You could have great content and an attractive site design, but without an information architecture and taxonomy that makes sense to users, your site's success will be limited.

Information architecture (IA) is the structure of the site--the way content is grouped, labeled, and presented on the page.

A good information architecture—

• reveals site content and functionality through easy-to-understand navigation menus
• provides a clear visual hierarchy
• uses labels that are meaningful to site users
• provides signposts that tell users where they are in the site hierarchy and allow them to backtrack

Taxonomy is the system of classification for the content that helps make it retrievable through navigation and search. Taxonomy also allows cross-referencing, indexing, filtering, and sorting of content in a site with a content management system.

Even if you don't plan a full-scale redesign, adjustments to your existing information architecture and/or taxonomy can produce tangible benefits. When users find information and services easily, your business benefits.

Our approach includes—

• analyzing your current site structure (jpg) and content
• analyzing your Web user audiences (jpg)
• mapping the proposed site structure (jpg)
• user testing of paper prototypes (jpg) or functional wireframes (jpg) of the proposed information architecture, to ensure usability
• identifying content relationships and metadata and how they will be used to deliver and manage content

We can develop an information architecture and taxonomy for your web site or intranet and train your staff to maintain them.

Contact us for information about how your web site or intranet can benefit from information architecture and taxonomy.