Practical Guide to Website Page Layouts - Video 1

Overview

• Target Audience: Web designers or website editors.
• Focus: Turning text content into attractive and effective layouts.
• Structure of the Series:
  • Video 1: Sections and breaking up a page.
  • Video 2: Order of sections and its importance.
  • Video 3: Laying out content into sections.

Importance of Sections

• Definition: Sections (or rows) are visually distinct parts of a webpage.
• Purpose: Helps in creating an organized and user-friendly website layout.
• Example of Sections:
  • Hero section
  • About section
  • Expertise section
  • Meet the team
  • Project section
  • Blog
  • Call to action

Key Points on Sections

• Each section should focus on one main idea or content subject to optimize user experience.
• Avoid combining different ideas in one section to maintain clarity and hierarchy.

Visual Distinction of Sections

• Visual Distinction: Sections should be clearly identifiable (e.g., different backgrounds, spacing).
• Example Website: woldae.com - Shows distinct sections with clear boundaries.
• Example of Poor Layout: Blog posts and services mixed in one column lead to confusion.

Examples of Well-Structured Pages

• Greenbridge.co.uk About Page:
  • Clear sections such as title, commitment to quality, and call to action.
• TorontoPlumber.ca:
  • Sections like services and reasons to choose them, organized with clear headings.

Importance of Headings

• Every Section Should Have a Heading:
  • Makes content scannable and improves user experience.
  • Clear and descriptive headings are essential for good UX.
• Bad Heading Example:
  • Instead of catchy titles, focus on clarity (e.g., "Our Surgical Procedures" instead of marketing phrases).

Making Sections Distinct

• Techniques for Distinction:
  • Background colors or images.
  • Adequate spacing between sections.
  • Dividers can also be effective.
• Example of Horizontal Stacking:
  • Blog layouts with main content and sidebars.
  • Limit to two horizontal sections for clarity.

Hierarchy in Horizontal Sections

• Importance of Hierarchy:
  • Prevents confusion for the user when encountering multiple sections side by side.
  • Ensure one section appears more prominent than the other.
• Caveat: Cultural differences may impact user perception of layouts.

Summary of Key Takeaways

• Page layouts are comprised of sections.
• Sections must be visually distinct and organized.
• Each section needs a clear heading.
• Horizontal sections are possible, but keep them limited and maintain hierarchy.

Conclusion

• End of Video 1.
• Further resources and support options available in the description.
• Encouragement to subscribe for more content.