The web is full of interesting reads on web design, but there’s also a sizable amount of nonsense and fluff out there. So, just like every other week, I spent a bit of time looking for the must-reads so you can get the information you need in a quick digest. This week we take a look at how BBC News switched to responsive web design, how to handle local content with multiple locations, and three ways to improve the navigation of your website.
Responsive Web Design – Episode 43: BBC News by Karen McGrane and Ethan Marcotte
“We’ve obviously seen the move of our audience from using desktops primarily to using mobiles and tablets; and on weekends, often more than fifty percent of our traffic is from those kind of devices.”
For those who don’t know, Marcotte was the first person to define responsive web design in this article and book, and he currently runs a podcast with partner Karen McGrane. In this week’s podcast, the two sat down with Niko Vijayaratnam and John Cleveley who are responsible for the four year evolution of the BBC’s responsive website and discussed what that process looked like.
I also highly recommend the previous podcasts on the site, and I recommend giving Marcotte and McGrane a listen every now and then on your commute to work in the future.
3 Essential Rules for Effective Navigation Design by Ryan Gittings
“There’s more than one way of looking at navigation. You could say that it’s a focal element on your website that allows your customers to find what they are looking for without confusion or unnecessary clicks. Equally, you could argue that it’s a way to gently lead your customers to the most important information on your site, in order to generate sales or inquiries.
Chances are, it’s both.”
Navigation is critically important to your website’s success, but it can be difficult getting it right. You want to be able to control the way your audience interacts with your content, so you have to plan out your websites navigation accordingly to make it as easy as possible for the visitor. Ryan Gittings suggests three rules to keep in mind: finalize your information architecture first, keep it simple, and choose orientation carefully. Check out his article learn how to achieve these goals and drive more conversion with your navigation.
Local Content Silos: The Secret To Local Search Success by Greg Gifford
“We’ve been using local content silos for years, and as Google has tweaked the local algorithm, they’ve only become more powerful. After last summer’s Pigeon Update (which occurred last Christmas for those of you in Canada, the UK, and Australia), which put more emphasis on “traditional web ranking factors,” local content silos have been working like a charm.”
For a business with one website but multiple locations, local SEO can be quite the challenge. One way to tackle that issue is with local content silos. From local blogs, to off-site signals and Google My Business listings, Gifford takes you through what a local content silo is, how to build one, and how it can be used to bolster your local SEO.
What did I miss?
If you have any other articles worth sharing that I didn’t mention here, share them in the comments below!