Monday, January 21, 2013

Determine A Website'S Navigation Structure

One of the keys to your website's effectiveness is how your content and directing constitution are presented. Whether your visitors can't quickly decide where to click to acquisition the info they want, they Testament imaginable click to another website. Here are some guidelines for developing a directing constitution that Testament embolden your point visitors to click and interpret added approximately your offerings.


Instructions


1. Define your body audiences. This Testament assist you evolve content and a linking constitution that Testament serve the needs of Everyone of the at variance types of users your aim attracts. Your website may keep various altered item audiences from those close with your services to the informal online researcher. Once you admit defined those audiences, file gone the manifold types of content that you anticipate Everyone one Testament appetite to outlook on your website. From these lists, you can inception to behold where info overlaps and what categories of content emerge.


2.5. Consider the "3-click rule," but don't be rigid. A general rule of thumb for website usability recommends requiring no more than three clicks to receive to any level of information in your site. However, if your content is well-developed and provides adequate information, that rule doesn't necessarily apply. Strive to anticipate how a visitor who has never encountered your company will view the information.


3. Label your links using typical Internet and industry-related terminology. Research other websites similar to yours or others within your industry to see how various links are labeled. Try to remain consistent with your terminology so that visitors know what to expect. Also, seasoned web searchers will look for common terms for general links like FAQs or Contact Us, so remain consistent with Internet standards.


4. Provide more detailed information as the user clicks deeper into your site. Regardless of your industry, your website will likely have visitors needing various levels of information. Users may include a range from casual researchers who want to digest information quickly and easily to those seeking very specific information who are willing to read and click more to receive it. Organize your content so that more general information is located at the entry levels and more detailed content appears as a site visitor continues to click through. Generally, your entry pages can include more images and photographs, while deeper pages can be more text-heavy.


Correlate your content from the Guest's perspective. It may seem logical to outline the flow of your content based on your own sales process or your company's structure. However, this means of organization may not make much sense to your site visitors, especially those who are not familiar with your company or services. As long as a visitor can continue to find the type of information needed, the visitor will continue to click through pages--regardless of the number of clicks.