site organisation - possibly OT

Hi there web wizards and warlocks,

I've got a smallish site - 36 pages and growing.  The trouble is the
'growing' part.  Site navigation is getting to be a pain both for me (the
designer) and for clients.  I am also finding it a bit tricky to keep track
of how things fit together.  I have a pretty good visual memory and can
'see' both the page and overall site design while I work.  Trouble is,
things are starting to get out of hand.

At the moment, there are seven distinct categories I could place these pages
in.  The site is for a publishing company, so some of these categories could
become distinct sites in their own right - eventually.

My question is - do you find it easier from a design/maintenance viewpoint
to keep categories in separate directories?  At the moment, all 36 pages are
in one folder (well, two if cross-browser support is taken into account),
which is getting a bit complicated to keep track of.  Pages for authors sit
next to pages for their titles, right above pages for ...  and in between
pages for ... you get the picture?  I've thought about using category
initials - but there are already some conflicts cropping up.

Any other suggestions or approaches?

I am aware that there are bandwidth and access issues here - obviously, the
more 'tunneling' a browser and web server has to go through, the slower the
site is to upload.  Are there any other considerations I should be aware of?

Is there an easier way (short of using a database, the next major project
for this web site) to manage the pages and simplify navigation?

Should I have a bundle of cash in my hand the next time I approach the group
with questions such as these <grin>?

Feel free to respond privately or on list (if appropriate).

Henry John Boleszny
 Partner
 Sea Eagle Publications
 ABN 24 604 217 122

E-mail:         seaeagle(at)one.net.au
Web:           http://www.seaeagle.aunz.com/
Phone/Fax:  (07) 5529 2661
Mail/Locale: 1/9 Possum Court, Coombabah QLD 4216, Australia

NB - site is under redevelopment for cross-browser support and additional
content.

HWG hwg-techniques mailing list archives, maintained by Webmasters @ IWA