Http://www.thecrownmanagement.com " section is the best way to link users to more in-depth information than can be presented on the homepage. (See also my report with 70 guidelines for the design of "about us" areas of corporate websites.) rnHelp Users Find What They Needrn4. Emphasize the Site's Top High-Priority TasksrnYour homepage should offer users a clear starting point for the main one to four tasks they'll undertake when visiting your site. Rn5.include a Search Input BoxrnSearch is an important part of any big website. When users want to search, they typically scan the homepage looking for "the little box where I can type, " so your search should be a box. [Make your search box at least 25 characters wide, ] so it can accommodate multiple words without obscuring parts of the user's query. Rn (Update: Based on more recent findings, my recommendation is now to make the search box 27 characters wide. This and other new guidelines are covered in my tutorial on Fundamental Guidelines for Web Usability at the annual Usability Week conference.) rnReveal Site Contentrn6. Show Examples of Real Site ContentrnDon't just describe what lies beneath the homepage. Specifics beat abstractions, and you have good stuff. Show some of your best or most recent content. Rn7. Begin Link Names with the Most Important KeywordrnUsers scan down the page, trying to find the area that will serve their current goal. Links are the action itemson a homepage, and when you start each link with a relevant word, you make it easier for scanning eyes to differentiate it from other links on the page. A common violation of this guideline is to start all links with the company name, which adds little value and impairs users' ability to quickly find what they need. Rn8. Offer Easy Access to Recent Homepage FeaturesrnUsers will often remember articles, products, or promotions that were featured prominently on the homepage, but they won't know how to find them once you move the features inside the site. To help users locate key items, keep a short list of recent features on the homepage, and supplement it with a link to a permanent archive of all other homepage features. RnUse Visual Design to Enhance, not Define, Interaction Designrn9. Don't Over-Format Critical Content, Such as Navigation AreasrnYou might think that important homepage items require elaborate illustrations, boxes, and colors. However, usersoften dismiss graphics as ads, and focus on the parts of the homepage that look more likely to be useful. Rn10. Use Meaningful GraphicsrnDon't just decorate the page with stock art. Images are powerful communicators when they show items of interest to users, but will backfire if they seem frivolous or irrelevant. For example, it's almost always best to show photos of real people actually connected to the topic, rather than pictures of models. RnrnrnSPAM SITE = http://www.thecrownmanagement.com
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