 How to Create an Effective Navigation Structure for Your SitePublished Date: 2003-05-21 15:43:53 WorkOnInternet.com
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” (http://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! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Herman Drost is a Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) owner and author of iSiteBuild.com. Get a FREE Web Site Designed, when combined with our Hosting Plan. (http://www.isitebuild.com/freedesign.htm)
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