Information Architecture Web Design Tips

Information Architecture and Your Web Site

Information Architecture is a commonly used buzzword that describes how you structure the layout and content of your Web site. Effective Information Architecture always begins with proper Web hosting and with creating a website with the user in mind — your web site will perform well only if your customers and prospects think that it works well for them. Navigation tools, action links, placement of illustrations and text, colors, type faces and content, should be selected, designed and written to make users’ experiences with your Web site simple, sensible and successful.

The first step is to determine the content of your site:

• What information will be beneficial to customers or prospects need
• How many pages will you need
• What type of information will be on each page
• How much information will you need to convey
• Arrive at a sensible set of navigation and action buttons that should include E-mail launcher, purchase button or shopping cart if you offer E-commerce, return-to-homepage button, and other navigation and action specific to your business (catalog requests, newsletter subscriptions, etc.)

When it comes to maximizing the effectiveness of your website design, choosing a simple design is key:

• Pick pleasing and legible color and type combinations
• Typeface and colors should be consistent throughout the website
• Keep the amount of text and the number of photos on each web page to a minimum on each page
• Standard buttons that repeat on multiple pages should be in the same place on each page
• Page layout should be as consistent as possible and practical throughout the website
• Be sure to employ the same web design principles to new pages as you expand your website

Take multiple tours of your business website during the website building process. Look at your web pages from your customers’ perspective, and ask:

• Is the site sensibly arranged?
• Is it easy and logical to navigate through multiple pages?
• Are buttons and standard features clearly and consistently located?
• Is there any aspect of the website that’s difficult to use or that might discourage repeat visits?

And when the website building process is complete, go through the site twice before opening it to the public, making sure that ever aspect of your business’s web information architecture will make your customers visits pleasant, meaningful and successful.

Remember: it’s your website, but it’s your customers who will use it.

Learn about Web Hosting Services from Network Solutions