Site Map Usability
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Site Map Usability
- Topics:
- Information Architecture
Site maps can save users from being lost on a crowded site by serving as an alternative method for navigating sites. Well-designed site maps provide a visualization of the site’s hierarchy and groupings, which help people find the information they seek. We present techniques for presenting:
- Alphabetical site indexes
- Dynamic diagrams
- Two-dimensional lists
This 155-page report offers 47 design recommendations for creating effective site maps. Discussions and 87 screenshots supplement the findings.
Topics covered
- Benefits of a site map
- Site maps today
- Behavioral patterns
- Frequency of use
- Hunting strategies
- How participants define site maps
- Attributes of site maps
- Poorly rated and low success
- Highly rated and high success
- Checklist of 47 guidelines for improving site maps
- Site map link: Name and placement
- Navigation
- Relationship of the site map to the site
- One column vs. multiple columns
- Page density
- Design
- Content
- Alphabetical indices
- User-based diagrams representing their mental models of websites
- Methodology
Sites Tested
- BMW USA (marketing site for cars)
- CDNOW (e-commerce)
- Citysearch Boston (visitor info)
- Documentum (high-tech product)
- Harvard Pilgrim (health insurance)
- Interwoven (high-tech product)
- iRobot Corporation (high-tech/e-commerce)
- Marriott (hotels, with online booking)
- Mercedes Benz USA (marketing site for cars)
- Museum of Modern Art (non-profit)
- New Jersey Transit (local transportation)
- Novell (B2B)
- Salon (online magazine)
- Scholastic (children's books)
- Siemens Medical Solutions (B2B)
- Texas Roadhouse (restaurant chain)
- The Knot (wedding information/e-commerce)
- TiVo (high-tech product)
- U.S. Administration on Aging (government)
- U.S. Treasury Department (government)
What’s new in the 2nd Edition?
The 2nd edition contains additional recommendations, increasing from 28 to 47 guidelines.
8.8 MB PDF