Just because the web has evolved does not mean that the people who have been doing this stuff for a long, long time don’t know what they’re doing. Like true artists, they know the rules before they break them.

And Jason? Dude. That “1995″ you see on my site? That’s when I started designing websites. Call me an idiot, call me an artist, just don’t call me a “print designer.”

but…

To all (including Derek): When it comes to a personal or portfolio design site, sometimes expression and being “different” is more important than rules. Nobody wants to be a sellout. Nobody wants their site to look like somebody elses… I know I don’t. And, I see the value in rewarding the users who make it to the bottom of your page, but if it’s navigation that you’re holding out for those people, you’re cutting your nose off to spite your face. Derek: On Powazek, why wouldn’t you put the Ephemera section at the bottom of the page and leave the navigation for everyone else?…because it’s eyecandy? It’s something that you know people will be interested in. Those images are something nobody else has on their site, and that nice dark border is a visual anchor for the page…heck the first t thing I clicked on after reading your post was the picture of the toilet. Navigation though, is not a reward; it’s a necesity. Otherwise, your website may as well be printed in a magazine. But, you’re a print designer. I think it actually works on your site because people who are primarily print designers have the tough job of thinking outside the browser on a day to day basis, and showing that on your personal site is an asset. In Keegan’s defense, I know the decision to put the navigation at the bottom was probably fueled by the same “I wanna be different” idea. Keegan however (like myself) is primarily a web desginer, and when I’m on his otherwise normally laid out about page, I expect to see a contact or portfolio link. Instead, I glance over and see that he likes Mountain Dew / Frappucino and plays Frisbee Golf…WHO CARES! The bottom line is that if you’re going to buck the system, you’d better be ready for some criticism. The other bottom line is that if you REALLY buck the system, you’re an artist. If you just barely wander off the beaten path…you’re a fool.

What if your page is super short? For example, no longer than 600 px long?”

I don’t think you’d be able to know this as many people will change font sizes and view the site by different means.

The only way that I’m aware of is to declare a certain height and keep it fixed. But this has its issues.

1) Sitewide navigation will repeat itself for a screen reader over and over, when the user most likely will be after the content
2) Search engines.

However, for the first one a “skip” alternative should still be availiable at the top, or for each major page element. An internal navigation for the document itself. This is good praxis in terms of usability.

The ideal term though always is to have the navigation visible at all times. If it is visible, it should really be at the bottom of the screen in my opinion.

Keyword is visible. Laying there, smacked on the bottom of the screen. No matter how much you scroll it should still be there. This is acctually true either way, regardless of whether you place your navigation to the left or right. Users should always have the option to “get out” or navigate even if they scroll.

Not everyone has a scrollwheel. Not everyone can scroll efficiently. Some still just drag the bar. Never assume that anything about a user. That’s why the ideal layout is a fluid one with fixed elements.

I usually say never assume anything about your user, and if you have to assume the worst. So, basicly, don’t assume that scrolling falls naturally into place either.

Regarding users reading contents I read a study a while back that a mere 14% acctually read a whole newspaper, while over 75% acctually take the time to read through a webpage. In my opinion, that’s not a bad figure to start with.

Concerning site traffic within a site: I find that people don’t really go into a site very deeply unless they are extremely curious, or unless it’s painfully easy for them to do. In fact many simply quit after the first page. Especially if it has a big flash thingamonstrosity. I do think that a good navigation helps to hook people in and get them to at least play around with it, for nothing else but for the “ohhh pretty” element.

But I don’t know any tried-and-true methods for keeping a visitor around, or to have that person read more than 50% of a site. In my own sites I abuse the “next” link a lot. I figure if I make it so that navigation can be accomplished in a strictly linear fashion, nothing can go wrong. It’s probably a pain though if they don’t care for the content, but I figure that content is the key to keeping visitors.

It’s your site – I’m all about doing whatever you want on your personal site. But don’t fret about an avalanche of bottom nav. Think about it this way: If users really don’t scroll, then they’ll never see it, so no harm done.

But maybe you should give it a try and see what it does to your inter-site traffic before you condemn it?