Ch.5 The Homepage

Hello everyone! I had Ch. 5 from Usability. I have put some bullet points together and I hope this helps everyone for the test tomorrow! Good Luck!

CH. 5- THE HOMEPAGE
*A homepage should clearly communicate the site's purpose, and show all major options available on the Web site.
*Generally, the majority of the homepage should be visible "above the fold" and should contain a limited amount of prose text.
*Designers should provide easy access to the homepage from every page in the site.

5.1- Enable Access to the Homepage
* Many users return to the homepage to begin a new task or to start a task over again.
* Many sites place the organization's logo on the top of every page and link it to the homepage. While many users expect that a logo will be clickable, many other users will not realize that it is a link to the homepage. Therefore, include a link labeled "home" near the top of the page to help those users.

5.2 Show All Major Options on the Homepage
* Users should not be required to click down to the second or third level to discover the full breadth of options on a web site.
* Be selective about what is placed on the homepage, and make sure the options and links presented there are the most important ones on the site.

5.3- Create a Positive First Impression of Your Site
* In terms of conveying quality, the homepage is probably the most important page on a web site.
* You will not get a second chance to make a good first impression on a user.

5.4- Communicate the Web Site's Value and Purpose
* Emphasize what the site offers that is of value to users, and how the site differs from key competitors.
* Do not expect users to read a lot of text or to click into the site to determine a site's purpose.
* Indicating what the site offers that is of value to users, and how the site differs from key competitors is important because most people will spend little time on each site.

5.5- Limit Prose Text on the Homepage
* The first action of most users is to scan the homepage for link titles and major headings.
* Requiring users to read large amounts of prose text can slow them considerable, or they may avoid reading it altogether.

5.6- Ensure the Homepage Looks Like a Homepage
* It is important the pages "lower" in a site are not confused with the homepage.
* Users have come to expect that certain actions are possible from the homepage, such as, finding important links, accessing a site map or index, and conducting a search.

5.7- Limit Homepage Length
* Information that cannot be seen in the first screenful may be missed altogether- this can negatively impact the effectiveness of the web site. If users conclude that what they see on the visible portion of the page is not of interest, they may not bother scrolling to see the rest of the page.
* Some users take a long time to scroll down "below the fold" indicating a reluctance to move from the first screenful to subsequent information. Older users and novices are more likely to miss information that is placed below the fold.

5.8- Announce Changes to a Website
* Users may not know what to do where they are suddenly confronted with a new look or navigation structure. Therefore, you should communicate any planned changes to users ahead of time.
* Following completion of changes, tell users exactly what has changed and when the changes were made. Assure users that all previously available information will continue to be on the site.

5.9- Attend to Homepage Panel Width
* The width of panels seems to be critical for helping users understand the overall layout of a web site.