by Steven Phillips
How do you determine a running order for your website content?
Search engines are in line with human visitors on this. Both respond well to a time honoured practice of print journalism: a sub-editor, needing to make a story fit available space quickly, cuts from the bottom up, anticipating the most important points are at the top. You can treat your web content the same way.
How do you determine a running order for your website content?
Search engines are in line with human visitors on this. Both respond well to a time honoured practice of print journalism: a sub-editor, needing to make a story fit available space quickly, cuts from the bottom up, anticipating the most important points are at the top. You can treat your web content the same way.
The Content Pyramid
Use what I call the 'Content Pyramid'. The highest priority content sits on top, lesser priority underneath and least priority at the bottom.
It's an easy and effective model plus it helps overcome 'writer's block'. Prioritize the words on each page and prioritize the pages themselves.
Ordering the priority of content as a list of dot points gets your ideas flowing. It also gives structure to your efforts, while picturing the pyramid's shape reminds you that for your site's top level content, less is best.
Stick to one point per page, say 300-words. Put the most important page at the top ... you get the idea.
It's an easy and effective model plus it helps overcome 'writer's block'. Prioritize the words on each page and prioritize the pages themselves.
Ordering the priority of content as a list of dot points gets your ideas flowing. It also gives structure to your efforts, while picturing the pyramid's shape reminds you that for your site's top level content, less is best.
Stick to one point per page, say 300-words. Put the most important page at the top ... you get the idea.
Action Plan - Create the Running Order
To use the Content Pyramid, create a running order for your website content. Begin with a pen and a blank sheet of paper. Make a list of the points you want to cover, in order of their importance.
1. Decide what's most important.
Ask: "What do I want my visitors to do or think as a result of visiting my website?"
2. Stack your pyramid.
Take a pyramid view of your content. The apex is your most important point (a metaphor not a pun!). It's your website's call to action and belongs on your Home page.
3. BIG hint: The most important question your visitors ask is, "What's in it for me?"
If the answer to the above question isn't immediately apparent to your visitor on the landing page, the rest of your website doesn't really matter. Anticipate your visitor's need and know your solution. State it up front.
4. Decide other points in descending order of importance.
They follow on from the Home Page and will occupy tabs from left to right adjacent to Home on your main menu or in descending order if you're using a vertical menu.
5. List your points as page titles on your sheet of paper.
Listing points in priority order creates solid information architecture. Your topmost points become your main menu. Expand and introduce other items in sub-pages.
You'll be organized where you need it most, at the start of your build!
6. Keep one main point per page.
1. Decide what's most important.
Ask: "What do I want my visitors to do or think as a result of visiting my website?"
2. Stack your pyramid.
Take a pyramid view of your content. The apex is your most important point (a metaphor not a pun!). It's your website's call to action and belongs on your Home page.
3. BIG hint: The most important question your visitors ask is, "What's in it for me?"
If the answer to the above question isn't immediately apparent to your visitor on the landing page, the rest of your website doesn't really matter. Anticipate your visitor's need and know your solution. State it up front.
4. Decide other points in descending order of importance.
They follow on from the Home Page and will occupy tabs from left to right adjacent to Home on your main menu or in descending order if you're using a vertical menu.
5. List your points as page titles on your sheet of paper.
Listing points in priority order creates solid information architecture. Your topmost points become your main menu. Expand and introduce other items in sub-pages.
You'll be organized where you need it most, at the start of your build!
6. Keep one main point per page.