News box
The Design Need:
You want to provide users with an overview of the latest news relevant to your website.
Design Examples:
Design Solution:
Offer a separate area or box containing the most recent headlines on your homepage or other relevant overview pages.
Create a separate area on the homepage and if appropriate on other relevant pages, e.g. the product page. Here display the latest news headings on company news, new products, new features, press releases, world news, etc.. The following are some suggestions to keep in mind when designing a news box:
- Create links to the full articles
- If you have a “news page” that contains a news archive, provide a link to this page
- You don’t have to show date and time info in the news box, unless really relevant for the news items. You should however provide the date and, depending on the type of news, also the time of publication with the full article and on the news page.
When designing a news box, requirements for good headings and links also apply. The most relevant are as follows:
- Use descriptive headings, letting users know what they can expect when they click on a link
- Use the heading as a link text
- Do not use “more” and “click here” links. Links leading to the full story should also tell the user what will happen. If you want to add a separate link to the “full story” you should call it that.
When to use:
This pattern applies to all websites that regularly produce news about their company and/or products, as well as to websites that offer links to the latest news headlines as part of their content. Only use a news box on your homepage or other relevant pages if you have new items regularly. If not it is better to offer a link to a page containing news and or press releases.
Why use this solution (rationale):
Presenting an overview of recent news helps visitors to your website stay up to date with your activities. It provides direct access for those who want more information.
More info elsewhere:
- “Homepage Usability: 50 Websites Deconstructed” Book by Jakob Nielsen and Marie Tahir New Riders Publishing, Indianapolis
- News box design pattern on www.welie.com
