Design Pointers

The most important part of your web site is the actual text content. Use the following tips regarding content:

1. Site Navigation Scheme - Using index cards or smaller pieces of paper, write down all the items that you want included in your web site (Brainstorm here!). Now separate them into Categories, understanding that one index card may end up in more than one category. When you have something that makes sense, you have just created one navigational scheme!
   • If you need more than one level of hierarchy, create additional piles. Ensure that those items which you know your audience will want to get to are not too far down in the navigational scheme. Will your audience have to click more than two times to get to the item? If so, consider using a Quick List on higher levels of your site which will get your audience quickly to these popular items.
   • Repeat the above process until you come up with one or more navigational schemes for your site. Now decide how you want to ” label ” each of the Categories so that it is brief and yet descriptive for your audience.
2. Static vs Dynamic - Determine which elements of your web site will be relatively static in nature, and which elements are dynamic, requiring frequent updates. You may decide in this step NOT to include something on the web site, if you will not be able to maintain it.
3. Page Size - For large documents, decide whether you will break it into separate web pages, making each page printable on its own.
   • Your alternative is to make one large document with a table of contents or index at the top with target links to specific areas of the document.
4. Page Identity - Make each page in a group of web pages understandable on its own. This means that you will need to title each page consistently. If your site has several layers of content, consider the usage of footprints on your pages. (Ex.Home & gt; & gt; ITS & gt; & gt; Documents).
5. Print vs Web - Content that typically needs to be revised when converting printed media to the web include:
   • contact points (email addresses in addition to mail addresses, room numbers and telephone numbers)
   • if you include a phone number, use complete phone numbers with area codes
   • when referring to a date, spell out the month. While the US uses month / day / year, the rest of the world uses day / month / year
   • for forms to be placed online, you will need to rewrite the instructions. For example, remove / reword sentences such as ” Complete back side of this form. “
6. Link descriptions - Part of your documents will contain links to other information. These links should alert the user to what they will see if they select the link; in other words they should be brief and yet descriptive. In some cases, it is also appropriate to describe the ” where ” in the link. For example, if a link will take the user to another web site, convey that information in the link text. Avoid terminology like ” click here ” or ” press the right arrow “; browser methods of choosing links vary.
   • provide ” return to ” statements on pages of your web site to help users get back on track.
7. Stale content - Tell users, in words, how often a page is updated.
8. Original content -
   • Make the content of your home page original. Do not duplicate documents that appear elsewhere on the Internet. Instead, link to them
   • Be aware of copyright regulations that apply to existing Web sites.
9. In development - Avoid under Construction pages. If you intend to eventually include an additional page or section on your web site, you may say so on a completed page of your web site, but do not put up a page which only states Under Construction.
10. Spelling errors - Spell check and proofread your pages as you would any other publication.

Related posts:

1. Accessibility Guidelines
2. General Tips
3. Design Resources
4. alpha Criteria
5. Web Site Analysis

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