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Multicolumn Layouts and Web Grids. 2. The basic grid. As we dive deeper into the web page analysis and the users' habits the following grid comes up to your attention. It is a simple 3 x 3 square grid. You wonder what the use of all of this is; here's the answer. First let's list all the areas and the uses of each one. Top-Left corner: This is the logo section. Unless included in the headline, the logo can be put up here and the user will quickly assimilate it. Other, not so popular, uses include a quick link menu, for user login or the like; the display of less important, ever changing headlines; dynamic messages and even a funny cartoon or such. It can even be blank without damaging the site. It is often used as the link or union between the header and the left column to form a nice square. When used as a logo or the like, it usually links back to the homepage or the index. Top-Center: This is the headline section. It can be filled up with an image banner or with plain text. The font is commonly large and attractive. A good contrast between the text and the background is required and any supporting images are welcome. The key point for this area is to be as visually attractive to the visitor as possible. Although the visitor will surely look first at the body (by instinct), it is the headline what will make him stay or leave, much of the site image is built upon a proper headline; if it looks professional and serious, the website will be considered so, otherwise it won't. Top-Right corner: This is a section that is normally left aside, empty; but it doesn't have to be so, many sites have found that login forms, help links and icons, user accounts features and even the date fill up that space quite nicely. Even if you do decide to leave this spot empty it doesn't have to look bad, if blended correctly with the appropriate color it can mix nicely with the headline and nobody will wonder why there's nothing there. Center-Left column: This is the all time favorite spot for the navigation links and menus. The use will look here for quick links that lead him to the page he is looking for. The links in here have to be short yet descriptive. Normally they are organized into a bulleted list and it has become common to use either DHTML or Flash to make expanding menus that react to the user's input. This spot looks better with just the right amount of links, if there are too few or too many, the user might be confused and not put the required attention to that area. Center: The center of the page is by far the first spot of the site that will be gazed upon, it is important that the content her is clear, roomy (not cluttered) and visually appealing. Inline images go well with this area and a balanced mix of empty spaces, images and text will be nothing but comfortable to the viewer. Center-Right column: The preferred section for secondary content. All unrelated stuff that you wish to put up will blend nicely here. Polls, shout boxes, affiliate links, mail lists, link of the day, image of the day, etc, will all be accepted here. It might not have the greatest focus, but the user is bound to look here for content that is not found elsewhere. Advertisements also go here. Bottom-Left corner: The good ol' related stuff place. In here you can put all the related resources / articles / links / etc. that you want. When the user is finished reading the content he will have the urge to know more or read more on that subject, he will look for it at the left, right at the end of the content and then move up if it is not found there. Footer: All sites require you to have some sort of legal disclaimer, copyrights statement or even your name just to settle all possible legal disputes. If there are any terms or agreements to be accepted, sets of rules or any other boundaries or limits to be set, this is the place to put them. All that stuff that is called the fine print in contracts and legal papers is to be held down here; away from the common visitor view yet accessible for anyone that wants to read it. Bottom-Right corner: Not much left to put down here, almost anything will suit, stats, legal stuff continuation, help links, contact us links, etc. This part is rarely seen unless all other spots have already been searched. |
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