Home.

Features.

Design.

Structure.

Structure Diagrams.

Storyboards.

Index of Pages.

Action Plan.

Fonts.

Graphics.

Colours.

Hyperlinks.

Domain names.

Hosting.

HTML.

CSS.

Testing.

STRUCTURE

The structure of a web site is like the skeleton or nervous system in the human body. Every joint or synapse is connected together into a network of mechanical or electrical links, which in turn makes us who and what we are.

 

So should a web site be connected through a network of links into something with form and function.

The structure of your site is composed of the different sections of your web site and navigation within those sections. It is the framework that shapes your site and defines your navigation scheme.

The key to the success of a web site's structure is the ease with which visitors can navigate the site. A general rule of thumb is that it should take no more than three clicks for a visitor to find what they are looking for.

 

In the example above there are three tiers of content which can be accessed in two clicks. From the homepage to the main sections (click 1) and then to the subsections (click 2) is a simple and intuitive path.

 

If necessary you can add a third tier of data but more than that will not only begin to confuse your visitors but also impedes the deep access of search engine spiders.

The importance of a sites navigation structure cannot be over-emphasised. Without some sort of navigation, a site loses all sense of structure and organisation.

 

There are many ways of presenting the navigation: in a bar down one side of the screen, along the top and bottom, or in a frame that stays with you throughout your visit to a site. It is important to be able to have access to the rest of a site from anywhere. Ideally, you should be able to go to any page in a maximum of two or three clicks, with the main pages accessible in one.

 

A navigation bar can give readers immediate knowledge of the depth of a site. Just glancing over your navigation links should give users an idea of what's on offer and what's there that they definitely want to see.

 

Having a fully-featured navigation bar assures the reader that there's lots to see and do, and encourages them to explore a little bit.

 Copyright © All rights reserved. 2009