Guides to
Ideal Website Navigation
What's your website's Navigation Quotient? Give
your site a point for each checklist item you've
put into practice. Find out how your site
measures up to standards of quality navigation.
Site Structure
Well-structured websites make it easier to
provide clear navigation. Prioritize content and
organize your website into major areas, then, if
necessary, into sub-topics. Provide links up and
down the topic trees. The larger the site, the
more need for easy links between sections.
Section tabs, buttons, or links should be
available on each lower level page.
Choices
How many navigation choices do you provide?
Studies show that most Internet users develop
personal navigation habits quickly. Some users
prefer to navigate by menu, others prefer a
search box. Offer your visitors a choice of
navigation methods.
Do you use a javascript menu or applet for
navigation? Fine, but make sure you also provide
at least one non-javascript, non-applet method
of navigation. Some of your site's potential
visitors are very likely using browsers that are
unable to comprehend or properly display your
javascript or applet. Give those customers a
chance to view your content by providing an
easily found alternate menu or directory.
Page Layout
Consistency is the key. Navigational elements
should be placed consistently throughout your
website. Place menus in the same location on
each page, and organize the menu choices in a
standardized manner. Each menu should reflect
the most likely choices of 'here to there'. It
isn't necessary to list every single site page
on every single menu. Some items, such as
linking or website policies, generally need only
be referenced from your top-level home page.
Navigational Elements
Offer navigation help in the form of labels. All
navigational links should be clear and helpful.
Provide an indication of what users will find
when a link is selected. Helpful navigation
elements can be buttons, arrows, text, or more
complex sitemap graphics.
Breadcrumbs, the name for a line of links
showing the current page and its relationship to
the homepage and site as a whole, are one of the
best navigation strategies you can employ.
Breadcrumbs are most easily recognizable by the
greatest number of Internet users.
Intuitive Navigation
Help your visitors out by using color and layout
to define different sections of your website.
While layout should be homogeneous enough to
make each section recognizable as part of the
same site, variance in colors, backgrounds, and
shapes may be used to differentiate each website
section or sub-topic. Don't overdo it. Subtle
differences are enough to be perceived and
understood subliminally.
Table of Contents
The more content your site contains, the more
important it is to provide descriptions. A table
of contents for each area or sub-topic can help
your visitors and customers sift through the
offerings.
Site Directory
Provide a Site Directory. Prepare a textual
outline or organized list of all website pages.
This IS a navigational element which should be
available from each website page.
Site Search
Even a six to ten page website can benefit from
a search feature. Larger sites will find
searches even more useful. FreeFind and Google
offer free, customizable, (ad-supported) site
search capability.
Dead Ends
Eliminate dead ends. Don't leave your visitors
stranded on a page deep in your site. Always
provide a method of getting back to higher
levels and to your homepage. Any automated
redirection should be handled carefully and
considerately. Strive to avoid tampering with
visitors' browser history or confusing their
browser back buttons.
Usability Testing
TEST your navigation strategy. What may seem
crystal clear to you may be confusing to others.
If possible, watch users attempt to navigate
through your site. As a simple test, prepare a
short list of questions, or items to find, and
have your testers locate the information or
items in your pages. Watch closely in order to
measure the degree of difficulty of retrieving
that info, if unfamiliar with the site
structure.
What's Your Score?
9-10 - Admirable Navigation.
Your visitors and customers are well directed.
6-8 - Good work.
You've considered navigation and ease of use.
5 or less - Work on improving
visitor/customer experience with a more
comprehensive navigation scheme.
SK Kor
Internet Marketing Consultant
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