If you’ve spent any time in the world of web design, you’ve probably heard the term “above the fold.” This term originated in the newspaper industry, where it refers to the content that is literally on the top half of the page – the part that’s showing when the paper is folded in half.
In web design, the term has a similar if slightly different meaning – “above the fold” is the portion of a web page that displays without having to scroll. This area can vary from screen to screen, depending on resolution – a few years ago, most people viewed websites at a 600×800 resolution, which is a significantly smaller area than the standard 1024×768 resolution enjoyed by around 85% of internet users today.
To determine where you consider the fold to be on your website, do a little research – define your target audience, then find statistics to confirm their web browsing habits – you might find that a significantly older audience also has older computers, for example, and that a smaller screen area best serves your needs.
What should go above the fold? All your most important content, as well as the elements that define your brand. Some of these include:
Your logo
Consistent branding is important, and every site should have a standard header that includes the logo and tagline for a company or organization.
Site navigation
Strong site navigation is one of the most critical elements of any website – and it should always be above the fold. Take the time to make sure your site content is well organized into appropriate “buckets” and let the site nav naturally guide users through your content.
Newsletter signup
Building a mailing list is important for any business or organization – it provides a direct communication channel with your most devoted followers. Make sure your newsletter signup is prominent and easy to find.
Social media links
Social media is a critical part of any web presence these days, and you’ll want to make finding your social networks easy for users – it provides a way for them to follow you without having to remember to come back and check the site on a frequent basis.
Search
With websites becoming bigger and more complex by the day, search is becoming an important navigational feature to find content that might not be featured front and center – be sure your site’s search function is easy for users to find.
Your most important and up-to-the-minute content
Whatever is important to you right now is what should be above the fold on your homepage. A scroller or “carousel” that displays multiple items can be used to maximize space if you have a lot of content you want to feature on a daily or weekly basis.
Although mobile devices are changing the game in terms of standard screen size – and even orientation, with landscape vs. portrait viewing on many phones – understanding how to design for the fold is still an important best practice in website design.