1. Introduction
The way content is structured on the website is as important as the content itself. A logical website structure (information architecture) provides order, helps users to find information more easily, allows users to successfully predict where to find information and gives users an intuitive way to browse the website.
2. Home page
The home page of a website provides an entry point into the website and therefore must:
- Create a positive first impression.
- Be well organised and give a clear overview of what information is on the website.
- Be updated frequently to ensure that it remains current. This can include photos of news events and the listing of new items on the website.
- Display all major options/links.
- Display a simple search box.
Do not use head and shoulders photos of political and other principals as part of the design or in a navigation bar, as such images are not consistent with the “people- centred” proposition that government wishes to convey in its communication. Rather use images that reflect services in action or the vision of a people-centred government working towards the upliftment of all.
The home page helps the user to find information in the deeper levels of the website. You can display deeper level links that are often used as quick links on the home page.
3. Best practice principles for website information architecture
Take note of the following principles when you plan your website’s content architecture:
- The website must have a logical information hierarchy. Hierarchies are built from the most important or general concepts, down to the most specific or optional topics.
- The nature of the content should suggest the best way to sub-divide and organise the content. Group information into clearly defined and logical categories and sub-categories. However, do not fragment information too much. It will frustrate users who wish to read or print the complete text.
- Keep in mind that the information structure should be user-focused. The subjects that you have identified should not necessarily dictate the hierarchy. Consider ways to make the most useful information easily and quickly accessible. For example, if users are more interested in particular information that logically fits within the information hierarchy a few steps below the home page, the hierarchy can be flattened to ensure that this information is available at a higher level.
- Give various options to access information. For example, offer a path for both those familiar with government structures (e.g. A – Z) and those not familiar with them (user-focused).
- Label categories clearly and logically.
- Decide on the number of levels the website should have. The best practice is to provide information in the fewest possible steps. However, larger websites might need more levels of navigation. You will need to find a balance between the following to approaches:
- A flat approach where many navigation items provide access to information in few steps. This provides quick access to content but may present a confusing number of choices for the user.
- A deep approach where fewer choices at the outset provide access to information in more steps with an increasingly narrower focus. This requires more clicks.
- Post an information item only in one main category and then link from various areas in the website to that content. This will prevent users from being confused by similar information in various areas of the website. It will also be easier to maintain your website.
- Group, order, label and arrange content in a consistent way.