Operation Manual

84 Web Design from Scratch
♦ The level is the number of steps (i.e. jumps) a given page is
removed from the Home page. Considering the Home page as
Level 1, then, section menu pages are Level 2. Pages one step
“below” the section menu are Level 3.
This is basically a “hierarchical” or “tree” model, based on the concept
of one Home page as a root or point of entry, with other pages
branching away from it. (Of course, nothing prevents you from also
installing sideways links, as opposed to just up-down links between
levels.)
Not only is the section/level model well-suited to most kinds of content
likely to end up on the Web, but it particularly lends itself to graphical
reinforcement (see “Navigation”). So there’s an excellent chance that
you, as the site designer, will be able to organize your content and
provide appropriate visual cues to prevent users from getting lost.
Remember, each screen should provide cues as to which section the
user is “in.”
The menu and submenu pages—the Home page and the various section
menu pages—are the key nodes in this structure. As a rule of thumb,
keep the number of menu items per page between four and eight. When
in doubt, increase the number of menu choices before you create a new
submenu page (i.e. a new level). Studies have shown that users prefer a
few dense screens of choices over many layers of simplified menus.
No matter how simple your initial site concept, it needs to be clear to
you before you can make it clear to your users. Sketch out a diagram of
how you envision the various sections and levels. If you use one of the
Page Wizards, you’ll begin with one Home Page linking to half a dozen
Level 2 (section) pages; make sure these sections are named according
to the content you’ll be offering.