tedster - 5:07 pm on Apr 8, 2004 (gmt 0)

One of my most successful clients has used the inverted "L" for five years and there's no reason in the stats for them to change. They get constant feedback that their site is extremely easy to use, and with 1600 pages of technical content, that's saying something. They only introduced a site search when the hit 1100 pages.

One of the areas people overlook when aiming for 7 (and as I said, I see the very best results at 5) is that most sites have sets of utility pages that are only needed in particular moments. As long as that information is easily found, it really doesn't need to be a main menu selection.

HOME
In a pinch, why not just link this to the logo and then let it alone

CONTACT - ABOUT - WELCOME - WHO WE ARE - INTRO - LOCATIONS
Often a big excuse for corporate-speak blah blah blah, and not an attractive click grabber as a main menu item.

I like placing basic contact information in the footer of EVERY page instead of giving it a dedicated spot on the menu. If there is a group of "utility style" information that is not part of the core of the website, why not group it somewhere else on the page instead of part of the main menu.

After all, this is information that is mostly of use once they are essentially converted. When the utility stuff is tucked away elsewhere, then the main menu can really grab the eyeballs with it's message of:

USING WIDGETS
LUXURY WIDGETS
CHOCOLATE WIDGETS
CUSTOMIZED WIDGETS
etc.