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Planning the Home Page

Planning the Home Page. Writing for the Web. Contents. Background Site introduction Links. Background. Purpose of the Home Page. An introduction to your site that Sets the tone Creates a first impression. Purpose of the Home Page.

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Planning the Home Page

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  1. Planning the Home Page Writing for the Web The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e

  2. Contents • Background • Site introduction • Links

  3. Background The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e

  4. Purpose of the Home Page • An introduction to your site that • Sets the tone • Creates a first impression

  5. Purpose of the Home Page • The location of the main menu/table of contents, where readers can find information. • A home base to which readers can return when they are lost.

  6. Home Page Filename • Home.html • Index.html • Contents.html

  7. Logo Site name What’s new Purpose Scope Audience Annotated menu Navigation Date Author Sponsor Footer/contact info Home Page Checklist

  8. Site index Table of contents Site map Shortcuts Search engine Site help/guide Glossary What’s new Mission About us Author info Page for different browsers Printer-friendly page Links to the Following

  9. Home Page Elements • Top of page: • Banner/logo/graphic • Site title • Navigation • Introduction • Bottom of page • Footer/contact information

  10. Techniques to Use • Keep the home page simple. • Focus on the purpose of your site.

  11. Techniques to Use • Keep the home page one screen long. • Put the important information within the focal point. Draw people’s eyes to it.

  12. Scrolling • Minimize the need to scroll by fitting information on one screen. • Put the most important information at the top.

  13. Techniques to Use • Size page so it fits within the screen dimensions. • Balance information. • Group related information.

  14. Techniques to Use • Include a link to the home page from every page in your site.

  15. Site Introduction The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e

  16. Top of Page • Every page should make it clear • What the page is about • How it relates to the site as a whole • What is available • Who is responsible for the info • How to get there (navigation)

  17. Writing and Formatting Page Introductions • Word each introduction the same. • Format each introduction the same.

  18. Purpose of Site Introduction • Get attention by providing a hook. • Give readers the idea of the • Purpose • Scope • Target audience • Content • Briefly describe contents (advance organizer).

  19. Purpose • Help readers decide whether to continue reading. • Attract Web “spiders” that create keyword databases for search engines.

  20. Ways to Begin • Welcome. • Invitation to explore the site, interact, participate. • Hook to get attention.

  21. Ways to Begin • Why site is important. • Site’s benefits. • Who is responsible for the site. • Statement of how often the site is maintained.

  22. Techniques to Use • Get right to the point. • Use direct, simple sentences. • Use lively text. • Use links immediately. • Keep it short.

  23. Parts of the Introduction • Purpose • Scope • Audience

  24. Purpose Statement • State the purpose of the Web site--your objectives. • The purpose of this site is to . . .

  25. Scope Statement • State what is and what is not covered in your site. • Explain your criteria for including and excluding information. • Be specific.

  26. Example

  27. Audience • Describe intended primary audience.

  28. Examples

  29. Intros to Avoid • Ads • Counters • Apologies • Dull facts or quotes • Jumping right into the content

  30. Intros to Avoid • Hi, I’m . . . • Lists of awards you have received • Requiring registration • Requiring that readers adjust their browsers • Overemphasis on self

  31. Overdone Phrases to Avoid • I hope that. . . • This site focuses on. . . • This site is designed to. . . • This site is intended to. . .

  32. Links The Internet Writer’s Handbook 2/e

  33. Links to Include • Link to each major Web page in your site. • Annotate menu items.

  34. Link to the Following • Introduction (if long) • The following optional sections: • Mission statement • What’s New (if long) • Glossary • Site map or index • Site help • About us • Pages for separate audiences • Table of Contents (if long)

  35. Example • Links for various audience types

  36. Table of Contents • Use to show: • The length of the document. • Organization and hierarchy of topics and subtopics. • Type of information. • Overview or map of site. • If a viewer has visited all topics.

  37. Table of Contents Options: Levels

  38. Table of Contents Options: Expandable/Collapsible

  39. Table of Contents Options: Organizational Chart Style

  40. Table of Contents: Organization • Pick a logical organization: • Simple to complex • Alphabetical, etc. • Keep the structure fairly shallow (no more than three links deep). • Have no more than about fifteen choices for any one group of topics. • Consider providing several tables of contents, each organized in a different way.

  41. Writing a Separate Table of Contents Page • Put Table of Contents in the page title to help readers when they refer to their bookmarks ( ____ Table of Contents Page or Table of Contents: ______ ). • This name will also appear at the top of the browser.

  42. Linking to the Table of Contents • Always provide a link to the table of contents on each Web page.

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