Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web

Most people come to the web for information, not for a complete document. They don’t want the user manual; they want instructions for the task they are doing. They don’t want the handbook; they want the answer to specific questions. They want usable, manageable pieces. To present content on the web in the amount that most people want:

Think “topic,” not “book”
Break large documents into topics and subtopics

Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Posted in Content Strategy, Usability Engineering | Posted on August 16, 2010 | Post a comment.

If you enjoyed this, then you should check out Cone Trees and UX Quotes too.

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54 Comments

UXfeeder said on August 16, 2010 at 8:46 pm |

The #UX Bookmark: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web: Most people come to the web for information, not for a … http://bit.ly/bC3Mbf

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UTguru said on August 16, 2010 at 11:03 pm |

The #UX Bookmark: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web: Most people come to the web for information, not for a … http://bit.ly/bC3Mbf

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ouuusiaa said on August 17, 2010 at 9:22 am |

Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web » The UX Bookmark http://bit.ly/cjMU4B 생각해 볼만한 글입니다. #SocialMediaMarketing_ #clien

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ConeTrees said on August 17, 2010 at 5:35 pm |

RT @ouuusiaa: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web » The UX Bookmark http://bit.ly/cjMU4B 생각해 볼만글입#SocialMediaMarketing #ux #usability

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stcuux said on August 18, 2010 at 4:50 am |

RT @ConeTrees: RT @ouuusiaa: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web » The UX Bookmark http://bit.ly/cjMU4B 생각해 볼만글입 #ux

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laurentbourelly said on August 23, 2010 at 12:48 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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SrValladares said on August 23, 2010 at 12:48 am |

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puneetsahalot said on August 23, 2010 at 12:49 am |

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tiglu said on August 23, 2010 at 12:50 am |

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saurabhshah said on August 23, 2010 at 12:51 am |

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emili0ml said on August 23, 2010 at 12:51 am |

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nexAlex said on August 23, 2010 at 12:54 am |

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D_redLock89 said on August 23, 2010 at 12:55 am |

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gazjoy said on August 23, 2010 at 12:58 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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designgnome said on August 23, 2010 at 1:02 am |

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jonknep said on August 23, 2010 at 1:04 am |

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asim7asim said on August 23, 2010 at 1:19 am |

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calichan2 said on August 23, 2010 at 1:22 am |

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garotadpi said on August 23, 2010 at 1:26 am |

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delwilliams said on August 23, 2010 at 1:30 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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FormerlyJason said on August 23, 2010 at 1:37 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

This comment was originally posted on Twitter
bikolor said on August 23, 2010 at 1:40 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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jmlweb said on August 23, 2010 at 1:50 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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Mick_Gill said on August 23, 2010 at 1:51 am |

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stevie258 said on August 23, 2010 at 1:53 am |

RT @katharnavas: RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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dileepgis said on August 23, 2010 at 1:53 am |

RT @katharnavas: RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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gnanaghuru said on August 23, 2010 at 1:53 am |

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sabiadesign said on August 23, 2010 at 1:53 am |

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gregwhitworth said on August 23, 2010 at 1:54 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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jamsandwich said on August 23, 2010 at 2:18 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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aoimedia said on August 23, 2010 at 2:28 am |

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Lio_le_Roux said on August 23, 2010 at 2:39 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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karthi17 said on August 23, 2010 at 2:47 am |

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carlosfrevert said on August 23, 2010 at 3:00 am |

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dacatspjs said on August 23, 2010 at 3:01 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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kmoy said on August 23, 2010 at 3:16 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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vandicla said on August 23, 2010 at 3:31 am |

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juancarlosnunez said on August 23, 2010 at 4:32 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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da_kessler said on August 23, 2010 at 6:15 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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amao5 said on August 23, 2010 at 9:26 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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ConeTrees said on August 23, 2010 at 10:01 am |

Tx for the RT and the follow! RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6 #ux

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RomeroRnD said on August 23, 2010 at 10:48 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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Flacke said on August 23, 2010 at 11:38 am |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6 Marvellous Ginny Redish! MUST READ! #Techcomm #UX

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akeative said on August 23, 2010 at 12:31 pm |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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stcfrance said on August 23, 2010 at 2:58 pm |

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FireheadLtd said on August 23, 2010 at 3:50 pm |

The UX Bookmark » Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web http://bit.ly/a4g6u5 RT @conetrees

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StephMBe said on August 23, 2010 at 6:44 pm |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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goetterup said on August 23, 2010 at 6:44 pm |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

This comment was originally posted on Twitter
andrewgail said on August 23, 2010 at 7:37 pm |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

This comment was originally posted on Twitter
JoCanDo said on August 23, 2010 at 7:56 pm |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

This comment was originally posted on Twitter
alantakashi said on August 23, 2010 at 8:18 pm |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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plurialpro said on August 23, 2010 at 8:22 pm |

Les documents lourds sur le web : de l’usabilité éditoriale… http://fb.me/uPzRj2En

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strabbizm said on August 23, 2010 at 10:12 pm |

RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6

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_robinsonc said on August 25, 2010 at 2:10 pm |

RT @ConeTrees: Tx for the RT and the follow! RT @smashingmag: Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web - http://bit.ly/9fThy6 #ux

This comment was originally posted on Twitter

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Breaking Up Large Documents for the Web

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