How to Define a Taxonomy for Websites

Defining the taxonomy or structure properly can make or break a website's viability. If the taxonomy is confusing, the site will soon fail. Here's how to get it right.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Understand the target market of the website. If the target audience is not web savvy, a simplistic taxonomy is required. Conversely, if the target audience is composed of perceptive technology professionals, the design structure will need a more exotic taxonomy.
2. Remember that for every click, site traffic can fall by as much as fifty percent. The more a visitor has to click to find something, the more likely she is to leave the website. Keep the number of clicks to a minimum.
3. Define the factors that determine the taxonomy for websites. The first is the business context. Business context refers to the environment in which use of the website occurs. In other words, what is the business objective of the website? Next are the user characteristics of the website target audience. In essence, what are the typical usage patterns and web habits of the typical user of the site? Finally, the content needs to connect to the two aforementioned factors. The content needs to be relevant to the business purpose and the user's needs.
4. Maintain the taxonomy theme throughout the site. Define the theme and purpose of the website and stay true to that idea throughout the construction of the website. Sometimes ideas can become distorted and the original purpose is lost during the design process.
5. Construct standards and guidelines for the taxonomy of a website. If there is no strict definition of the design structure and content relevance, the website continuity and the focus on the original goals is lost. Remember the purpose of the website, the target audience using the site and what the internal goals of the site are.