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Planning the Home Page. Writing for the Web. Contents. Background Site introduction Links. Background. Purpose of the Home Page. An introduction to your site that Sets the tone Creates a first impression. Purpose of the Home Page. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
BackgroundBackground
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Purpose of the Home Page
An introduction to your site that • Sets the tone
• Creates a first impression
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
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.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Home Page Filename
Home.html Index.html Contents.html
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Home Page Checklist
Logo Site name What’s new Purpose Scope Audience
Annotated menu Navigation Date Author Sponsor Footer/contact info
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
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
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Home Page Elements
Top of page:• Banner/logo/graphic
• Site title
Navigation Introduction Bottom of page
• Footer/contact information
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Techniques to Use
Keep the home page simple. Focus on the purpose of your site.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Techniques to Use
Keep the home page one screen long. Put the important information within the
focal point. Draw people’s eyes to it.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Scrolling
Minimize the need to scroll by fitting information on one screen.
Put the most important information at the top.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Techniques to Use
Size page so it fits within the screen dimensions.
Balance information. Group related information.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Techniques to Use
Include a link to the home page from every page in your site.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Site IntroductionSite Introduction
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
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)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Writing and Formatting Page Introductions
Word each introduction the same. Format each introduction the same.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
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).
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Purpose
Help readers decide whether to continue reading.
Attract Web “spiders” that create keyword databases for search engines.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Ways to Begin
Welcome. Invitation to explore the site, interact,
participate. Hook to get attention.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Ways to Begin
Why site is important. Site’s benefits. Who is responsible for the site. Statement of how often the site is
maintained.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Techniques to Use
Get right to the point. Use direct, simple sentences. Use lively text. Use links immediately. Keep it short.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Parts of the Introduction
Purpose Scope Audience
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Purpose Statement
State the purpose of the Web site--your objectives.• The purpose of this site is to . . .
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Scope Statement
State what is and what is not covered in your site.
Explain your criteria for including and excluding information.
Be specific.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Example
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Audience
Describe intended primary audience.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Examples
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Intros to Avoid
Ads Counters Apologies Dull facts or quotes Jumping right into the content
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Intros to Avoid
Hi, I’m . . . Lists of awards you have received Requiring registration Requiring that readers adjust their
browsers Overemphasis on self
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Overdone Phrases to Avoid
I hope that. . . This site focuses on. . . This site is designed to. . . This site is intended to. . .
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
LinksLinks
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Links to Include
Link to each major Web page in your site.
Annotate menu items.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
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)
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Example
Links for various audience types
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
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.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Table of Contents Options: Levels
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Table of Contents Options: Expandable/Collapsible
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Table of Contents Options: Organizational Chart Style
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
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.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
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.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e
Linking to the Table of Contents
Always provide a link to the table of contents on each Web page.
The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e