[First post, first site]

I'm creating my first site (for my husband's business), the css is looking okay and all the content is almost written but I'm wondering how to split the content (and I'm not sure of the terminology so googling first is difficult!).

It's a simple 760 width layout with a banner, horizontal navigation for main sections and a left column for the sub navigation on each page.

As an example, say the main navigation is

Home | Fruit | Vegetables | Meats

The sub navigation for the Fruit section would be, e.g.:

Apples
Oranges
Pears
Bananas

The content for apples, oranges, pears and bananas are currently about a paragaph each, probably about the height of an 800x600 screen.

Is it better to separate the content into different pages (apples.htm, oranges.htm, etc.) or put all four items on the same page with anchor links to the h1 elements?

Also, if the content should grow at any stage, would the second option still be viable?

I hope this is clear, any advice, preferences would be much appreciated!

I think it would have higher usability if the items were on the same page and anchored rather than make a new page for each one. I don't know what types of content you have but it may be faster loading time if you kept them onthe same page.


Hope this helps! )


p.s. I'm a graphic design major. lol

Hi, building a new and sort of first website myself.
Managing the content is a tuffy but well worth the time getting it right otherwise you're left with a site with too many pages which your audience won't be happy to sit there and sift through.
If you can keep something to one page - do it! I've come to the conclusion that if you've got lots of information and are thinking about putting it on separate pages its likely that the extra pages wont get looked at and so all that extra time, effort and information will get ignored.

PLUS! Less pages = less pages to update when and where you need it.

***Consider using frames to squish all the content you need onto one page so that your pages stay neat and screen sized***

Good luck! Would love to see it when its done...

thelastmelon

I'll counter the last post by suggesting that if the content is large enough it deserves to be on it's own page. Keeping content relevant and concise to the toppic at hand allows you to narrow the focus of a page which can help greatly with SEO efforts and placement in the SERPS.

Whatever you do, stay away from a framed site. Search spiders simply choke on them and get lost.

If you have the option to use a programming platform like php, asp, or cfm I'd recommend using it if only for the 'include' functionality. This would allow you to create a page template that includes the header, footer, advertising, navigation and leaves the content static. When it comes time to add a piece to the navigation you simply modify one file as it is included in every page that you serve. Very scalable.

"Whatever you do, stay away from a framed site. Search spiders simply choke on them and get lost."

oh dear?!?!?! are frames that bad? I had no idea...!

thelastmelon

If I want to read about apples them I'm going to be disapointed if you talk about oranges.
I don't know your reason for talking about apples but if the content is good, if I'm interested in apples because of your text then you done good.!
If apples are just another fruit then squash them into you other fruit page. You still may end up with a nice drink!

I'm sorry for the delay in replying (lost my password, couldn't log back in ) but a big thank you for all the help.

I think we're going to go for "all fruit one page; all meat on another page" to start off with, using Go to top links for those on 800x600 resolution (about 15% of visitors to date).

And I promise that frames have never, ever been an option...