches or mistakes. Help avoid errors through mechanisms like:
- Input validation to catch invalid formats early
- Default values that reduce mistakes
- Reversible/cancel actions to undo mishaps
- Confirmation dialogs for important or risky inputs
While errors do occur, focus on designing them out upfront. Make the success path as seamless as possible for users through prevention techniques.
10. Help and Documentation
No matter how intuitive your design, some users will still need assistance. Build support directly into the app through:
- Contextual help – In-line tooltips for elements
- Onboarding guides new users
- FAQs for common questions
- Support articles linked from within the app
- Contact options like live chat or email
Integrated support shortens the learning curve. It also avoids users getting stuck or frustrated having to seek external documentation.
11. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design
While functionality comes first, an pleasing appearance directly impacts the user experience. Aim for a design that is:
- Visually balanced through consistent spacing
- Clean and uncluttered with wide margins
- Soothing colors that don’t strain the eyes
- Complimentary imagery used subtly
Too many stylistic elements compete visually and undermine usability. Focus on simplicity, whitespace and an aesthetic that feels relaxing rather than demanding of attention. Pleasant surroundings lead to longer, happier user sessions.
12. Performance and Response Times
Perhaps the biggest driver of a positive user experience is rapid performance. Users have little patience for lag, delays or sluggishness.
To ensure speed, thoroughly:
- Optimize assets, code and database calls
- Conduct load testing under peak usage
- Prefer responsive designs over heavy animations
- Cache frequently used data where possible
Most importantly, commit to feedback loops of 1-2 seconds maximum. Optimizing performance is crucial for a smooth UX that keeps users engaged over the long run.
Conclusion
By grounding your app development in these 12 core UX principles, you can create an intuitive and enjoyable experience for users. Remember, the user should come first in all design decisions. Iteratively test, gather feedback and refine to continuously improve usability.
A great interface is what sets successful apps apart from competitors. So focus on designing with the user’s needs and mental workflow in mind. Follow these best practices to build a PeoplePerHour clone that feels natural, hassle-free and becomes the go-to choice for freelancers.