c1

Homepage portal at a glance

Site Genre: Pattern Group c

magnify image Figure C1.1 MSNBC gives readers a broad selection of topics to explore, while highlighting news of general interest. With its clearly distinguished links, customers need only a quick glance to see how to navigate the site. Subsections highlighted in the navigation bar show more detailed areas of interest. Readers can customize the news by entering a zip code to get local news.

Background

Used by almost every site and site genre [see Pattern Group A (Site Genres)], a homepage must satisfy the needs of all potential and current customers by establishing the company’s identity while providing MULTIPLE WAYS TO NAVIGATE (B1). This pattern forms the core for homepage designs.

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PROBLEM

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SOLUTION

magnify image FigureC1.5 Sketch out strong first impressions of your homepage with compelling titles and logos, and simple navigation.

On your homepage portal, establish and reinforce the value of your site with a strong, clearly stated promise that is fulfilled on every page of the site. Dedicate 95 percent of the area and links above the fold to the visitor groups that comprise 95 percent of the total visitor population. Keep the remaining area and links for visitor groups that make up the remaining 5 percent. Use additional links in the footer of the homepage to make explicit links for each group, including those in the 5 percent category. Build a homepage layout that provides strong cues to define navigation and content, and that downloads quickly. Test your homepage design to ensure that you have created the right look and feel one that seduces visitors with content, regardless of whether it is personalized.

Other Patterns to Consider

On the homepage, clearly state the site’s UP-FRONT VALUE PROPOSITION (C2), show the SITE BRANDING (E1), and provide links to the site’s PRIVACY POLICY (E4). Use a publishing system to automatically update and rotate CONTENT MODULES (D2) on the homepage. A personalized homepage will contain CONTENT MODULES (D2) and use PERSONALIZED CONTENT (D4) to tailor the homepage to individuals. Make navigation easier and provide stronger information scent by creating consistent MULTIPLE WAYS TO NAVIGATE (B1) and by establishing your navigation design on the homepage. Create BROWSABLE CONTENT (B2) and use NAVIGATION BARS (K2), OBVIOUS LINKS (K10), ACTION BUTTONS (K4), DESCRIPTIVE, LONGER LINK NAMES (K9), and EMBEDDED LINKS (K7). Create an easy-to-read homepage using a PAGE TEMPLATE (D1) and GRID LAYOUT (I1) with CLEAR FIRST READS (I3). Put the most important navigation tools and content ABOVE THE FOLD (I2). Have a LOW NUMBER OF FILES (L1) on your homepage, and use FAST-LOADING IMAGES (L2) and HTML POWER (L4) to increase both its actual and its perceived performance.

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