Second-generation web sites are organized around the concept of "layers". Visitors advance through your web site and delve into greater detail about your theme as they go deeper into the layers. In contrast, third-generation sites are organized around the concept of metaphors in which the visitors experience the site as if it were the "real-world". This course focuses on second-generation sites.

Structure of Layers

	The first layer is your home page that introduces your web site and catches the attention of your visitors.
	The second layer contains the pages that are linked from your main navigation bar. These pages give additional detail about your theme but are still general in nature; they also give links to pages in the third layer.
	Third-layer pages give more detail about your theme. If your visitors advance this far, they are seriously studying your web site. Because this depth of study takes time, third-layer (and higher) visitors often become return visitors.

Depending on your theme and how much information you want to provide, your site might have four or five or more layers. Each layer is designed to increase the interest of your visitors in your theme and hence the motivation of your visitors to remain at your site and to return to your site.

There are different ways that you can organize your web site and still have your site "layered". Think of your site as a story, and organize the material in a way that enhances the telling of your story. This is a fun chance to be creative!

Layers Affect Loading Times

Make your home page short such that it loads quickly--your readers will appreciate it! Keep the page short by restricting it to (a) a motivating but short introduction to your web site, and (b) links to the rest of your site. Write and illustrate the introduction such that it captures the attention of your visitors and motivates them to go to the next layer.

By having a "layered" site, you will have many small pages instead of a few large pages. This allows your site to be loaded in small segments, and this will make for faster reading of your site by your visitors. Most people don't mind waiting a few seconds for a page to load, but they won't wait longer than 10 or 15 seconds!

Avoid Dead End Pages

We hope that visitors will use our home page as the doorway to our web site, but any page that can be indexed by search services or e-mailed by friends might be used to enter our site. Thus, be sure that every page has a link to your home page and links to related pages.

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