““The Top Ten Guidelines The Top Ten Guidelines for Homepage Usability”for Homepage Usability”

Written by: Jakob NielsenWritten by: Jakob Nielsen

Presented by: Jeff WenckPresented by: Jeff Wenck

Source: http://www.cognetics.com/services/design_services/services_evaluation.html

IntroductionIntroduction► Why Having a Homepage is ImportantWhy Having a Homepage is Important► Include a One-Sentence TaglineInclude a One-Sentence Tagline► Write a Window Title with Good Visibility in Search Write a Window Title with Good Visibility in Search

Engines and Bookmark ListsEngines and Bookmark Lists► Group all Corporate Information in One Distinct AreaGroup all Corporate Information in One Distinct Area► Emphasize the Site's Top High-Priority TasksEmphasize the Site's Top High-Priority Tasks► Include a Search Input BoxInclude a Search Input Box► Show Examples of Real Site ContentShow Examples of Real Site Content► Begin Link Names with the Most Important KeywordBegin Link Names with the Most Important Keyword► Offer Easy Access to Recent Homepage FeaturesOffer Easy Access to Recent Homepage Features► Don't Over-Format Critical Content, Such as Don't Over-Format Critical Content, Such as

Navigation AreasNavigation Areas► Use Meaningful GraphicsUse Meaningful Graphics

Why Having a Homepage is Why Having a Homepage is ImportantImportant

►Homepages are the most valuable real Homepages are the most valuable real estate in the world.estate in the world.

►The homepage is your company's face The homepage is your company's face to the world.to the world.

►The homepage is the most important The homepage is the most important page on most websites.page on most websites. It gets more page views than any other It gets more page views than any other

page. page.

Include a One-Sentence Include a One-Sentence TaglineTagline

►A good tagline should:A good tagline should: Summarizes what the site or company Summarizes what the site or company

does.does.►Especially if it is a new or less famous one. Especially if it is a new or less famous one.

Tell first-time visitors about the site's Tell first-time visitors about the site's purpose. purpose.

►Well-known companies are always Well-known companies are always looking to attract new customers.looking to attract new customers.

Write a Window Title with Good Write a Window Title with Good Visibility in Search Engines and Visibility in Search Engines and

Bookmark ListsBookmark Lists

► Search Engines display their Search Engines display their results in alphabetical results in alphabetical order.order.

► For this reason it’s For this reason it’s important not to begin the important not to begin the page or window title with page or window title with words like:words like: ““The”The” ““Welcome to”Welcome to”

► This will result in your page This will result in your page being alphabetized at the being alphabetized at the bottom of the list.bottom of the list.

Source: http://www.ppcmanagementconsulting.com/services/search_engine_optimization.htm

Group all Corporate Information Group all Corporate Information in One Distinct Areain One Distinct Area

►Sometimes people do need details Sometimes people do need details about who you are.about who you are.

►Good corporate information is Good corporate information is especially important for:especially important for: PRPR Increasing a new companies credibility.Increasing a new companies credibility.

►Having an “About” section is the best Having an “About” section is the best way to link users to more in-depth way to link users to more in-depth information than can be presented on information than can be presented on the homepage. the homepage.

Emphasize the Site's Top High-Emphasize the Site's Top High-Priority TasksPriority Tasks

►Your homepage Your homepage should offer users a should offer users a clear starting point clear starting point for the main one to for the main one to four tasks they'll four tasks they'll undertake when undertake when visiting your site. visiting your site.

Source: http://bpo.knowledgehills.com/PM/Project-Management-Defined.aspx

Include a Search Input BoxInclude a Search Input Box

►Search is an important part of any big Search is an important part of any big website. website.

►““The little box where I can type"The little box where I can type" ►Your search box at least 27 characters Your search box at least 27 characters

wide.wide. As to accommodate multiple words As to accommodate multiple words

without obscuring parts of the user's without obscuring parts of the user's query. query.

Source: http://www.addgene.org/pgvec1?cmd=showfile&f=c&file=search

Show Examples of Real Site Show Examples of Real Site ContentContent

►Don't just describe what lies beneath Don't just describe what lies beneath the homepage. the homepage.

Specifics beat abstractions.Specifics beat abstractions.

Show some of your best or most recent Show some of your best or most recent content. content.

Begin Link Names with the Most Begin Link Names with the Most Important KeywordImportant Keyword

►Links are the action items on a Links are the action items on a homepage.homepage.

►Start each link with a relevant word helps:Start each link with a relevant word helps: Make it easier for scanning eyes to Make it easier for scanning eyes to

differentiate it from other links on the page. differentiate it from other links on the page. ►A common violation is to start all links A common violation is to start all links

with the company namewith the company name This adds little valueThis adds little value Impairs users' ability to quickly find what they Impairs users' ability to quickly find what they

need. need.

Offer Easy Access to Recent Offer Easy Access to Recent Homepage FeaturesHomepage Features

► Users will often remember articles, Users will often remember articles, products, or promotions that were featured products, or promotions that were featured prominently on the homepage.prominently on the homepage.

► Unfortunately they won't know how to find Unfortunately they won't know how to find them once you move the features inside the them once you move the features inside the site.site.

► Keep a short list of recent features on the Keep a short list of recent features on the homepage.homepage.

► Supplement with a link to a permanent Supplement with a link to a permanent archive of all other homepage features.archive of all other homepage features.

Don't Over-Format Critical Don't Over-Format Critical Content, Such as Navigation Content, Such as Navigation

AreasAreas► Users often focus on the Users often focus on the

parts of the homepage that parts of the homepage that look more likely to be useful. look more likely to be useful.

► Users tend to dismiss Users tend to dismiss graphics as ads.graphics as ads.

► Therefore important Therefore important homepage items do not homepage items do not require elaborate require elaborate illustrations, boxes, and illustrations, boxes, and colors. colors.

Source: http://www.deathtofilm.com/page/2/

Use Meaningful GraphicsUse Meaningful Graphics

► Images are powerful communicators Images are powerful communicators when they show items of interest to when they show items of interest to users.users. Don't just decorate the page with stock art. Don't just decorate the page with stock art. But they can backfire if they seem But they can backfire if they seem

frivolous or irrelevant. frivolous or irrelevant.

►Example: Show photos of real people Example: Show photos of real people actually connected to the topic, rather actually connected to the topic, rather than pictures of models. than pictures of models.

Questions/Comment?Questions/Comment?