The Web is created by connected, hypertext-linked files which are displayed on your computer monitor by a web browser.  A clear, understandable organizational pattern is essential if your viewers are to find what they need easily.

The organization of your web will depend upon your purposes, content, and intended audience.

Purpose Should Define Structure
The purposes of your web site should guide the choice of an organizational structure, taking into consideration the nature of the Web medium.  For example, if your purpose is to inform and provide training, then place prominent links to these sections of your web on the home page.  Whatever motivated you to create a web site, whether to communicate with others, or display your work, might influence the organization of your site.

Priorities of your Audience 
Try to think of your content as "chunks" or pieces of information to be displayed.  Then,  prioritize the content chunks in the order of importance to your readers.  The most important content should be on the home page, or prominently linked from the home page to a second level page.  Less important content can be placed on lower  levels of the web and connected by links to higher level pages.  

Some web sites are specifically organized to point particular audience groups to the information they need.  For example, prominent links on the homepage might be labelled "Students" or "Faculty" or "Campus Visitors" to assist these different groups to find the information they are likely to need quickly and efficiently.

Navigation with Graphics and Color
Graphics and color can be used to enhance and highlight the organization of a web site. Web sites are not generally read in a front-to-back manner as you would read a book. The viewer may choose to explore your web site by clicking on any link on your home page, in any order. 

A consistency in graphics and color patterns throughout the web helps viewers navigate through content. A web site might use one background pattern for primary, top level pages, and another coordinating pattern for secondary level pages.  This can help viewers navigate through the layers of a more complex web site without getting lost. 

Some content might need to be read in sequence. If so, provide clearly marked paths to lead the reader each step to the conclusion and back to the beginning.  

It is also helpful to provide graphical aids to guide viewers, like arrows indicating  "click here" or "go here next."  Navigational links to the homepage should be on every page of the web, as well as menu links to the important sections of the web site.