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Now that you know what you want to accomplish
and you have a setting, it’s time to create
a structure. Think of your structure like the blueprint
for a building. Without a clear blueprint, your site
will grow like a weed — and be about as appreciated
as one.
The best place to start is with an outline
(org chart). Once you have an outline, the next step
is to try setting up a dummy site. You can create
this using a simple word processing tool, or even
hand-draw your chart. Changing the org charts rearranges
the site, allowing you to get a feel for the organisation.
What makes a good organisation?
A well-organised site is one that makes it easy
and intuitive for visitors to find what they want.
The easier it is to use, the longer users will stay
at the site, and the more they’ll see of it.
Site organisation always begins with a home page
that shows visitors the available areas simply,
succinctly, and clearly. Too many sections can confuse
users — too few can force you to make your
site so “deep” that users get lost.
The actual number you need will vary — but
streamlining a site can help make it more accessible.
If you created a “place”, it will
help you imagine (and plan for) how visitors will
move within your site, from room to room or area
to area. In some cases, you might want to create
a virtual foyer that branches off into your various
rooms. In other cases, you may want to control the
path that guests must take as they traverse your
site — they can only get to one area by passing
through another one, just as in a real building.
In most cases, you’ll want visitors to be
able to move from section to section without having
to go back to the home page (or lobby) first.
Back to web sense
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