Website Design Aspects

The typical web site starts with the homepage. This is the page users see when they type in the URL in the address text box in the browser or when they click your listing in the search engines. This is the page that users will see more frequently than the others. As a result, this page may serve as an index to other pages, like a table of contents, and may contain the main topics of the web site with the details being on the other pages.

The homepage may contain site navigation in the form of a menu bar, which may be included on the other pages. It might include pictures that serve as links to other pages. In most cases, regular links are the only thing needed to help users navigate to pages that provided more specific information.

Site Map

A site map may be included a links to every other page in the web site. A site map is used for quick navigation and shows the layout of a site. It is usually a good idea for large web sites to include a site map although it is not necessary.

Also included on the homepage is the introduction that describes the purpose of the site. This helps users determine if they have come to the right place.

Contact Information

In addition, general information may be provided about how to contact the administrator or others. For a business web site the main marketing message may be included.

Products and Services

For web sites that sells products and/or services, there would normally be one or more links to specific pages that describes these products and services. A visitor to these pages would be able to see what is for sale. The product page would normally have a description along with photos. Part numbers or model numbers would be included for ordering. Pricing information may or may not be present.

E-commerce

For e-commerce sites, a shopping cart is provided to keep track of selected items. Once everything has been selected, the purchaser would proceed to check out to pay for the product or service. At this point, an order has been made.

FAQ

Some pages may contain different kinds of information. There may be pages that only provide information. The information may or may not be related to a product. In some cases, it may contain documentation in the form of operating instructions, specifications or other relevant data. In addition, there could be questions that were posed by users of the product or service or anticipated by the seller. These questions and their answers would normally become a part of the web site called frequently asked questions.

About

There might be a page about the people who work for the company. The executive officers or other significant people related to the business may be profiled. Another page might be related to the events that have taken place over the company's history. Some pages might be devoted to news or press releases.