Suggestions for Standard Web Site Pages:
Below are listed some typical web page headings used by many organisations. These headings are only designed as a framework on which to build. Each organisation is unique, and it is important to consider how your headings / menu items will suit your particular needs. Some organisations choose to have a 'Dynamic Menu' which employs drop down menus to deliver sub categories. Click on 'Handy Hints' above to see how it works.
Home / Intro:
This is the first page that anyone sees. Often, in a bid to provide all the information at a glance, some web designers confuse visitors with too much information with not enough thought given to sensible navigation.
The page should load fast, be clear and concise, using important keywords frequently.
Your company logo should be prominent on your home page, your logo still remains the nucleus of your Corporate Identity.
A site visitor should be able to look at this page and;
- Gain a clear understanding of what the site is about.
- Be enticed to explore the site more.
- Be able to navigate to any page in the site from here.
About / Profile:
This section goes into more detail about the organisation. Perhaps a 'Mission Statement" could be included here - What are the goals and aspirations of your company?, where is it going?. Consider subheadings to focus on key paragraphs here. Images and or photos are a good way of reinforcing your message, although these should be used sparingly. Including a photo of the Head Office adds substance and credibility to the organisatioin.
Awards (see also testimonials)
Awards and or testimonials are a powerful way to add credibility. If you or your company have been recognised for their work, include the awards here.
Clients:
Providing a list of clients that you have been associated with can give a powerful endorsement to your organisation. You may wish to check with the clients first.
Contact:
List every possible means of contacting the organisation: phone, fax email, include a quick easy email link from here.
News:
News items are a great way to keep your visitors interested and informed. Make sure your news is up to date and relevant, theres nothing worse than arriving at the 'latest news' page to find it's six months out of date.
News items can be edited, added or removed in house by directly editing the html or this can be done by the web developer.
Personnel / Team:
If your organisation is people oriented, consider using pictures of key staff including profiles with qualifications and roles within the company. This helps customers put faces to names and also creates a more friendly experience for visitors. Also include direct contact details for each person profiled.
Portfolio / Projects / Clients:
One of the most powerful ways to influence a potential buyer is to display your finest work in a portfolio page. Show the world what you've done or what you're working on.
Products / Services:
Your products / services could be seen as the core of your site and must be organised in a logical grouping if an extensive list is involved.
F A Q
This is an acronym for 'Frequently Asked Questions'. Quite often companies become inundated with the same questions asked over and over again. Listing the answers to the top ten most frequently asked questions can often help reduce the burden on your support staff.
History:
This section offers an insight into the development of the organisation, this can often be of great interest to visitors as it shows how long the company has been operating, how it arrived in its present position, its important milestones.
Links
Providing links to external web sites once again enhances the user's experience, the Internet is all about information, and if you can supply targeted, relevant and up to date information for your visitors, they'll return to your site again and again. It's vital that the links you provide are 'complimentary' rather than competitive to your own site.
Make sure that when the link is clicked that it opens a new (separate) browser window which is smaller (so your site can still be seen) and can be resized. This is so that your site is not replaced by the new site.
Site Map
This displays the structure of the web site at a glance. Using basic text links, a visitor can click on any of these links to fast-track to the page of their choice.
Testimonials:
Satisfied customers willing to endorse your organisation is a powerful marketing tool. Display a selection of the best here.