I can't remember where I read this, but it makes so much sense even I rembered the gist :O)

A visitor will continue into a site or down a long page ifr they have confidence they are getting closer to where they want to go. This includes a sense of direction and orientation that doesn't confuse them.

For instance, it was shown that visitors would gladly click through 5 or 6 pages when they knew they were getting closer to their goal, and weren't overwhelmed so that they didn't know where they were.

Let's say they are looking for a recipe (that is what was used lol)

If they want a type of cake, say Black Forest, and the first page has 'entres', appetizers', and 'desserts' for categories, they go to desserts.

Then there have 'pies', puddings, and cakes to choose from.
On the cakes page, there are sponge and layer cakes, and on the layer cakes page, there are chocolate and 'all others' to choose from.

This is a very sequential and easily understood navigation that leaves little doubt about the outcome, or a sense of how deep you are in the site.


The same applies to a long page. People were comfortable with long pages if it was ordered properly, and gave a sense of structure.

So, if you have a long page full of randomly ordered products, people will get frustrated very quickly because they don't know where they are, where the product they are looking for is, etc. It may be fourth down, or fortieth, they wont waste their time, but even if they start to look, and they farther down without a sense of what is above or below, it is confusing and almost pointless.

But, if everything is in alphabetical order, well, you get the idea.

And, it also said to have 'back to top' links, as well as 'up one section' etc, depending upon how many hundred screens long your page is LOL.

have no sleep for two days, but I hope this makes sense. It is confidence and sense of familiarity that keeps a visitors interest more than 'three clicks' rule.

Good night all....zzzzzzzzzz

__________________
What I am is what I am, are you what you are, or what.
Eddie Brickel