From Apply Now,
Your Guide to Web Usability.
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The positioning of content is an important part of website usability. There are standards users expect, such as the content being located on the middle of the page and surrounded by navigation, which should always be met to ensure the uptake and readability of a site. Here we will run through some of these expectations so that you can ensure your site meets the minimum requirements for content usability:

• Always place the important information above the page fold
  Users read from left to right and then top to bottom, and often they scan to ascertain the relevance of a page before either reading on or exiting the site. Therefore, it’s important to build sites with the key information on the top, i.e. above the fold, as you don’t want vital information missed because the users didn’t scroll.


• Grouping Content
  If there is a connection between content, such as images related to a particular article, then they should be grouped to show the relationship. This can be done via several methods such as positioning based on proximity, use of similar styles and so on.


• ‘Return Home’ link
  A standard, users expect is the ability to return home from any page by clicking the logo on the top left corner. This is such common practice now that users rely on this as another navigation tool for the site.


• Search Engine
  The search engine is generally expected on the top header to give users quick access to a tool that will help find the information they need.


• Advertisement Banners
  Ads should be placed on the top of the page, outside the layout of the site to ensure the continuity and structure of the designs are not disturbed. It is also becoming popular to place ads in right panel, once again away from the main content area of the site.


• Login / Registration
  It has become the norm to place the login and registration details on the upper left corner as this is one of the first areas the user will look when entering a site.


• Shopping Carts
  For E-Commerce sites, the shopping cart (or basket) should be placed on the top right corner, as this is another standard users have come to expect.

These are just a few of standards expected on websites that will help you get started but if you wish to learn more, studies such as those conducted by Bernard can provide you with more details.