Planning the Home Page

The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e

Planning the Home PagePlanning the Home Page

Writing for the Web

The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e

Contents

Background Site introduction Links

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BackgroundBackground

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Purpose of the Home Page

An introduction to your site that • Sets the tone

• Creates a first impression

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Purpose of the Home Page

The location of the main menu/table of contents, where readers can find information.

A home base to which readers can return when they are lost.

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Home Page Filename

Home.html Index.html Contents.html

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Home Page Checklist

Logo Site name What’s new Purpose Scope Audience

Annotated menu Navigation Date Author Sponsor Footer/contact info

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Links to the Following

Site index Table of contents Site map Shortcuts Search engine Site help/guide Glossary

What’s new Mission About us Author info Page for different

browsers Printer-friendly page

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Home Page Elements

Top of page:• Banner/logo/graphic

• Site title

Navigation Introduction Bottom of page

• Footer/contact information

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Techniques to Use

Keep the home page simple. Focus on the purpose of your site.

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Techniques to Use

Keep the home page one screen long. Put the important information within the

focal point. Draw people’s eyes to it.

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Scrolling

Minimize the need to scroll by fitting information on one screen.

Put the most important information at the top.

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Techniques to Use

Size page so it fits within the screen dimensions.

Balance information. Group related information.

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Techniques to Use

Include a link to the home page from every page in your site.

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Site IntroductionSite Introduction

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Top of Page

Every page should make it clear• What the page is about

• How it relates to the site as a whole

• What is available

• Who is responsible for the info

• How to get there (navigation)

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Writing and Formatting Page Introductions

Word each introduction the same. Format each introduction the same.

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Purpose of Site Introduction

Get attention by providing a hook. Give readers the idea of the

• Purpose

• Scope

• Target audience

• Content Briefly describe contents (advance

organizer).

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Purpose

Help readers decide whether to continue reading.

Attract Web “spiders” that create keyword databases for search engines.

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Ways to Begin

Welcome. Invitation to explore the site, interact,

participate. Hook to get attention.

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Ways to Begin

Why site is important. Site’s benefits. Who is responsible for the site. Statement of how often the site is

maintained.

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Techniques to Use

Get right to the point. Use direct, simple sentences. Use lively text. Use links immediately. Keep it short.

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Parts of the Introduction

Purpose Scope Audience

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Purpose Statement

State the purpose of the Web site--your objectives.• The purpose of this site is to . . .

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Scope Statement

State what is and what is not covered in your site.

Explain your criteria for including and excluding information.

Be specific.

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Example

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Audience

Describe intended primary audience.

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Examples

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Intros to Avoid

Ads Counters Apologies Dull facts or quotes Jumping right into the content

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Intros to Avoid

Hi, I’m . . . Lists of awards you have received Requiring registration Requiring that readers adjust their

browsers Overemphasis on self

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Overdone Phrases to Avoid

I hope that. . . This site focuses on. . . This site is designed to. . . This site is intended to. . .

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LinksLinks

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Links to Include

Link to each major Web page in your site.

Annotate menu items.

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Link to the Following

Introduction (if long) The following optional sections:

• Mission statement

• What’s New (if long)

• Glossary

• Site map or index

• Site help

• About us

• Pages for separate audiences

• Table of Contents (if long)

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Example

Links for various audience types

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Table of Contents

Use to show:• The length of the document.

• Organization and hierarchy of topics and subtopics.

• Type of information.

• Overview or map of site.

• If a viewer has visited all topics.

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Table of Contents Options: Levels

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Table of Contents Options: Expandable/Collapsible

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Table of Contents Options: Organizational Chart Style

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Table of Contents: Organization

Pick a logical organization: • Simple to complex

• Alphabetical, etc.

Keep the structure fairly shallow (no more than three links deep).

Have no more than about fifteen choices for any one group of topics.

Consider providing several tables of contents, each organized in a different way.

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Writing a Separate Table of Contents Page

Put Table of Contents in the page title to help readers when they refer to their bookmarks ( ____ Table of Contents Page or Table of Contents: ______ ).

This name will also appear at the top of the browser.

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Linking to the Table of Contents

Always provide a link to the table of contents on each Web page.

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