The Best Place to Begin Main Content?

Conventional Width of Left Menu Bar in Pixels

[webgaya]

In my new template, it takes 270 pixels for left-menu-bar.
Then only the main content begins.

Is this too much?

Will this hurt to visitors' necks when the read a long article?

Does this affect to visitors' concentration?

Does moving main content to left (as much as possible)
facilitate concentration?

Sharing of any experience, suggestion or advice highly appreciated.

[dlynn]

Hi.
just my .02. :)

270 pixels is not too bad. I like to try to keep mine at a max of 200, but that isn't always possible.

Studies I have read have indicated that the average web site visitors starting focus tends to be at a point somewhere near the middle of the screen (not the page) horizontally, and between 100 - 200 pixels from the top of the screen (good ole 'banner blindness').

That being the case...IMHO I think starting the main content somewhere around 270 x 200 is ok.

hope this helps. :)

--dlynn

[MichaelBluejay]

I don't see any inherent problems with 270 pixels. I think the overall design is much more important. Meaning, we'd have to put it in context, and look at the page as a whole.