Buy Phentermine Without Prescription http://cleartypemedia.com/press/2009/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-page-fold/ Dedicated to improving government web sites through best practices and social media. Mon, 12 Apr 2010 07:51:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Buy Phentermine Without Prescription http://cleartypemedia.com/press/2009/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-page-fold/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Jin Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:23:08 +0000 http://cleartypemedia.com/press/?p=291#comment-99 @Ted, thank you for sharing that link! I've since discovered some other articles on Fold as well. Here's one from a developer's POV: http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001307.html @Ted, thank you for sharing that link! I’ve since discovered some other articles on Fold as well. Here’s one from a developer’s POV:

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001307.html

]]> Buy Phentermine Without Prescription http://cleartypemedia.com/press/2009/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-page-fold/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Ted Goas Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:28:24 +0000 http://cleartypemedia.com/press/?p=291#comment-98 Great article... I enjoy reading different takes on the fold. I read this article the other week: http://www.getelastic.com/you-gotta-know-when-to-fold-em/. It suggests that people often scroll unless there are roadblocks. WhichTestWon.com even did a related split test (described briefly at the end). Great article… I enjoy reading different takes on the fold. I read this article the other week: http://www.getelastic.com/you-gotta-know-when-to-fold-em/. It suggests that people often scroll unless there are roadblocks.

WhichTestWon.com even did a related split test (described briefly at the end).

]]> Buy Phentermine Without Prescription http://cleartypemedia.com/press/2009/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-page-fold/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Jin Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:10:05 +0000 http://cleartypemedia.com/press/?p=291#comment-66 @Ben, I agree with what you said. You bring up a good point about web apps that I didn't get to mention in my post. The principle is the same, that we should show the most important and repetitively used tasks above the fold. We do this not because users don't scroll, but to to let them avoid the scroll-then-click routine. It's just better user experience that way. Typically it's not too difficult to put key functions on the top. But there are times due to the content displayed on a web app page, certain functions get buried. For example, the pagination below a long list or data table, or a submit(or next) button at the end of a long form. In these examples, I think a better practice would be to have the server code detect the number of rows of data returned, then display the pagination both on top <em>and</em> below the table; have the submit button on the side of the form, and fixed positioned so it's always visible as the user scrolls through a long form. (assuming they're in edit mode). Web apps are definitely more challenging to design, since they're being used repetitively by users of various level of tech savviness. The best way I find is to observe how users really use the app. @Ben, I agree with what you said. You bring up a good point about web apps that I didn’t get to mention in my post. The principle is the same, that we should show the most important and repetitively used tasks above the fold. We do this not because users don’t scroll, but to to let them avoid the scroll-then-click routine. It’s just better user experience that way.

Typically it’s not too difficult to put key functions on the top. But there are times due to the content displayed on a web app page, certain functions get buried. For example, the pagination below a long list or data table, or a submit(or next) button at the end of a long form. In these examples, I think a better practice would be to have the server code detect the number of rows of data returned, then display the pagination both on top and below the table; have the submit button on the side of the form, and fixed positioned so it’s always visible as the user scrolls through a long form. (assuming they’re in edit mode).

Web apps are definitely more challenging to design, since they’re being used repetitively by users of various level of tech savviness. The best way I find is to observe how users really use the app.

]]> Buy Phentermine Without Prescription http://cleartypemedia.com/press/2009/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-page-fold/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Ben Rossi Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:12:57 +0000 http://cleartypemedia.com/press/?p=291#comment-63 Jin, Do you have any thoughts or advice on below-the-fold design for web applications? My inclination is that as long as the appropriate controls, navigation and expected options are always available, that content and form objects could be located below the visual fold. Obviously there is a lot of gray area in that statement, and as always, it delves into the "well, it depends" conversation when you have to prioritize application content and functionality, but I haven't found anything that really addresses the topic as a set of best practices. Thanks! Jin,

Do you have any thoughts or advice on below-the-fold design for web applications? My inclination is that as long as the appropriate controls, navigation and expected options are always available, that content and form objects could be located below the visual fold.

Obviously there is a lot of gray area in that statement, and as always, it delves into the “well, it depends” conversation when you have to prioritize application content and functionality, but I haven’t found anything that really addresses the topic as a set of best practices.

Thanks!

]]> Buy Phentermine Without Prescription http://cleartypemedia.com/press/2009/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-page-fold/comment-page-1/#comment-59 Jin Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:18:31 +0000 http://cleartypemedia.com/press/?p=291#comment-59 @Victor, me too. @Robin, I agree. The top of the homepage typically establishes branding and purpose. @Sean, thank you for that link. Some interesting information there. I think the best way is still to do some A/B testing post launch, set up conversion goals. That way we can study how effective the layout and design elements are. @Victor, me too.

@Robin, I agree. The top of the homepage typically establishes branding and purpose.

@Sean, thank you for that link. Some interesting information there. I think the best way is still to do some A/B testing post launch, set up conversion goals. That way we can study how effective the layout and design elements are.

]]> Buy Phentermine Without Prescription http://cleartypemedia.com/press/2009/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-page-fold/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Sean Power Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:52:23 +0000 http://cleartypemedia.com/press/?p=291#comment-58 I encourage you to use data to determine if and when people actually scroll. A 2007 ClickTale study shows that 76% of users scroll a bit, and only 22% of users actually scroll to the end of a page. http://blog.clicktale.com/2007/10/05/clicktale-scrolling-research-report-v20-part-1-visibility-and-scroll-reach/ The problem with the above study is that it fails to differentiate between Media, Transaction, Collaborative and SaaS sites - which all have vastly different user behaviors. You're giving great advice. It's important to note that fold consideration completely change based on the nature of the site (or the section of a site) that a person is visiting. Incidently, my co-author and I have a chapter dedicated to these considerations in our book called "Complete Web Monitoring". I encourage you to use data to determine if and when people actually scroll. A 2007 ClickTale study shows that 76% of users scroll a bit, and only 22% of users actually scroll to the end of a page.

http://blog.clicktale.com/2007/10/05/clicktale-scrolling-research-report-v20-part-1-visibility-and-scroll-reach/

The problem with the above study is that it fails to differentiate between Media, Transaction, Collaborative and SaaS sites – which all have vastly different user behaviors.

You’re giving great advice. It’s important to note that fold consideration completely change based on the nature of the site (or the section of a site) that a person is visiting.

Incidently, my co-author and I have a chapter dedicated to these considerations in our book called “Complete Web Monitoring”.

]]> Buy Phentermine Without Prescription http://cleartypemedia.com/press/2009/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-page-fold/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Robin Cannon Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:38:04 +0000 http://cleartypemedia.com/press/?p=291#comment-52 Good post. I read recently some really interesting user testing which demonstrated that excessive content above the fold actually leads to less engagement. A clean look with clear purpose above the fold, even if there's less information, actually encourages users to investigate the site and read more content as a whole. Good post. I read recently some really interesting user testing which demonstrated that excessive content above the fold actually leads to less engagement. A clean look with clear purpose above the fold, even if there’s less information, actually encourages users to investigate the site and read more content as a whole.

]]> Buy Phentermine Without Prescription http://cleartypemedia.com/press/2009/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-page-fold/comment-page-1/#comment-46 WebDev Bookmarks for October 22nd | hbflyte.com Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:54:10 +0000 http://cleartypemedia.com/press/?p=291#comment-46 [...] What You Need to Know About Page Fold | ClearType Press – Building a Better Government Web – Excellent article translating the “fold” from newspapers to digital. I will argue that there is no fold (spoon either) and that the average user will start scrolling without even being aware of it. But this is where heat maps and usability testing give you a real-world perspective on how people use your site. [...] [...] What You Need to Know About Page Fold | ClearType Press – Building a Better Government Web – Excellent article translating the “fold” from newspapers to digital. I will argue that there is no fold (spoon either) and that the average user will start scrolling without even being aware of it. But this is where heat maps and usability testing give you a real-world perspective on how people use your site. [...]

]]> Buy Phentermine Without Prescription http://cleartypemedia.com/press/2009/10/what-you-need-to-know-about-page-fold/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Victor Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:50:18 +0000 http://cleartypemedia.com/press/?p=291#comment-45 I ALWAYS scroll down the home page. My assumption is that there's more information below that they're hiding from me. Maybe I'm just paranoid. I ALWAYS scroll down the home page. My assumption is that there’s more information below that they’re hiding from me. Maybe I’m just paranoid.

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