The success of a website is largely dependent on the user’s ability to easily navigate their way around the site. As a web designer, it is important to ensure that your website has intuitive navigation that allows users to easily find what they are looking for. Here are some key web design tips to help you improve your website’s navigation.
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Create a useful and well-defined navigation structure. It’s important to establish a clear site navigation structure. A well-defined structure will create a logical hierarchy and lead users through the site, allowing them to find the exact information they’re looking for.
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Utilize drop-down menus. Drop-down menus are a great way to organize lengthy lists of navigation items. Allowing users to explore multiple levels of navigation within a single menu is a much more efficient approach to website navigation.
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Make your navigation indicators cliché. Instead of using complicated navigation measures, utilize ‘cliché’ navigation indicators that users are familiar with. This includes things like the familiar hamburger icon, home button, X for close – all of which will help users identify how to get around the site.
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Leverage breadcrumbs. When users navigate internally within a website, it can be difficult to keep track of where they are in the larger navigation scheme. This is where breadcrumbs become helpful. Breadcrumbs give visitors a visual cue of where they are on the page in relation to the overall website navigation.
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Showcase your search bar. Make sure your search bar is prominent on the page. More modern navigation designs often have the search bar before the main navigation. This allows the navigation items to be more visible while users explore information on the website at the same time.
By keeping these website design tips in mind, you can create navigational elements that are intuitive and efficient. An effective website navigation system helps users quickly find what they are looking for and improves the overall experience with your site.
