| Getting visitors to your web site is only half the | | | | visible without scrolling up and down or from side to |
| battle. To be effective, your web site has to be | | | | side on screens set to 600 x 800 size? |
| structured to help visitors easily find their way | | | | - Does the site look good and work from both |
| around. If it isn't, visitors will click on to some other | | | | Netscape and IE browsers (4.0 versions and up) |
| site and never give yours a second thought. Yet all it | | | | - Do you have alternate text tags under graphics (to |
| takes is some careful planning to make sure your | | | | allow visitors who are blind or who have graphics |
| visitors can navigate your site without too much | | | | turned off to find important links)? |
| difficulty. To be sure your site is easy to use, go | | | | For ecommerce sites |
| through the site and ask yourself the questions in the | | | | - Can visitors tell immediately what you sell? |
| lists below. Then, show the site to someone who has | | | | - Can they quickly find products and product |
| never seen it before. Ask that person the answers | | | | descriptions? |
| to the questions below, too. | | | | - Are there links to related products (accessories to |
| For all sites | | | | wear with a ladies suit, for instance)? |
| - Can visitors find information easily? | | | | - Can they tell what to click on to place an order? |
| - Is the navigation clear and consistent throughout | | | | - Can they find your phone number from every page |
| the site? | | | | in case they have a question? |
| - Does the back button always take them back to | | | | - Can they find your name and address, and fax |
| the preceding page? | | | | number? |
| - Can visitors bookmark individual pages? | | | | - Can they find your email address? |
| - Do the pages load quickly (10 to 20 seconds) on | | | | - Can they find price information? |
| standard modem connections? | | | | - Can they find information about the company and |
| - Can visitors easily find out who runs the site? | | | | its management? |
| - Can visitors easily find an email address to contact | | | | - Can they find any other important information you |
| if they have difficulties using the site? | | | | want them to have? |
| - Are the most important elements of your site | | | | |