How to Create an Effective Web Site Navigation

How to Create an Effective Web Site Navigation Structure - Part 1

Copyright 2002 Herman Drost



A ship captain traversing the open seas without a good navigation system will surely get lost. Maybe he'll strike sharp rocks and his ship will sink. A visitor who arrives at your site and can't navigate it for the information they seek, will surely get lost also and leave in frustration. Your ship (your web site) will also sink if this continues to happen.



Good site design means a good navigation structure for your web site. This means the visitor can find the information with ease.



Put yourself in the shoes of your Grandmother. Would she quickly and effortlessly be able to find the information she wants, or know what to click on to make the purchase? Don't think that just because it is easy for you, it will be easy for others.



Visitors should not need to click more than three times during their navigation, to find the information they are searching for.

1. Navigation Styles

These can range from navigation buttons, navigation bars,

plain text links, fancy animated graphics or drop-down select menus. You can also use illustrations, photographs or graphic images to show your visitor around. For example, an image map contains one graphic with different "hot spots"(invisible buttons) that link to other pages.



2. Primary and Secondary Navigation

Primary navigation consists of the navigation elements that are

accessible from most locations within the site.



Secondary navigation elements allow the user to navigate within

a specific location. For example, many sites have a page that

offers information about the company. The primary navigation

element may be an About Us link.



Once the user arrives on the About Us page, there will be other

links (secondary links), which navigate within the About Us

page.



These could be links to Press Releases, Corporate Locations,

Investor Information and so on. These links are secondary

navigation elements because they are relevant to the About Us

page but not the other pages of the site. Therefore, these links

will not be found in other areas of the site.



3. Guided Navigation

This is a popular technique, in which you guide the visitor

through your site. Links are provided for the next step and

establishing links that keep the users on track continues

the process. These links should supply the necessary

information, as well as an alternate course clearly marked to

allow the visitor to exit. For example, an online purchase

should lead the user through shipping information, then on

to payment information, then to receipt information.



4. Creating a Navigation Action Plan

Determine goals and needs of your audience Decide what the

purpose of your site is and who your target audience will be.

For more in-depth information on this subject visit:

"How to Target Your Customers and Put Them in a Buying Mood"

(www.isitebuild.com/target.htm)



Learn from navigation that works Visit several successful sites

that show good navigation e.g., Fedex.com. These sites show good

navigation planning.



Generally, good navigation includes several characteristics:



Offers easy to learn elements

Remains consistent

Provides feedback

Appears in context

Offers alternatives

Provides clear visual messages

Offers clear and understandable labels

Remains appropriate to the site's purpose

Supports visitors goals and behaviors



Providing feedback has the biggest impact on users. Navigation

should tell people, where they are and if possible, where they

have been. Visitors should also be able to easily determine

linked or clickable material.



They need to know whether they successfully made a purchase,

conducted a search, or completed some other task.



Navigation that allows visitors to find information easily and

quickly will contribute to your web site's success. Ask your

grandmother (or someone who is not familiar with the Web) to

navigate your site. If they can find the information they want

within 3 clicks, your navigation structure must be a success.

Congratulations!



Part 2 of this article will show "How to Design Your Navigation

Structure and Common Navigation Mistakes to Avoid".