On the cluttered Internet, less is more.

Publisher’s websites have a tendency to be very crowded. Whether it’s a cover image and description of every title on their current list, an endless column of links to their social networking pages and blogs, or a mish-mesh of authors’ faces, one look at a site such as Faber and Faber is enough to turn this novice blogger away. Granted, Faber and Faber’s site represents a wonderful publisher and has a plethora of information for a number of audiences, but just looking at the home page was overwhelming for me; I did not try to delve too deeply.

Another publisher that got it wrong (and I fear posting this for the backlash I will likely receive) is McSweeney’s. I love this press and I think they do amazing work, but I could not be more confused by their websites. Yes, I said websites. I think this press has three, with no clear of way of linking to each other. I realize that each of these sites is serving a different purpose, and perhaps trying to reach a different audience. The whole network of information was so confusing to me, however, that, while entertaining in content, I could not quite pin down what audience they were trying to address and where those audiences would find information pertinent to them.

Are you a twenty-something hipster sitting in your San Francisco loft wanting to subscribe to McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern? Be careful to not accidently purchase a subscription to The Believer Magazine, or the McSweeney’s Book Release Club, or heaven forbid, a combo of the three. The check-out is a little confusing. Are you, perhaps, an author hoping to submit work to this reputable press? Good luck. I never found that information. I love McSweeney’s, but the websites gave me a headache.

A breath of fresh air after the onslaught of information was Scholastic.com. It was apparent from the first glance at this clean homepage that Scholastic is a publisher of children’s books, with an interest in the education market. Their audiences are clearly defined and labeled on the menu: teachers, parents, kids, administrators, and librarians. A menu item labeled “More” led this browser to a page containing media highlights, contact and submission information, community programs, and a number of other potential points of interest for the audiences outside of their target. This site was easy to navigate, minimal in background color and design, and clearly targeted at the audiences they serve.

I know that websites come in all shapes and sizes. But when trying to sell a good to a consumer, no matter the audience that consumer belongs too, I think presenting the information in a way that is easy to navigate is the best approach. In my opinion, less clutter on a website will equal more sales.