Have you ever been lost on a highway late
at night? It's not a fun feeling.
In the same way that it's not fun to be lost on a highway,
it's not fun to be lost when visiting a web site. When you
create a web site, make sure that it is easy for your visitors
to find their way around.
Here are some tips:
1 - Make your pages consistent
The most important rule is to make your pages and your navigation
scheme consistent. Just because you can create 58 different
layouts with whiz bang colors and graphics doesn't mean that
you should. Put your menu in the same place on every page.
Keep consistency across your pages by using the same header
or page template. This will help your visitors stay oriented
within your web site.
2 - Place the menu with care
The most common location for the menu is the left side of
the page with menu items running vertically down the page.
This generally works best for all but the largest web sites.
Many internet users expect to see web site menus in this
location too.
Alternatively, you may place your menu across the top of
your web site. This can be harder to maintain in the long
run as you make changes to your site. Also, if you have a
long menu, all of your options may not be visible to viewers
due the the width of their individual computer screens.
3 - Remember the rule of "7 plus or minus 2"
Published in psychology journals as early as 1956, the rule
of "7 plus or minus 2" states that people can generally process
between five and nine pieces of information at a time. When
you create your navigation, think about limiting the number
of choices to between five and nine. It's not always possible,
but it can help to have a reasonable number of choices at
each level in your navigation. You'll have to carefully balance
putting a limited set of choices with making too many levels
and depth to your site.
For example, have a set of home page menu options of no
more than nine. If you want to create subpages off of those
pages, keep those pages to nine or less too. Really try to
group your information together as you organize your site.
If your list of subpages gets too long, make a new menu option
that will adequately represent some of those items. Also
consider just linking to pages that are NOT included in the
menu. When a page of info is necessary, create an internal
link and alleviate a menu option all together!
4 - Allow for a site search
Now we are talking helpful!!
A simple search box which allows your visitors to search
throughout your site can be very helpful. It can allow visitors
to get to the information they want quickly.
5 - Create a site map
Most every web site should have a site map. It's a page
on your web site that lists and links to all the pages on
your site. It gives your visitors an overview of all the
material on you site. As a bonus, it can help search engines
find and index all your pages too. (We know of a great set
of tools that does this automatically!!!)
When you create a web site that follows all these navigation
tips, your visitors won't feel like they are lost on a highway
at night. And that is good for your web site and for your
organization.
| Herb and Monica Leibacher operate Web
Builder Express http://www.WebBuilderExpress.com Create
a professional web site for your business or non-profit
organization with Web Builder Express. |
