Few website questions

[Deleted member 224913]

Hi peops, couple of questions for you ..

1. On the main page of my site should i have a 'home' button or does everyone just click the logo to go back to the main page? If I have the home button should it be a picture of a house or just say 'HOME'?

2. Search bar - Where should this be positioned? It is currently positioned top center which I ain`t too keen on. I want it in the top menu bar (on the right) but the guy thats designing me my site ain`t too keen. I just think he can`t be bothered to do it. I`m starting to regret who I choose to design my site as I seem to be constantly trying to alter things.

The site is being made using prestashop and a default template. Not sure what i`m paying for really as I seem to be making the changes, anyway.. rant over!

Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[ryedale]

We always include a home button.. some sites leave it out these days but I think that risks seriously annoying the majority of visitors who don't know to click the logo

Hard to say on search bar without seeing the site but I'd usually be inclined to say top right so long as it is clear. Button or text depends on what you have used for other menu items

 

[MASSEY]

I think top right would be best, although it depends how easy to navigate the site is. If it is hard to locate things you may want to make the bar more obvious, top right is looked at less with the eyes.

Maybe make a home button and the logo link to the home so you please both types of user. I usually click logos to go to the home myself.

 

[Mad Frog]

Remember that you have to treat people as though they're stupid and make things obvious, I'd suggest having a home button as not everyone will work out clicking the logo.

 

[Bill1954]

Remember that most people out there don't have a clue about how websites work so they wouldn't know that you get to the home page by clicking on the logo. Add a home button and have HOME printed on it rather than a little house image, leaves no room for doubt.
As for the search box, we have it top centre and it works ok. I dont think the position matters too much as long as it is easily visible to the customer.
(Notice to SIFT, this is a UK site and CENTRE is the correct spelling in this country)

 

[QuoteSift]

I agree with the post above make it clear for people who don't necessarily understand navigation.

 

[fisicx]

I`m starting to regret who I choose to design my site as I seem to be constantly trying to alter things.

And you will continue to do so. If you want your site to be effective you will be tweaking and changing things for a long time to come. Until the site launches you won't know if the layout works or not. So you might even end up changing the theme

To answer you questions:
Home on the left, contact on the right
Search box at the top of the content not in the sidebar. Look where amazon has got theirs. Consider putting another search box at the bottom of the page.

 

[Deleted member 224913]

Thanks for the replies.

fiscx I paid a web designer to sort the site out and I find myself 'googling' because I`m unhappy with the way it looks. Stressing myself out when I should be concentrating on other things. Just make me want to learn it all myself.

 

[fisicx]

So if you are paying them to sort the site out, don't let them dictate their preferences on the layout. The more you can learn how to adjust a theme yourself the better it will be in the long run - it's going to save you a lot of money.

 

[makeusvisible]

I would suggest almost always including a HOME button. Yes, most people know that the logo should link to the homepage, but not everyone.

In terms of the search bar, that depends on how important it is to the users. For example.... Google's search bar is the most prominent thing on the page....for obvious reason (it is the most important thing on the page). If your running a standard e-commerce business, the search bar should generally speaking be 'visible' but not 'in-your face'. However, if your products are hidden deep within a complex catalog, you might want to consider making the search bar a little more obvious.

Hope that helps.

 

[fisicx]

I did some testing on search boxes. The most effective for a large site with thousands of products was at the top of the category listings - not in the sidebars or the header. The box had a contrating border and a shaded background. We used the words: 'find products' rather than 'search the site'. On the actual product pages the search box was more effective below the product details. We added the current product details to the search box and a label: 'search for alternate products'. This way the visitor could refine their search.

Not saying this will work for every site but it does highlight the need to test things and be prepared to throw your preconceptions out the window.

 

[RoyaleGraphics]

I would include a 'home' button, not everyone would know to click the logo to get back to the homepage

 

[Cloudcandy Sales]

In my opinion HOME button should be there so that no problems should be created on the homepage. The menu bar should be on the left of the page & Search bar should be on the right side of the page so that it looks good...

 

[rob_james]

So if you are paying them to sort the site out, don't let them dictate their preferences on the layout. The more you can learn how to adjust a theme yourself the better it will be in the long run - it's going to save you a lot of money.

Except they are professionals and probably are advising based on best practice. You pay them for a reason

 

[Nuno]

Except they are professionals and probably are advising based on best practice. You pay them for a reason

Interesting assumption.
In my experience there are a lot of pixel monkeys out there whose idea of best practice is whatever is currently fashionable.

 

[rob_james]

Ah, well yes. I guess as a professional and not knowing any "pixel monkeys", I have been sheltered by my own experiences.

Of course, fashionable often is best practice.

 

[lanericardos]

You can use Home and link with logo for use to go home. And right top corner is best place to search element.

 

[WHUK]

Certain protocols must be followed when designing a website and building its navigation structure. And what you are referring to falls under navigation. Ideally the navigation bar should start with a home icon/text - everything you have in this bar should be clear and easily readable.
Another effective way to enhance user experience is the use of breadcrumbs (we don't see them often these days) i.e. Home > Products > Computers > Peripherals. This helps a visitor know about his whereabouts on a website and can find it easy to go back if needed.

Coming back, I'd strongly recommend having an option to reach the index/home page no matter where you are within a website.

 

[ITM House]

I didn't read all the answers so will just share my opinion
1. I would recommend to keep the home button. It's wat users expect so there will be no disappointment and confusion
2. There are some good webdesign samples where search bar is in the senter. But it definitely depends on the layout. If your website is not about frequent search (like big online shop) then I don't see much reason in having it in the center.

 

[astutiumRob]

1. On the main page of my site should i have a 'home' button or does everyone just click the logo to go back to the main page? If I have the home button should it be a picture of a house or just say 'HOME'?

Test it - check the number of clicks 'home' gets vs the logo is the only way to know for sure - it coudl be site/business-type/visitor dependant

(we had home as a tab on our site and it got 4% of the clicks that the logo did, so removed it to give more space to the other options)

2. Search bar - Where should this be positioned? It is currently positioned top center which I ain`t too keen on. I want it in the top menu bar (on the right) but the guy thats designing me my site ain`t too keen. I just think he can`t be bothered to do it. I`m starting to regret who I choose to design my site as I seem to be constantly trying to alter things.

Top left, Top Right,Top Centre are the 3 most common that I 'see' on sites in that order