Simplicity is key to any successful website or web app.

If your site is too complicated, the user will have to go through too many hoops to find what they are looking for and won't even bother trying it out.

The Jackson 5 got it right back in the 70's when they sang "easy as 123".

A simple and effective approach is to break down your services, signups and checkouts into 3 easy steps. This will improve usability, increase sales, signups and conversion rates.

In this article, we'll take a look at 20 great examples of the 3 step approach for effective website usability.

1. Banner Snack

2. Big Filebox

3. Stack Magazines

4. Posterous

5. Statement Stacker

6. Wufoo

7. Tender Support

8. Campaign Monitor

9. Simple Spark

10. CSS Rockstars

11. The Choppr

12. Scrap Blog

13. Food Feed

14. Product Planner

15. Crowd Spring

16. Name Birdie

17. The Twitter Tag Project

18. Get Me Fast

19. TwitterFone

20. TwittBot

Written exclusively for WDD by Lee Munroe, a freelance web designer and blogger. You can find more of his writing at his blog or follow Lee on Twitter.

Is the 3 step approach an effective way to simplify your web design? Please share your comments below...