Website Navigation Tips For Web Designers

Web surfers are usually impatient. They usually do not invest a lot of time to find out how the site works. Thus navigation is without hesitation, an important element in deciding the efficiency of the website. The following article enlightens the basic principles involved in website navigation.

If your website has to prove to be efficient, then people at large must understand it.

However the website should be creative and well designed, it should also try to stand apart from the common navigation techniques.

The website is made for a specific target audience and a specific reason, this should be kept in mind while you design the navigation tools. Usually websites are made to spread information to users about selling a products or services. And thus, there are a few tips one should keep in mind the following:

All navigation links are used by standard conventions for links such as buttons, menus, underlining the text or changing colour on mouse. Avoid confusing the user by difficult or knotty names, javascript or flash menu.

It gets tedious to keep clicking on links. That's why web designers use the "Three Click Rule". It simply means that every page on your website should be reachable within three clicks. Beautiful work lies in simplicity, and thus we should keep our website simple. Avoid using a flash movie or other type of splash. However if its really required in your site stick to the META REFRESH tag to take the visitor automatically to your home page after a few seconds and provide a clickable. It should be short, crisp, convenient and less time consuming. The keep point is to remember that users are here for information not entertainment.

Navigation Element Locations

Top Menus

Generally this menu bar is placed below the page header which usually is a graphic containing the site logo. These are generally single links, expanding menus or drop down menus. Every menu can be shown via some text or may be a graphic. Moreover, a hyperlink is added with every item so that a visitor can get easy information just by clicking on it.

Left Side Navigation

This generally points out to the portion, text area or column which is on the top potion, left hand side of the web page. Similar to the top menu, every item can be represented by a hyperlink.

Right Side Navigation

This This generally points out to the portion, text area or column which is on the top potion, Right hand side of the web page. This space is now used for navigation it is generally where advertisements are placed.

Bottom Menus

This is usually used, either like a menu bar or like footer.

Important Navigation Elements

Internal Page Links

The important pages should be easily assessable and thus should be on the first click itself. The maximum number of clicks should be three clicks from the home page.

Login Boxes

They should stand out and be visible. Thus it should be the header, as it catches good attention there. Or it could be the two top corners (i.e. top left or top right)

Shopping Carts

If you are asking the users to shop on your site, you should make sure a shopping cart is displayed on each page. This icon should be preferably placed on the top, Right hand side, as a part of the header or just below it.

Order Buttons

They should be prominent to the users eyes. It should be fast and easy to get on the order page. It shouldn't be a task for the users to get to the order page, orelse they might just find it as a hassle and give up.

Breadcrumbs

the combination of graphical representation of where you are on the site and the links, is together called Breadcrums. This icon is usually placed on the top left hand side, under the header. Every word should serve as a link to the previous page

External Links

There is no hard and fast rule, on where should they be placed but generally they are placed inside the text areas. These links refer to more information on the same topic which is listed on other sites. It could also be about recommended products.

Advertisements

They are generally either in graphic or text which, has a hyperlink attached. Ads can be placed anywhere, but generally are placed the header banner, or on the right hand side of the page, it is under the navigation elements on the left margin. It can be placed across the bottom of the page or entwined with the test areas of the page. Research shows that the most effective ads are the ones that are placed on the area of the page, which is shown immediately as you log on, without scrolling down (this are is called Above the fold). Above the fold ads are more eye catching and thus more valuable

Downloadable Items

Incase your offering downloading items like articles, music, videos, make sure to inform your users how big the files are. You also need to tell them if they need an application to use that file. If they do need an application, then help them to easily access the application with the help of a link. For example, provide a link to the free Acrobat reader if you offer pdf files.

A convenient navigation system can lead to a hike in the number of pages viewed by visitors. This leads to an increase in the number of sales, members, customers, sign ups or whatever the site can offer. It basically makes the website more user friendly and thus more preferred and successful


Richard Kacerek CEO Empire Elements

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