Posts vs. Pages & Categories vs. Tags. There is so much confusion about what types of things should be put on a page and what should be in a post. Static vs. Dynamic content is the best way to tackle this. When creating a website, you can edit a menu to include not only pages, but also categories that can create a more complete experience.
WordPress Websites for Engineers: Elevate Your Brand
How to Organize Your Content Through Navigation and Wayfinding
1. How to Organize Your
Content Through Navigation
and Wayfinding
By Shanta R. Nathwani
Content Control Summit
May 2, 2020 at 2 PM
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3. Guidelines
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You will not
finish
everything
today. This
is an
ongoing
process and
takes time.
If you’re not
sure, ask
around. We
all visit
websites.
You’ll
probably
find
You won’t
need your
computer
until Step 5.
This
method is
flexible. The
steps are
not. Trust in
the process.
There is
light at the
4. Shanta R. Nathwani
• President & CEO, Namara
Technologies Inc.
• Former Professor of Web
Development and Design at Sheridan
College
• Given more than 40 WordCamp
talks, mostly beginner and Content
Strategy
https://namara.com 4
Twitter: @ShantaDotCa
Web: https://shanta.ca
6. Main Idea
Posts vs. Pages & Categories vs. Tags. There is so much confusion about what types
of things should be put on a page and what should be in a post. Static vs. Dynamic
content is the best way to tackle this. When creating a website, you can edit a menu
to include not only pages, but also categories that can create a more complete
experience.
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7. What is Wayfinding?
The basic process
of wayfinding
involves four
stages:
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Orientation is the attempt to determine one's location, in
relation to objects that may be nearby and the desired
destination.
Route decision is the selection of a course of direction to the
destination.
Route monitoring is checking to make sure that the selected
route is heading towards the destination.
Destination recognition is when the destination is recognized.[1]
8. Question…
• How many of you, when you visit a website for the first time,
click on a link called “Blog”?
• Comment in the chat if you do or not…
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9. 1. Write down all the things
It will look like a mess, but that’s okay
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10. Post-It Notes
• Used to put down all the
pieces of information that you
want to put on your website
• Later, you will want to colour
code them into categories and
pages
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11. 3-5-7 Principle
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3 CLICKS TO WHERE
YOU NEED TO BE
FEW (VERY FEW)
EXCEPTIONS
NO MORE THAN 5-7
ITEMS IN A LIST.
THIS INCLUDES MENUS
AND LISTS
12. Pages vs. Posts
Pages
• Static information for the most part
• “About Us” is a great example
• Does not use Categories
• Can have sub-pages
Posts
• Dynamic information
• Time sensitive
• Uses Categories & Tags
• “Upcoming Events” or “Events Attended”
are good examples
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13. Categories vs. Tags
Categories
• Major classifications for information
• “Events” is a great example
• Can have sub-categories (much like
pages)
• Hierarchical
Tags
• Describes the content using keywords
• WordPress recommends 5-7 per post
• Non-Hierarchical
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14. 2. Put content to either Categories or Pages
Pages Categories
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About Us Events
Services
Recipes
Contact
Products Portfolio
15. Pages Categories
3. Change the colour of one of the two
Sets
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About Us
Events
Services Recipes
Contact
Products Portfolio
17. Things to keep in mind when organizing
the menu
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Keeping the 3-5-7 Rule, start to structure your menus according to the topic,
not whether your content is a post or a page.
Think about what’s important to your visitors. If you’re not sure, ask around!
About Us is usually kept to the left, while Contact Us is usually on the right.
18. 5. Create your Categories on WordPress
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19. 6. Create the menu on Your website
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20. Resources
• Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web:
http://www.amazon.com/Information-Architecture-Blueprints-
Christina-Wodtke/dp/0735712506
• Don’t Make Me Think: http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-
Think-Revisited-Usability/dp/0321965515
• Evil By Design: http://evilbydesign.info/book/
• WordPress.tv: https://wordpress.tv/2019/11/04/shanta-r-
nathwani-how-to-organize-your-content-through-navigation-
and-wayfinding/
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21. Questions?
• Please feel free to send me a
message!
• https://shanta.ca/contact
Free Offer!
https://namara.com/content-
control-summit-3-questions/
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Notas do Editor
Last week I launched my own company, Namara Technologies Inc. I was a bridesmaid at my friend’s wedding in Mexico last year. So I love this shot
I was a professor at Sheridan College where I taught Web Development and Design using WordPress.
You won’t see the dashboard, but you’ll be able to see the result.
My little bit of WordPress Contributor Day. Milwaukee 2015, we built a deck so that we could have the speaker dinner.
Most people don’t. I’m not talking about SEO, which leads people to your site, but what people do when they get there.
All the things or topics that you might want to put on your website. Some suggestions: About, Contact, Recipes, speaking articles, etc. Don’t use blog!
The point here is two fold: setting up your navigation (Comes later) but more importantly, finding your focus. This method helps you with both.
I’m using WordPress here as the basis, but this applies to any website.
4. Keeping the 3-5-7 Rule, start to structure your menus according to the topic, not whether or not your content is a post or a page. Think about what’s important to your visitors. About Us is usually kept to the left, while Contact Us is usually on the right.
You’ve already done the heavy lifting using the post it notes, now you just have to apply what you’ve learned. I don’t recommend adding categories on the fly. It can detract from your purpose.
Using Categories and pages, mimic what we created using the post it notes.
I'm developing my own courses, so I'd love to hear from you about your questions and what I can do to make it better!