Illogical Layout

It is highly frustrating to read a site description in the search engine listings, and then come into the site and not have a clue where you are to go to find what you want!

This is one aspect of sites designed by non-professionals which strikes again and again. The site seems to have been assembled without order, and as the site owner thought of new things to add. There is no logic and no concession given for the fact that people expect certain standards on a site, or that there are certain human behaviors which help a designer know where to put things for greatest effect.

Many of the considerations of site layout come only with experience. But others are so apparent that it makes you wonder how anyone could miss them! The general guidelines for effective site layout include:

  1. Put the MOST IMPORTANT site information "above the fold". In web talk, that means, the visitor should be able to see them BEFORE they scroll down. Now, you do not need to have ALL of your site content there, but you should at least have enough that they know if they keep reading a list or an article, that they will find more of the same if they DO scroll down. The navigation list on the left of this site is a good example. It has only some of the list above the fold, but it is enough that the visitor knows to keep looking for what they want.

  2. The upper left is the most powerful block in the site. It is the first place someone looks on a site. So use it for something important - logos and site names often go there. Right under that is where people will look for someplace to GO. And the center is where they will look for more information about that page. The right is where they will look last, and often as sort of an afterthought "no, I'm not finding what I want, are there any other options?"

  3. The purpose of the site should be clear on each page. The purpose of each page should also be clear. You have to tell them what the page is about, and give them some indication of what they are to do there, or what they can expect to get from it. This occurs in headlines, graphics, links, and other elements.

  4. The layout should be logical, and it should give the visitor a reason to keep coming on in. The first impression should not only define what the site is about, but there should be clearly visible and well named links to lead the visitor deeper into the site.

  5. Your site should use a similar feel through the whole site, and it should have a sense of order and thoughtfulness. A site that looks like it just happened as a place to scatter info with no purpose or planning is not going to persuade anyone to click anything other than the back button.

Site layout should make sense. Unimaginative or unoriginal site layout that makes sense and gives people what they expect is FAR better than original disorganization.

Written by Laura Wheeler