Organizing Your Web

A Guide to Creating Intuitive Navigation Structure

This web site was developed by Anne Fensie to assist in developing Web-based instructional materials. The purpose of the explanations and guides are to capitalize on the potential of hyperlinks, as well as organize information so that it is easily accessible and understood by a variety of users. The tips found here can be applied to any hypermedia materials.

Topics Addressed on this Web Site:

Planning the Site Layout On Each Page Linking Content
Types of Navigation Structure
Primary and Secondary Navigation
Menus and Submenus
Developing Clear Navigation
Site Metaphor
Placement
Organizing Information
Free-Standing Pages
Hyperlinked Text
Navigation Bars
Developing Consistency
"Back", "Forward", "Next", & "Up"

A Summary of Organization Principles

Resources

"Without a solid and logical organizational backbone your Web site will not function well even if your basic content is accurate and well-written (Lynch & Horton, 1999)."
 

Questions? Comments?  Do I practice what I preach? Contact me at anne@fensie.com.
Organizing Your Web: A Guide to Creating Intuitive Navigation Structure was created by Anne Fensie for IT522 at Bridgewater State College.
Copyright 2002
Last updated October 03, 2006