Reams of advice have been written about how to design a highly usable user interface for software products. There are experts who have devoted their entire careers to this subject.

Far be it from me to try to compete with this body of knowledge. However, as a Product Manager, I have usually found myself in a situation where hiring expert user interface and usability design consultants was not an option. And in the rush to put in new functionality, interface improvements wound up as a low priority.

Combine that with the fact that touchy-feely user-centric thinking is not commonplace in the highly technical world of software programmers and engineers, and your product’s interface can suffer.

So today’s topic is offered as simple, basic advice on how to improve your product’s user interface when you don’t have the money and expert resources to do it the perfect way.

Read on for seven pieces of practical advice for improving the user interface.