I think the the 3-click-rule

quantiva — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:44:07 +0000

I think the the 3-click-rule still applies in today's websites.

First, well I agree even if I visit a site and didn't find what I was looking for, I'm gone!

But when you come accross a site that is so informative, you tend to dig deeper to find out more, correct?

For example, in SEO it is encouraged that you have dynamic contents. According to SEO experts, the best thing to do this is to write unique articles. Thus making your site expands, and possibly going away from 3-click-rule. The solution for this: Put or create sub navigation bar on the right or left hand site, which conteains articles related to the parent articles. In this way, you can have a big sites but still stick to the 3-click-rule.

What do you think?

Here's a good article on

Megan — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:36:47 +0000

Here's a good article on superfluous clicks. This is definitely a no-no but something we probably don't test for a lot of the time.

interesting comments. i

serpico — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:08:01 +0000

interesting comments. i agree i think users are getting less patient when online

If the visitor is arriving

pr0gr4mm3r — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:39:46 +0000

If the visitor is arriving from a search page, you had better have the desired content on that page or no more than one click away, or the visitor will return to the search results in frustration, I reckon.

Agree with that - if I don't see the result on that page, back to Google I go for the next result.

Well, it depends how they

decibel.places — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:46:13 +0000

Well, it depends how they are arriving at your site.

From the standard landing page, perhaps 3 clicks is a good rule of thumb, although on modern Web 2.x sites there are many short teasers that can lead to the desired content in one click.

If the visitor is arriving from a search page, you had better have the desired content on that page or no more than one click away, or the visitor will return to the search results in frustration, I reckon.

I think this is older advice

Megan — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:34:46 +0000

I think this is older advice - I wonder if usability experts still consder it to be true... for a small site, yes, but for larger sites you might tend to make pages more complicated just to make that 3 click rule. In some cases it might be easier to add a click or two if the pages are simpler and the links you need are easier to find.