This is not such a problem as in the past, but every so often I run across a website that makes no sense. Why is this important? Users cannot find what they want then they will click some where else to find it. People usually search in a z pattern and scan the sites, not read it, until they find what they want. An error is only a click away and a different site is only a click away as well. People go to websites to find things faster from their home. Lets make the navigation fast for them to find what they want. It is tough once you get more than 10 pages on your site and you want to link to them all from the home page.

4 Tips to start with:
1) Keep all link text as simple as possible, do not get fancy.
2) Watch the clutter, confusion may follow. Trying to fit too much on the home page will confuse and aggravate users.
3) Most important pages, to the user, always above the fold (top part of the site).
4) Keep the header no bigger than 100 pixels.

A great reference site is webpagesthatsuck.com The top 10 2008 worst sites are always amusing. The site has a list of many things to avoid.

Labels: Content, Website Design