A successful website will convey the information a user is looking
for in an easy to use format. The key to designing a website that
offers information in an easily navigable manner, is to identify
specific, critical action points. Develop your website to drive
users to these action points.
You can also identify common entry and exit points and utilize
those to recycle users through the website. The key is to develop
your website from a users perspective, not a webmasters.
The Action Point
An action point is where you want to drive your users. These
are areas where a user will interact with the site, or obtain desired
information. To find out what your site's action points are, ask
yourself what it is that you want users to do upon visiting your
site and rank these by priority. Many times you will have a number
of action points on your site. Action points should generally be
high profile links on your website, but to avoid navigation clutter
refrain from having too many links.
The Entry Point
The entry point is like the lobby of your website. From the entry
point users should have clear paths to any action points on your
site. The entry is actually the first action point on your site.
From here you want to direct users towards other relevant areas.
Sometimes a site may have alternate entry points, particularly
if a user is referred from a search engine. It is important that
you address these situations so you can treat each entry point
appropriately. The easiest way to deal with this is to provide
users with a common navigation system that is consistent on every
page of your site.
The Exit Point
The exit point is the area where users commonly leave your site.
Generally you will find that exit points also relate directly to
action points. Realizing common exit points is important. Once
you know where users are leaving, you can provide links to other
action points in order to keep them on site. This is an excellent
opportunity to place banner advertising or other higher profile
links to other action points of related interest. If done successfully,
you have the ability to drive visitors from point to point within
your site, and keep them interested by offering relevant material.
By respecting exit and action points, and developing your navigation
around these points, you allow visitors easy access to the key
areas on your website. This will also prevent users from getting
lost on the way to their destination.
Remember, above all else, think like your users. No amount of
flash and style will save your site if a user can't find what they
want.
Keywords
A site can only be successfull when visitors actually find it.
To help get a better ranking in search engines, make sure you develop
a list of keywords that
get included within your pages. This will improve your search engine
ranking.
