Website navigation is a crucial element of any website design, as it helps users find the information they are looking for and navigate through the site with ease.
Website navigation also affects the user experience, the search engine rankings, and the conversion rates of a website. Therefore, it is important to follow some best practices for website navigation to create a user-friendly and effective website.
Here are some of the best practices for website navigation that you should consider:
- Use descriptive but short menu titles. Your menu titles should clearly communicate what each page or section is about, but also be concise and easy to read. Avoid using vague or generic terms that do not convey any meaning, such as "Services" or "Resources". Instead, use specific and relevant terms that match your users' intent, such as "Web Design Services" or "Blog Articles".
- Focus on responsive design for every screen size. Your website navigation should adapt to different devices and screen sizes, so that users can access your site from any device without any difficulty. Use a responsive design framework that automatically adjusts your layout and navigation elements according to the screen size. You can also use a hamburger menu icon or a collapsible menu for smaller screens to save space and improve usability.
- Add breadcrumbs. Breadcrumbs are a secondary navigation element that show users where they are on your site and how they got there. They usually appear at the top of the page, below the main navigation menu, and consist of a series of links that represent the hierarchy of pages. Breadcrumbs help users orient themselves on your site, backtrack to previous pages, and discover related content.
- Manage the number of menu items. Having too many or too few menu items can negatively affect your website navigation. Too many menu items can overwhelm and confuse users, while too few menu items can limit their options and make them miss important information. A good rule of thumb is to have between five and seven menu items in your main navigation menu, and use submenus or dropdown menus to organize your content into categories and subcategories.
- Avoid multiple dropdown menu items. Dropdown menus are useful for displaying submenus or additional options without cluttering your main navigation menu. However, they can also be problematic if they are too long, too deep, or too complex. Users may have difficulty scrolling through them, clicking on them, or remembering them. Therefore, you should limit the use of dropdown menus to one level of depth, and avoid having more than five items in each dropdown menu.
- Add a CTA button to the top navigation. A call-to-action (CTA) button is a prominent element that invites users to take a specific action on your site, such as signing up, contacting you, or buying something. Adding a CTA button to your top navigation can help you increase conversions and generate leads from your website visitors. Make sure your CTA button stands out from the rest of your navigation elements by using a contrasting color, a clear text, and an appealing shape.
- Use sticky top navigation menu. A sticky top navigation menu is a type of navigation menu that stays fixed at the top of the screen as users scroll down the page. This way, users can always access your main navigation menu without having to scroll back up or lose sight of it. A sticky top navigation menu can improve your website usability, especially for long pages with lots of content.
- Add a search bar to the menu. A search bar is a feature that allows users to enter keywords and find relevant content on your site. Adding a search bar to your menu can enhance your website navigation by providing users with an alternative way to access your content, especially if your site has a lot of pages or complex information. You can place your search bar next to your main navigation menu, or inside a hamburger menu icon for smaller screens.
Here is a sample of a website that incorporates some of the best practices for website navigation:
The website is for a fictional online bookstore called "Book Haven". The homepage includes a prominent search bar at the top of the page, allowing users to quickly search for books by title, author, or keyword. The menu bar is located just below the search bar and includes clear and concise labels such as "New Releases", "Best Sellers", "Fiction", "Non-fiction", "Children's Books", and "Sale".
When a user hovers over a menu item, a drop-down menu appears with additional subcategories for that item.
Below the menu bar, there is a section for featured books, with large images and short descriptions. Each book image is clickable, leading the user to a more detailed product page.
The footer of the page includes links to important pages such as "About Us", "Contact Us", "Shipping and Returns", and "Privacy Policy". It also includes links to Book Haven's social media profiles and an email newsletter signup form.
The website's design is consistent throughout, with a simple and clean layout, consistent font, colors, and style. Visual cues are used in the menu bar, with icons next to each menu item representing its category. The website is also optimized for mobile devices, with a mobile-friendly menu and responsive design that adjusts to the size of the device's screen.
Overall, this website incorporates best practices for website navigation by providing clear and intuitive menus, incorporating search functionality, using descriptive labels and visual cues, keeping it simple, testing and refining, and optimizing for mobile devices.
Kommentare