How Well is Your Site Organized?

Agenda

Information Architecture / Navigation What Does the User Want? How to Organize Information Best Practices

Information Architecture

Information Architecture is . . .

Organization or site structure Navigation Visual Layout Content

Good Qualities are . . .

Intuitive Multiple Entry Points Content based Reflects a purpose

Pictures = Action

User Attributes

Impatient Don’t think in organizational charts Come to your site for different reasons at

different times

Organizing Your Information

1. Define key stakeholders’ goal.

2. Identify users’ goals and expectations

3. Define content areas

4. Organize content

5. Create site map / outline navigation

6. Label content areas

1. Define Key Stakeholders

Identify primary audience– Be specific, new students, international,

parents, community leaders What are audience expectations?

– Ex.: gathering feedback, reducing phone calls, increasing applications

List functional requirements– Self-serve options, events calendar, forms

2. Identify Goals & Expectations

Ultimate goal: Anticipates visitor’s needs and expectations.

Labels: Use terminology the visitor understands.

3. Define content areas

2 questions that a user would ask. Pass to the right, add 2 more questions Evaluate and group questions and re-word

into 1 to 3 word content area headings.

4. Organize Content

Group similar content Keep groups to a minimum.

– 7 is the magic number Remove duplicates

5. Create Site Map

Draw a visual representation of the content areas

6. Label Content Areas

Use meaningful titles – ones that the user understands.

Organize list – Alphabetical?– By need?– Chronological?

Best Practices

Guiding Principles

General info on introductory pages Details on lower pages Sibling links equal importance Know what’s already developed on other

sites

Writing for the Web

Users like consistency Users prefer “clear” opposed to “clever” Users expect content when they click on a

link.

Writing for the Web

Use common nomenclature Frontload important details Concise labeling Avoid crowding the page Short paragraphs and sentences Use bullets, hyperlinks, subheadings

Writing for the WebFive W’s up front:

(Who, What, Where, When, Why)

Interesting facts & colourful stories in the body

Least important information down

here

Questions?