Organizing Links with Headers

A well-organized link page guides visitors naturally to the information they need. This guide will help you create a logical, intuitive structure using headers and smart organization techniques.

Why Organization Matters

Good link organization:

• Reduces visitor confusion
• Increases engagement rates
• Improves click-through rates
• Creates visual hierarchy
• Reflects your church's priorities
• Makes updates easier

Using Headers Effectively

Headers are your primary tool for creating organized sections on your link page. They act as signposts, helping visitors quickly find what they're looking for.

Creating Headers

1. Click "Add New Link"
2. Select "Header" as the link type
3. Enter your header text
4. Optionally add an emoji or icon
5. Leave URL field empty
6. Save the header

Header Best Practices

Keep It Short

• ✅ "CONNECT"
• ✅ "WORSHIP"
• ❌ "Ways to Get Connected With Our Church Community"

Be Consistent

• Choose either ALL CAPS or Title Case
• Stick to one style throughout
• Use similar lengths

Use Visual Cues

• Add relevant emojis
• Choose meaningful icons
• Create visual separation

Recommended Header Structure

Here's a proven structure that works well for most churches:

🙏 WORSHIP & SERVICES
  Essential worship information

💝 GIVE & SERVE  
  Giving and volunteer opportunities

📚 GROW & LEARN
  Spiritual growth resources

👥 CONNECT & COMMUNITY
  Ways to get involved

📱 STAY IN TOUCH
  Contact and social media

Drag-and-Drop Organization

The drag-and-drop interface makes reorganizing your links intuitive and fast.

How to Use Drag-and-Drop

1. Locate the Grip Handle

   • Look for the ⋮⋮ icon next to each link
   • Appears on hover
   • Indicates draggable items

2. Click and Hold

   • Click the grip handle
   • Hold down mouse button
   • Link lifts slightly

3. Drag to New Position

   • Move link up or down
   • Blue line shows drop location
   • Links shift to make room

4. Release to Drop

   • Let go at desired position
   • Link snaps into place
   • Order saves automatically

Advanced Drag Techniques

Moving Between Sections

• Drag links between different headers
• Drop below header to add to section
• Links inherit section context

Bulk Reordering

• Start with most important link
• Work your way down
• Test on mobile view

Creating Sub-groups

• Use indentation visually
• Group related links together
• Maintain logical flow

Strategic Link Grouping

By Purpose

Group links based on their function:

Information & Learning

📚 RESOURCES
├─ Sermon Archive
├─ Bible Reading Plan
├─ Class Schedule
└─ Church Library

Action & Engagement

💪 GET INVOLVED
├─ Volunteer Sign-up
├─ Small Group Finder
├─ Ministry Teams
└─ Serve This Sunday

By Audience

Organize for specific visitor types:

First-Time Visitors

👋 NEW HERE?
├─ Plan Your Visit
├─ What to Expect
├─ Service Times
└─ Contact Us

Regular Attendees

🏠 CHURCH FAMILY
├─ Member Portal
├─ Give Online
├─ Prayer Requests
└─ Church Calendar

By Frequency of Use

Place most-used links prominently:

Weekly Needs (Top)

⭐ EVERY WEEK
├─ Watch Live
├─ Give Online
├─ Service Times
└─ Kids Check-in

Occasional Needs (Lower)

📋 RESOURCES
├─ Facility Rental
├─ Wedding Info
├─ Counseling
└─ Job Board

Creating Visual Hierarchy

The F-Pattern

Users typically scan in an F-pattern:

1. Top horizontal area first
2. Down the left side
3. Second horizontal scan
4. Selective reading

Apply This Knowledge:

• Most important links at top
• Key information on left
• Secondary items lower
• Less critical at bottom

The 3-Click Rule

Visitors should find information within 3 clicks:

1. Land on your page
2. Identify correct section
3. Click desired link

Achieving This:

• Clear header labels
• Logical grouping
• Limited links per section
• Descriptive link titles

Mobile-First Organization

Since most visitors use mobile devices:

Mobile Best Practices

Thumb-Friendly Zones

• Place primary links in easy reach
• Consider one-handed use
• Test on various screen sizes

Scrolling Considerations

• Limit initial view to 5-7 links
• Use headers to break up long lists
• Most important content "above fold"

Touch Target Size

• Links automatically sized for touch
• Adequate spacing between links
• Headers provide visual breaks

Common Organization Patterns

The Essential Seven

Most churches need these seven sections:

1. Worship - Service info, live stream
2. Connect - Small groups, events
3. Serve - Volunteer opportunities
4. Give - Online giving, campaigns
5. Learn - Classes, resources
6. Kids/Youth - Next gen ministries
7. Contact - Multiple contact methods

Seasonal Adaptation

Adjust organization seasonally:

Regular Structure

🙏 WORSHIP
📚 GROW
👥 CONNECT

Christmas Season

🎄 CHRISTMAS AT [CHURCH]
🙏 WORSHIP
📚 GROW
👥 CONNECT

Event-Driven Organization

For special campaigns:

Capital Campaign Active

🏗️ BUILDING OUR FUTURE
  ├─ Campaign Video
  ├─ Give to Building Fund
  └─ Construction Updates

[Regular sections follow]

Maintenance and Optimization

Regular Review Schedule

Weekly

• Check for expired events
• Update time-sensitive links
• Review link performance

Monthly

• Reorganize based on analytics
• Remove underperforming links
• Refresh descriptions

Quarterly

• Major reorganization if needed
• Evaluate header structure
• Survey user feedback

Using Analytics for Organization

Let data guide your structure:

High-Performing Links

• Move up in order
• Consider highlighting
• Duplicate in multiple sections?

Low-Performing Links

• Evaluate necessity
• Try new titles
• Consider removal

User Flow Analysis

• Track click patterns
• Identify confusion points
• Optimize accordingly

Advanced Organization Tips

The Hub-and-Spoke Model

Create topic hubs:

🙏 SUNDAY SERVICES
├─ Watch Live
├─ Past Sermons
├─ Service Times
└─ What to Expect

  Each link relates to Sunday

Progressive Disclosure

Reveal complexity gradually:

Start Simple:
📚 GROW IN FAITH

Click to Find:
├─ New Believer Resources
├─ Bible Studies
├─ Discipleship Classes
└─ Advanced Theology

Contextual Grouping

Group by user journey:

BEFORE SERVICE
├─ Directions
├─ Service Times
├─ What to Wear

DURING SERVICE  
├─ Kids Check-in
├─ Sermon Notes
├─ Give Online

AFTER SERVICE
├─ Join a Group
├─ Sermon Discussion
├─ Next Steps

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Over-Organization

• Too many headers
• Single links under headers
• Excessive nesting
• Confusing categories

Under-Organization

• No headers at all
• Random link order
• No logical grouping
• Unclear hierarchy

Poor Naming

• Vague headers
• Internal jargon
• Inconsistent style
• Too long/short

Testing Your Organization

User Testing Methods

5-Second Test

• Show page for 5 seconds
• Ask what they remember
• Identifies if structure is clear

Task-Based Testing

• "Find online giving"
• "Register for an event"
• Time how long it takes

Heat Map Analysis

• Track where users click
• Identify confusion areas
• Optimize based on data

Next Steps

Perfect your link organization:

• Master drag-and-drop techniques
• Add rich media to sections
• Track section performance
• Customize section appearance

Remember: Great organization makes your church's resources accessible to everyone!