Information architecture describes how content on the website is grouped and linked together. Before drawing a menu in the freelance web design process, it is necessary to determine which question the visitor is looking for an answer to. The company's department names are not always the same as the words the customer uses.
Take content inventory first
Consider a catalog design service: the visitor may want to see samples, learn about conditions affecting price, or understand how to prepare a product listing. Don't cram these needs into one long introductory paragraph. Let the service page, portfolio and preparation guide take on different roles; Make explanatory connections between them.
For each page, write the purpose, target user, content steward, and next step. Also include old unclaimed pages in your inventory. You won't lose valuable links during migration thanks to legacy URL scheme.
Test menu labels with a small task
The user was asked: “You want to design packaging for three products, where do you start?” Give the question. Observe the first link he chooses and the tags he is unsure of. If our “solutions” are too broad, “Packaging design” may be more understandable. Group related services into subpages instead of moving each word to the main menu.
- Keep essential visitor tasks visible in the main menu.
- Prevent similar scopes from overlapping in category names.
- Return to the category and contact from the detail page.
- Also try long titles and sublevels in the mobile menu.
Single page or separate service pages?
If the offer scope is narrow and the campaign goal is single, one landing page may be sufficient. If there are different services, examples and questions, separate pages provide a more descriptive structure. Reproducing the same content by simply adding the city name to the end of the word does not meet a real content need.
With Selçuk Aker we can clarify these tasks before the page count when planning website design. Delivering information architecture is not just a boxy diagram; It is a working document that specifies the content needs of each page.
Frequently asked questions
How many links should be in the menu?
There is no universal number. Establish a clear and manageable structure on mobile that covers priority tasks; Move secondary links to relevant sections.
Is sitemap the same as information architecture?
No. XML sitemap reports URLs to search engines. Information architecture organizes the user's understanding and finding of the content.
Is it necessary to remove existing pages?
First examine the content, links and search data. Set the appropriate target and routing plan for the pages to be merged.
