A proper website needs to be graphically aesthetic while easy to use. The first step in designing a website is structuring the website directory, or home page. From there, links will redirect your viewers to where they want to go. The home page should be set up so that viewers can navigate easily through the website. Most websites have a bar that consists of links running down the side or across the top of the home page. Although there is a lot of wiggle room for where to locate different features, some of the locations that people place links has almost become standardized. For example, most websites offer the option of contacting the company that runs it. The “contact us” link is typically running along the bottom or top bar towards the right. Keeping your website consistent with what others look like will aid accessibility.

With that being said, however, it is important to make your website stand out from the others, especially the competitors. It’s a good idea to incorporate branding, such as logos or slogans, so that your business becomes recognizable. Try to strike up a nice balance between text and graphics. Too many graphics can confused viewers or become distracting. On the other hand, almost no viewer has the patience to search through a wall of text that isn’t broken up by subheads or pictures. Remember, making your website look nice and keeping it easy to navigate are two very important objectives.

The other goal of a website is offering everything the viewer or customer is looking for. For example, if your company sells products, it should offer an E-Commerce, or shopping cart, system that allows people to purchase goods online. Websites are more than another form of advertisements; they need to be functional as well.

With all things considered, the best way to set up the proper structure of a website is to keep in mind these objectives while studying other successful websites. Study what works and what doesn’t. Also, make sure to keep it applicable to your cause or business. In the end, there is no perfect structure for a website, but there is a spectrum of successful websites. Just keep in mind these tips and you could end up with a spectacular website.