Website Usability Guidelines

Benefits of using index cards with one topic per card:

Users can group - and regroup - the cards.
Users build hierarchies that reflect the categories they want on the Homepage and how they would group information in those categories on second-level and lower-level pages.

How do you conduct a card sort?

(1) Getting the cards ready

List the content topics or types of information that you are likely to have on the site (if It's a new site) or list the most important / popular types of content on your current site. To help you create this list, begin by reviewing the most important or most frequently used content. To do this, start by reviewing the information from your user analysis.
Write each topic on a separate index card. (Hint: Use self-adhesive labels and a word processor. The cards will be neat, legible, and consistent. Also, you'll have the list of topics in the computer for later analysis.)
Limit yourself to 50 cards or less.

Have blank cards available for participants to add topics and to name the groups they make when they sort the cards. (Hint: Consider using a different colored card for having participants name the groups.)

Number the cards in the bottom corner or on the back. (This helps you when you begin to analyze the cards.)

(2) Arranging for card sorting sessions:

Select participants to represent the range of users - draw from different user groups with different levels of experience.
Plan about one hour for each session - longer if you have many cards.
Arrange for a space where the participant has enough room to spread the cards out on a table. A conference room works well.
Plan to have someone take notes as the participant works and thinks aloud.
As with other techniques, arrange for payment or other incentives to thank the participant for spending the time and effort helping you.