Category Archives: News Sites

Clear Interface And Easier Updates With Content Modules

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Organizing your website template in content modules will make your site look more organized and will make it easier to update if you are displaying a lot of information that has to be changed regularly.

"define modules where the information is going to be displayed and link them to the database…"

Insert information into databases through a content management system, then define modules where the information is going to be displayed and link them to the database. This way users know where to expect the information they want as the general look and feel will be more organized.

Sky Sports Organized in Modules

 

A web design example could be Sky Sports, the online version of the TV channel. They have a loot of content that is organized in boxes and modules that are connected to a special part of the database. This also help journalists to know exactly where their articles and pictures will be displayed. Read here more  Design vs Art articles about Content Management. 

Embedding Links Into Content

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Embedding links into your content encourages users to visit other sections of your website. Placing links into articles also gives more context and value to users.

"A common problem is that users do not understand where the link could go…"

It’s important to pay attention on the way these links are done. A common problem is that users do not understand where the link could go. On the example below, taken from News.com, it’s clear for most users that clicking on "struck licensing agreements" would link to an article about that. On the other hand, clicking on "Imeem", would take the user to the company’s website or to other news about it?

News.com Link Example

 

The New York Times goes one step forward making embedded links more understandable, predictable and user friendly. As the user hover over the candidates’ names in this politics article, the link label appears telling users that they would be taken to more articles about that candidate. Using proper link labeling improves usability and avoid confusion. (Mouse arrow is not displayed).

The New York Times Link Example

 

Fixed-Width Screen Size Example

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Reading large amounts of text on a website could be not very comfortable. If you are designing, for example, a news website you have to take care about the screen size.

In order to make reading more enjoyable The New York Times, as well as other newspaper websites, use a fixed-width screen size. It doesn’t matter how big the browser window is, the site width stays the same:

New York Time A 20071226

New York Time B 20071226

If they were not using a fixed screen size users could make their browsers too big and the text lines would be too long to easily read them.

This web design and usability pattern help users read the information you are offering them, having as a result better chances of them finishing reading the text and staying longer in your website.